FREE New Hampshire Real Estate Exam Guide 2026: Complete License Prep

New Hampshire Real Estate License Overview

New Hampshire offers a unique real estate market with no state income tax and no sales tax, making it an attractive destination for buyers relocating from neighboring states, particularly Massachusetts. The New Hampshire Real Estate Commission (NHREC), under the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), regulates all real estate licensing in the Granite State.

With its proximity to Boston, beautiful lake properties, and growing population, New Hampshire provides excellent opportunities for real estate professionals. The state also has one of the lowest pre-license education requirements in the nation at just 40 hours, making it an accessible entry point into the profession.

New Hampshire Real Estate Exam Quick Facts

Requirements Before Taking the Exam

Education Requirements

Pre-License Course Content (40 Hours)

The required 40-hour pre-license course covers:

1. Real Estate Principles - Fundamental concepts and terminology
2. New Hampshire License Law - State-specific regulations
3. Agency Relationships - Duties and disclosures
4. Contracts - Purchase and sale agreements
5. Property Rights - Ownership and transfer
6. Fair Housing - Federal and state requirements

Application Process

1. Complete 40 hours of NHREC-approved pre-license education
2. Pass the school-administered final exam
3. Submit fingerprints for background check
4. Register for exam directly with PSI
5. Pass both exam portions within 1 year of course completion
6. Apply for license through OPLC licensing system

New Hampshire Exam Format

The New Hampshire real estate exam consists of two portions administered by PSI, testing both national real estate principles and New Hampshire-specific laws.

Content Breakdown

National Portion Topics

New Hampshire State Portion Topics

New Hampshire-Specific Topics

New Hampshire Agency Law

New Hampshire requires specific agency disclosures:

Mandatory Disclosures

New Hampshire requires several important disclosures:

New Hampshire Trust Account Requirements

Key trust account rules in New Hampshire:

• Earnest money deposits must be deposited within a reasonable time (typically 3-5 business days)
• Funds held in interest-bearing account require written authorization
• Broker must maintain separate trust accounts for each transaction or pooled account
• Commingling of personal and trust funds is prohibited
• Trust account records must be maintained for 6 years

New Hampshire Waterfront Properties

Lake and waterfront properties are significant in New Hampshire:

New Hampshire Condo and HOA Regulations

Important rules for common interest communities:

• Resale certificate required for condo sales
• Buyer has right to review condo documents before closing
• HOA disclosure requirements for planned communities
• Unit owner rights and association obligations defined by law

New Hampshire Exam Pass Rate

The New Hampshire real estate exam has a pass rate of approximately 65-70% on the first attempt.

Study Strategy

Recommended Study Time

After completing the 40-hour pre-license course.

Study Priority by Weight

1. National Portion (80 questions)

   • Contracts and agency relationships (highest weight)
   • Property valuation and appraisal methods
   • Financing and settlement procedures
   • Real estate math calculations

2. State Portion (40 questions)

   • New Hampshire agency law and disclosures
   • Trust account handling
   • Waterfront property regulations
   • Fair housing requirements
   • Ethical behavior scenarios

Key Math Formulas

Commission Calculations:

$\text{Commission} = \text{Sales Price} \times \text{Rate}$

$\text{Agent Share} = \text{Commission} \times \text{Split \%}$

Prorations (New Hampshire typically uses 365-day year):

$\text{Daily Rate} = \frac{\text{Annual Amount}}{365}$

$\text{Proration} = \text{Daily Rate} \times \text{Days}$

Property Tax:

$\text{Tax} = \text{Assessed Value} \times \text{Tax Rate}$

Note: NH has no sales tax or income tax, but property taxes are significant

Loan-to-Value:

$\text{LTV} = \frac{\text{Loan Amount}}{\text{Property Value}}$

Area Calculations:

$\text{Square Feet} = \text{Length} \times \text{Width}$

$\text{Acres} = \frac{\text{Square Feet}}{43,560}$

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Underestimating State-Specific Content

New Hampshire has unique requirements:

• Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act
• Seasonal property conversion rules
• Well water and septic disclosure requirements
• Lake property regulations

2. Rushing the Short Pre-License Course

While only 40 hours, the course covers essential material:

• Don't treat it as a formality
• Take thorough notes
• Complete all practice exercises
• Review before taking the exam

3. Ignoring Ethical Scenarios

The NH exam integrates ethical behavior across multiple topics:

• At least 4 problems include ethical components
• Understand duties to clients and customers
• Know disclosure obligations

4. Poor Time Management

• 120 questions in 240 minutes = 2 minutes per question
• Don't spend too long on difficult questions
• Flag challenging questions and return later
• Use remaining time to review answers

Exam Day Tips

Before the Exam

• Confirm your PSI exam appointment
• Get adequate rest the night before
• Eat a balanced meal before testing
• Arrive 30 minutes early (in-person)
• Bring two forms of ID (one government-issued with photo)

Testing Locations and Options

PSI examination sites in New Hampshire include:

• Concord - Capital city location
• Nashua - Southern NH, convenient for MA border
• Portsmouth - Seacoast region

Online Testing: Beginning in 2025, PSI offers secure live-online proctoring in addition to in-person testing.

During the Exam

• Read each question completely before answering
• Watch for qualifier words: "EXCEPT," "NOT," "ALWAYS," "NEVER"
• Show all math work on provided scratch paper
• Trust your first instinct unless you find a clear error
• Use the full time available to review answers

After Passing the Exam

Immediate Steps

1. Receive score report immediately after exam
2. Apply for license through OPLC CE Broker system
3. Complete background check verification
4. Find employing broker - required to activate license
5. Pay license fee - Submit renewal fee to activate

First Renewal Requirements (Post-License)

Effective February 2020, first-time renewal applicants must complete additional education:

Required Post-License Topics:

• P&S Contracts
• Ethical Behavior
• Disclosure Forms
• Agency

Optional Topics:

• Fair Housing
• New Construction
• Advertising
• Conflict Resolution
• Negotiations
• Broker Agreements

Subsequent Renewal Requirements (Every 2 Years)

License Renewal Fees

Important License Lapse Warning

Due to statutory changes, New Hampshire licenses lapse (not just expire) if not renewed on time:

• Must reinstate rather than simply renew
• No grace period for late renewal
• Additional fees and requirements may apply

New Hampshire Real Estate Career Outlook

Salary Expectations

Hot New Hampshire Markets (2026)

• Southern NH (Nashua, Salem, Derry) - Boston commuter belt, highest demand
• Seacoast (Portsmouth, Dover, Durham) - Coastal premium, limited inventory
• Lakes Region (Laconia, Meredith, Wolfeboro) - Vacation homes, waterfront
• Manchester - State's largest city, urban convenience
• Concord - State capital, government employment
• Upper Valley (Hanover, Lebanon) - Dartmouth College area
• White Mountains - Vacation properties, ski communities

Market Advantages

New Hampshire offers unique selling points:

Resources

• NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) - Official licensing information
• PSI Exams - Exam scheduling and candidate handbook
• New Hampshire Association of Realtors - Industry resources
• CE Broker - License renewal portal (as of 2024)
• OpenExamPrep - Free study materials and practice questions

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