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Cheat sheet

Michigan Real Estate Salesperson Cheat Sheet

Property Ownership

8%of exam

EstatesCo-OwnershipReal vs PersonalBundle of Rights

Land Use + Encumbrances

6%of exam

LiensEasementsZoningPolice PowerEncumbrances

Valuation + Appraisal

7%of exam

Three ApproachesValue PrinciplesCMAMath

Financing

9%of exam

Loan TypesMortgage ClausesFed LawsFinance Math

Agency + Contracts

17%of exam

Agency TypesFiduciary DutiesContract TermsListings

Transfer + Title

7%of exam

DeedsTitleClosingRecording

Practice + Math

16%of exam

Fair HousingMath PickerTrust FundsDisclosure

MI License Law (LARA)

16%of exam

LARALicensingCEAgency LawTrust Accounts

MI Tax + Fair Housing

14%of exam

Proposal ASEVTransfer TaxElliott-Larsen

Quick Facts

Total Q
115 scored
Split
80 national + 35 state
Time
180 min
Pass
70% each section
Fee
$79 (PSI)
Pre-license
40 hrs + 4 civil rights
Admin
PSI for LARA
Min age
18 years

Joint Tenancy Unities

TTIP = time title interest possession

T: same TimeT: same TitleI: equal InterestP: equal Possession

Freehold vs Leasehold

Freehold

  • Ownership estate
  • Indefinite duration
  • Fee or life

Leasehold

  • Possession only
  • Fixed/periodic term
  • Tenant interest

Own vs occupy

Estates

Fee simple
Full ownership
Life estate
For lifetime only
Remainder
Future third party
Reversion
Returns to grantor
Freehold
Ownership estate
Leasehold
Tenant possession only
Fee defeasible
Conditional ownership

Real vs Personal Property

Real

  • Land plus fixtures
  • Conveyed by deed
  • Permanent attachment

Personal

  • Movable chattel
  • Conveyed by bill
  • Trade fixtures removable

Attached vs movable

Co-Ownership

Severalty
One owner
Tenancy in common
No survivorship; default
Joint tenancy
Survivorship; four unities
Tenancy by entirety
Married couples; creditor shield
Four unities
Time, title, interest, possession
Condominium
Unit plus common area
Cooperative
Stock plus lease

Lien vs Encumbrance

Lien

  • Money claim
  • Forced sale risk
  • Mortgage, tax

Encumbrance

  • Any burden
  • Use limit
  • Easement, deed restriction

Lien is one encumbrance

Land Use

Easement
Right to use
Easement appurtenant
Runs with land
Easement in gross
Personal/utility right
Encroachment
Improvement over boundary
Police power
Zoning, codes, regs
Eminent domain
Government takes; pays
Escheat
To state; no heirs
Variance
Zoning exception granted

Liens + Encumbrances

Lien
Money claim attached
Specific lien
One property only
General lien
All debtor property
Mechanic's lien
Unpaid labor/materials
Property tax lien
First priority lien
Deed restriction
Private use limit
Lis pendens
Pending lawsuit notice

Value Approaches

Sales | Cost | Income

Sales: compsCost: new minus depreciationIncome: NOI ÷ cap

Which Calculation

  1. Income property valueNOI ÷ cap rate(IRV formula)
  2. Quick rental valuePrice ÷ rent(GRM)
  3. Commission earnedPrice × rate(Split by broker)
  4. MI state transferPrice ÷ 1000 × 8.60(State only $7.50)
  5. MI assessed valueMarket × 0.50(SEV)
  6. Annual property taxTaxable × mills ÷ 1000(Michigan)
  7. Loan-to-valueLoan ÷ value(LTV ratio)
  8. ProrationAnnual ÷ 360 × days(Statutory year)

Valuation

Sales comparison
Compare similar sold
Cost approach
Land plus depreciated
Income approach
Income capitalized
GRM
Price ÷ rent
Cap rate
NOI ÷ value
Highest best use
Most profitable legal
CMA
Agent price opinion
Depreciation
Loss in value

Financing

Conventional
No government backing
FHA
Insured low down
VA
Guaranteed veteran loan
Amortized
Principal plus interest
PMI
Conventional under 20%
Acceleration clause
All due now
Alienation clause
Due on sale
Discount points
1% buys rate

Federal Finance Law

RESPA
No kickbacks; settlement
TRID
Loan estimate; closing
Reg Z / TILA
APR disclosure
ECOA
No credit discrimination
Closing Disclosure
3 days before close
Loan Estimate
3 days post-application
Usury
Illegal excess interest

Fiduciary Duties

OLD CAR = agent duties to client

O: ObedienceL: LoyaltyD: DisclosureC: ConfidentialityA: AccountingR: Reasonable care

General vs Special Agent

General

  • Broad authority
  • Ongoing relationship
  • Property manager

Special

  • Limited scope
  • One transaction
  • Listing broker

Ongoing vs single deal

Which Agency Relationship

  1. Listing the sellerSeller agent(Fiduciary to seller)
  2. Representing buyerBuyer agent(Fiduciary to buyer)
  3. Both same brokerDual agent(Written consent; neutral)
  4. Both, separate agentsDesignated agency(Per-party agent)
  5. No representationCustomer(Honesty only)
  6. Limited tasks onlyTransaction coordinator(No advocacy)

Agency

Principal
Client; owes fiduciary
Customer
Honesty only owed
Fiduciary duties
OLD CAR loyalty
Special agent
One transaction scope
General agent
Ongoing broad authority
Dual agent
Both parties; neutral
Designated agent
Different agent each

Earnest vs Down Payment

Earnest money

  • Good faith deposit
  • Held in trust
  • Applied at closing

Down payment

  • Buyer equity
  • Price minus loan
  • Paid at closing

Deposit vs equity

Which Listing Agreement

  1. Broker paid alwaysExclusive right(Even if owner sells)
  2. Owner may sell freeExclusive agency(One broker only)
  3. Many brokers competeOpen listing(Procuring cause)
  4. Owner sets netNet listing(Discouraged/risky)
  5. Buyer representationBuyer agency(Written agreement)

Contracts

Statute of Frauds
RE sale in writing
Bilateral
Promise for promise
Unilateral
Promise for act
Earnest money
Buyer good faith
Contingency
Condition must occur
Liquidated damages
Preset breach amount
Exclusive right
Broker paid regardless
Open listing
Procuring cause paid

Warranty vs Quitclaim Deed

Warranty

  • Full covenants
  • Most protection
  • Typical sale

Quitclaim

  • No warranty
  • Whatever interest
  • Clears clouds

Guarantee vs release

Transfer + Title

Warranty deed
Greatest buyer protection
Quitclaim deed
No warranty; clears
Covenant deed
Limited warranty period
Grantor
Seller conveying title
Grantee
Buyer receiving title
Title insurance
Covers title defects
Marketable title
Free of defects
Recording
Constructive public notice

MI Licensing

LARA
Licenses MI real estate
Occupational Code
Act 299 of 1980
Pre-license
40 hrs total
Civil rights course
4 hrs mandatory
Employing broker
Supervises salesperson
License term
3 years
CE required
18 hrs per cycle
Address change
Notify within 30 days

MI Agency + Trust

Agency disclosure
Before substantive discussion
Dual agency
Written consent both
Commission
Fully negotiable
Salesperson pay
Via employing broker
Trust account
Federally insured institution
Commingling
Prohibited fund mixing
Conversion
Personal use; revocation

MI Transfer Tax

State 7.50 + County 1.10 = 8.60 / $1,000

State: $3.75/$500County: $0.55/$500Combined: $8.60/$1,000

SEV vs Taxable Value

SEV

  • 50% market value
  • Reassessed yearly
  • Uncapped figure

Taxable value

  • Computes tax bill
  • Capped annually
  • Uncaps on sale

Market half vs capped

MI Property Tax

Proposal A
Caps assessment increase
Cap
Lesser 5% or inflation
SEV
50% true cash value
Taxable value
Used to compute tax
Uncapping
Resets to SEV; sale
State transfer tax
$7.50 per $1,000
County transfer tax
$1.10 per $1,000
Combined transfer tax
$8.60 per $1,000

MI Fair Housing + Topics

Elliott-Larsen
MI civil rights act
Extra classes
Age, marital, height/weight
Newer classes
Orientation, gender identity
MDCR
Enforces MI fair housing
Complaint window
180 days to file
PRE
Exempts 18 school mills
Redemption period
6 months residential
Dower
Abolished in Michigan

Common Traps

SEV vs taxable value

SEV is 50% market Taxable is capped figure

Dual vs designated

Dual is neutral Designated has separate agents

Client vs customer

Client owed fiduciary Customer owed honesty

Lien vs encumbrance

Lien is money claim Encumbrance any burden

State vs combined tax

State is $7.50/$1,000 Combined is $8.60/$1,000

Federal vs Elliott-Larsen

Federal seven classes Michigan adds more classes

Earnest vs down payment

Earnest held in trust Down payment is equity

Last Minute

  1. 1.115 Q = 80 national + 35 state
  2. 2.Pass 70% on each section
  3. 3.Pre-license: 40 hrs, 4 civil rights
  4. 4.LARA licenses; Occupational Code 299/1980
  5. 5.Agency disclosure before substantive talk
  6. 6.Dual agency = written consent, stay neutral
  7. 7.Salesperson paid only via employing broker
  8. 8.Trust funds: no commingling, no conversion
  9. 9.Proposal A caps: lesser 5% / inflation
  10. 10.SEV = 50% market; uncaps on sale
  11. 11.Transfer tax = $8.60 per $1,000
  12. 12.Elliott-Larsen adds age, marital, height/weight
  13. 13.MI redemption period = 6 months residential
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