Podcast
Real Estate Exam Prep
Hosted by Ran Chen, EA, CFP® · EN
Real Estate Exam Prep is a daily podcast designed to help future real estate agents pass their licensing exams with clarity and confidence.
Built and operated by OpenExamPrep, this podcast breaks down the real estate exam into focused, easy-to-digest episodes covering both the national portion and state-specific requirements. Each episode targets one key concept, common exam trap, or high-frequency test topic—making it ideal for studying during commutes, workouts, or short study sessions.
Created by Ran Chen, EA, CFP®, a financial professional and exam specialist who has personally passed multiple professional licensing exams, Real Estate Exam Prep was developed from firsthand experience with how difficult—and often poorly taught—exam material can be. The goal is simple: make exam preparation clearer, more accessible, and more effective using structured explanations and modern learning tools. Whether you’re just starting your real estate exam journey or reviewing before test day, this podcast is designed to guide you step by step—one concept at a time.
Free practice tools, AI-powered explanations, and additional exam prep resources are available at: https://open-exam-prep.com/
89episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Real Estate Exam [California] 37, Purchase Contracts and Offers
Jul 1100:03:59Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The four essential elements required for a valid and enforceable real estate contract in California. - How the process of offer, acceptance, and counteroffer creates a legally binding agreement. - The critical difference between consideration and an earnest money deposit, a common point of confusion on the exam. - The function of contingencies, such as financing and inspection, and their associated timeframes. - The specific rules governing when a purchase offer can be legally revoked by the offeror. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →Real Estate Exam [California] 36, Buyer Broker Agreements
Jul 1000:03:15Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical difference between exclusive and non-exclusive buyer broker agreements in California. - How broker compensation is determined, negotiated, and handled when a seller's offer differs. - The six fiduciary duties a buyer's agent owes their client, remembered by the acronym OLDCAR. - The specific rules and notice periods for terminating exclusive versus non-exclusive agreements. - The required timing for presenting the agency disclosure form to a potential buyer in California. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →Real Estate Exam [California] 32, Escrow and Closing Process
Jul 600:03:16Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The non-negotiable role of the neutral escrow holder and why it's crucial for the exam. - Why written escrow instructions are the ultimate authority in a transaction, superseding any verbal agreements. - How prorations for expenses like property taxes are calculated and appear as debits and credits on the closing statement. - The critical sequence of events at closing: lender funding followed by recording the deed to officially transfer title. - Common exam traps involving verbal requests, changing instructions, and the absolute conditions required for escrow to close.
Transcribe →Real Estate Exam [California] 31, Deeds and Transfer Documents
Jul 500:04:08Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The two critical implied warranties of a California Grant Deed and how they are tested. - The key differences between a Grant Deed and a Quitclaim Deed, including after-acquired title. - The seven essential elements for a deed to be valid in California, and common exam traps regarding recording and notarization. - How the concepts of delivery, acceptance, and constructive notice are applied in exam scenarios. - The purpose of a Bill of Sale in a real estate transaction and how it differs from a deed. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →Real Estate Exam [California] 30, Title Insurance and Vesting
Jul 400:03:20Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical difference between a preliminary title report and an actual title insurance policy. - How standard CLTA coverage differs from extended ALTA coverage, especially regarding off-record defects. - The key characteristics of Tenancy in Common, including unequal shares and no right of survivorship. - The four unities (TTIP) and the absolute right of survivorship that define Joint Tenancy. - How Community Property with Right of Survivorship provides unique benefits for married couples in California, avoiding probate. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →Real Estate Exam [California] 29, Loan Brokerage and MLO Concepts
Jul 300:03:36Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - When a California real estate licensee needs a Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO) endorsement. - The purpose and timing requirements of the Mortgage Loan Disclosure Statement (MLDS). - Commission and cost limitations for small loans under Article 7 of the Real Estate Law. - The critical usury law exemption for loans arranged by real estate brokers. - Key duties and regulations for brokers handling trust deed investments. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →Real Estate Exam [California] 28, Federal Financing and Credit Laws
Jul 200:00:56Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The primary purpose of RESPA and how illegal kickbacks are tested. - The key disclosures required by the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and Regulation Z. - The strict timing requirements for the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure under the TRID rule. - The protected classes under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and common violation scenarios. - How to distinguish between RESPA, TILA, and ECOA on the California real estate exam. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
Transcribe →Real Estate Exam [California] 27, Loan Types and Financing Sources
Jul 100:05:40Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The key differences between conventional loans and government-backed FHA, VA, and USDA loans. - The specific eligibility requirements and benefits of the California-specific CalHFA loan program. - How adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) work, including the roles of the index, margin, and rate caps. - The characteristics of specialized loans such as reverse mortgages, interest-only loans, and seller financing, including California's disclosure requirements. - The function of the secondary mortgage market and the roles of institutional lenders, private lenders, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac.
Transcribe →Real Estate Exam [California] 26, Notes, Trust Deeds, and Mortgages
Jun 3000:03:06Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why California overwhelmingly uses deeds of trust instead of mortgages and the three parties involved: trustor, beneficiary, and trustee. - The distinct functions of a promissory note as the evidence of debt and a deed of trust as the security instrument. - How the 'power of sale' clause enables non-judicial foreclosure, a key advantage for lenders in California. - The critical difference between an acceleration clause (triggered by default) and an alienation clause (triggered by sale or transfer). - The role of a reconveyance deed in clearing the title after a loan is paid off and the risks of deficiency judgments.
Transcribe →Real Estate Exam [California] 25, Real Estate Math for the California Exam
Jun 2900:04:26Tap to summarizeThis podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to correctly calculate and assign debits and credits for property tax prorations. - The multi-step process for determining an agent's commission after broker splits. - How to calculate Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratios and down payments. - The method for calculating California's specific property and documentary transfer taxes. - Key formulas for capitalization rate and Gross Rent Multiplier (GRM) for income properties. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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