California: Real Estate Principles Syllabus

Course Description
This course will take you through all the subjects mandated by the California Bureau of Real Estate,
and includes instruction in real estate law, types of interest and ownership in real estate, home
ownership, legal descriptions, titles, liens, taxes, encumbrances, listing advertising, appraisal, finance,
closings, and professional code of ethics.

Course Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student should understand:
1. The California Bureau of Real Estate, including its responsibilities and authority in governing the
real estate profession in the State of California;
2. The issues concerning obtaining a real estate license, including applications, qualifications,
various types of licenses, and educational requirements;
3. How a license can and cannot be used, the rules and regulations concerning real estate offices,
advertising, listing property, delivery of offers to and from consumers, and the role of clerical
personnel in a real estate office;
4. The Federal Fair Housing Act, the California fair housing laws, and the NAR Professional Code of
Ethics, and why each of these is vital to a California real estate licensee's career;
5. The real estate salesperson's and his broker's obligations concerning trust funds and earnest
monies deposited with real estate firms;
6. The facts regarding disclosure of commissions earned to all parties in a transaction;
7. The importance of proper escrow handling, and how the regulations vary between Northern and
Southern California;
8. The purpose of California's Real Estate General Fund and the Real Estate Recovery Fund;
9. Mandated disclosures to real estate clients and consumers in California;
10. Ownership of land and property in California, and how ownership is held and transferred;
11. Real estate taxes and special assessments;
12. Leasehold and freehold estates and interests;
13. Encumbrances, liens, easements and encroachments;
14. Mortgage loans and trust deeds;
15. The federal and state fair lending laws;
16. The mortgage market in California;
17. Types of real estate loans, including governmental and non-governmental loans;
18. Police power, land use restrictions and other public controls;
19. Environmental issues and regulations in California;
20. National and California trade and professional organizations;
21. The differences between real and personal property;
22. California real estate contracts, including listing and purchase agreement specifics;
23. Voluntary and involuntary alienation;
24. Regulations for mobile home sales and mobile home parks in California;
25. FHA, VA, and Cal-Vet loans and the requirements for each;
26. Institutional and non-institutional lenders in California;
27. The methods of real estate appraisal and valuation;
28. The two California subdivision laws and the regulation of subdividers and developers in California;
29. Common interest developments in California; and
30. Brokerage, including business opportunity and mineral, oil, and gas brokerage.

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Timed Course Outline
Chapter 1: Introduction to California Real Estate Principles 45 minutes
Chapter 2: The California State Bureau of Real Estate 150 minutes
Chapter 3: License Law 50 minutes
Chapter 4: Professional Code and Ethics 80 minutes
Chapter 5: Property 50 minutes
Chapter 6: Ownership of Real Property 100 minutes
Chapter 7: Transfer of Interests in Real Property 60 minutes
Chapter 8: Principal Instruments of Transfer 45 minutes
Chapter 9: Escrow 50 minutes
Chapter 10: Leases 55 minutes
Chapter 11: Agency 80 minutes
Chapter 12: Impact of the Penal Code and Other Statutes 40 minutes
Chapter 13: Real Estate Finance 75 minutes
Chapter 14: Institutional Lenders and Government Participation in Real Estate 65 minutes
Finance
Chapter 15: Alternate Forms of Financing 30 minutes
Chapter 16: California Mortgage Loans 40 minutes
Chapter 17: Real Estate Syndicates and Real Estate Investment Trusts 30 minutes
Chapter 18: Appraisal and Valuation Introduction 60 minutes
Chapter 19: Taxation and Assessments 50 minutes
Chapter 20: Subdivisions and Other Public Controls 50 minutes
Chapter 21: Planning and Zoning 40 minutes
Chapter 22: Brokerage 40 minutes
Chapter 23: Contract Provisions and Disclosures in a Residential Real Estate 65 minutes
Transaction
Chapter 24: Trust Funds 35 minutes
Chapter 25: Property Management 35 minutes
Chapter 26: Business Opportunities 30 minutes
Chapter 27: California Law Updates 225 minutes
Chapter 28: Math: Closing Statements 295 minutes
Chapter 29: Practice Exam 1 50 minutes
Chapter 30: Practice Exam 2 50 minutes
Final Exam 180 minutes
Total hours 45 hours

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