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Course 1: Real Estate Essentials Study Guide
The foundational course for Ontario real estate licensing. Covers TRESA, the regulatory framework, RECO standards, property ownership, land registration, and the legal responsibilities of a registrant.
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This is the difficulty and format you'll see in the Course 1 practice bank. Pick an answer and read the explanation.
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Under TRESA, when a registrant acts as a designated representative for a buyer, they must:
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Key terms in Course 1
Plain-English definitions of the terms tested most heavily in this course. Each links to a deeper write-up with examples and exam scenarios.
CREA
The Canadian Real Estate Association: the national trade association that owns the Realtor® trademark, operates Realtor.ca, and represents real estate boards across Canada. CREA is not a regulator.
Designated Representation
A TRESA-era arrangement in which an Ontario brokerage assigns specific registrants to represent specific clients, allowing one brokerage to represent both the buyer and seller in a transaction without the brokerage itself being in multiple representation. Each designated registrant owes their assigned client full client-level duties.
Easement
A non-possessory right granted to one party to use a portion of another party's land for a specific purpose, registered on title and binding on future owners.
Encroachment
An unauthorized intrusion by one property onto a neighbouring property: a fence, deck, eaves, driveway, or structure that crosses a registered boundary line.
Errors and Omissions Insurance
Mandatory professional liability insurance carried by every Ontario real estate brokerage and registrant under TRESA, covering claims arising from negligent acts, errors, or omissions in the course of practice. Provided through RECO's insurance program.
FINTRAC (Real Estate)
Canada's federal financial intelligence unit, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre. Real estate brokerages and registrants must verify client identity, keep prescribed records, and report large cash transactions and suspicious transactions to FINTRAC under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.
Minor Variance
A small permitted deviation from a municipality's zoning by-law, granted by the local Committee of Adjustment under section 45 of the Ontario Planning Act. Allows a property owner to vary specific zoning requirements (setbacks, height, lot coverage) without amending the by-law itself.
Multiple Representation
When one Ontario brokerage represents more than one party in the same transaction, most commonly the buyer and seller. Permitted under TRESA only with informed written acknowledgment from every represented party. Often called 'double ending'.
REBBA
The Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, 2002: the predecessor legislation that regulated Ontario real estate trading from 2006 until December 1, 2023, when it was renamed and replaced in full effect by the Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA).
REBBA 2002
The Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, 2002: Ontario's predecessor real estate legislation, in force from 2006 until renamed to TRESA on December 1, 2023. Long-tail variant; see /glossary/rebba for the full historical context.
RECO
The Real Estate Council of Ontario: the provincial regulator that administers the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, registers brokerages and registrants, runs the discipline process, and operates the mandatory insurance program.
TRESA
The Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002: Ontario's consumer protection legislation governing real estate trading. Came fully into force April 1, 2023, replacing the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act (REBBA).
What is RECO?
RECO is the Real Estate Council of Ontario, the provincial regulator that administers TRESA, registers brokerages and registrants, and runs the discipline process. Long-tail variant. See /glossary/reco for the full definition.
What is TRESA?
TRESA is the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002: Ontario's consumer-protection legislation governing real estate trading, in full force since December 1, 2023. Long-tail variant of /glossary/tresa.
Zoning (Ontario)
Municipal land-use regulations enacted under the Planning Act that control how property can be used, what can be built on it, and at what scale. Each Ontario municipality publishes a zoning by-law that divides the city into zones (residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use) with specific rules per zone.
See the full Ontario real estate glossary.
Your study experience
Everything you need to pass, practice questions, AI explanations, spaced repetition, and progress tracking.
Under TRESA, when must a salesperson disclose a material latent defect?
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The SM-2 algorithm resurfaces questions you got wrong at the exact moment before you would have forgotten them.
Topics mastered
8 of 12
Weakest area
Land Registration
12 topics · 12 study guides
Every topic comes with a written study guide
Each topic below includes a plain-English summary of the textbook material, the key rules and definitions, worked math examples where applicable, and the exam-style traps that catch first-time candidates. Read on desktop or on your phone, anywhere you have a few minutes.
Introduction to Real Estate in Ontario
Overview of the Ontario real estate industry, career paths, and the registration requirements for becoming a salesperson.
The Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA)
Core provisions of TRESA including designated representation, self-represented parties, and how the Act governs registrant conduct.
RECO and the Regulatory Framework
Role of the Real Estate Council of Ontario, its mandate, registration classes, and how disciplinary processes work.
Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practice
RECO Code of Ethics obligations covering honesty, fairness, conflicts of interest, and the duty to clients and the public.
Property Ownership and Rights
Types of property ownership in Ontario including freehold, leasehold, condominium, co-operative, and various forms of co-ownership.
Land Description and Registration Systems
Ontario's two land registration systems — Registry Act and Land Titles Act — and how legal property descriptions are structured.
Planning and Land Use Controls
Municipal zoning, official plans, severances, variances, and the role of the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal in Ontario.
Environmental Issues in Real Estate
Disclosure obligations, environmental contamination, designated substances, and the registrant's duty when environmental concerns arise.
Residential Property Types and Characteristics
Physical and legal characteristics of common Ontario residential property types including detached, semi-detached, townhouse, and condominium.
Legal Responsibilities and Obligations
Registrant duties under TRESA, agency relationships, disclosure requirements, and liability exposure when obligations are breached.
Introduction to Real Estate Financing
Fundamentals of mortgage financing including first and second mortgages, amortization, payment structures, and the role of lenders in a transaction.
Property Valuation Basics
Introduction to the three approaches to value — sales comparison, cost, and income — and how registrants use comparative market analysis.
Why ExamAce for Course 1?
| Feature | ExamAce | Passit |
|---|---|---|
| Access | All 26 courses with one plan, cancel anytime. | Access window of 6–10 weeks per course. |
| AI tutor | Ask why any answer is wrong and get an instant explanation. | No AI tutor, static explanations only. |
| Spaced repetition | SM-2 algorithm resurfaces your weak questions automatically. | No spaced repetition system. |
| Price | $29.99/mo or $129/6mo, all 26 courses. | ~$43/mo per course on a per-course window. |
On the ground at Humber Polytechnic
We meet candidates where they study
The ExamAce team is on Humber's North campus during student events, talking to candidates about what trips them up on Course 1 and where they want better prep.
That direct feedback is why our questions match what students actually see on the real exam, not what an out-of-touch question writer thinks should be tested.
“Built from the official RECO competency framework and aligned to the Humber College curriculum. Every question reviewed through 7 QA passes against current Ontario statutes.”
What students say
“I passed Course 1 on my first try with a 92%. The spaced repetition feature was a game-changer, I knew exactly what to study each day instead of re-reading the whole textbook.”
“The AI tutor explained TRESA concepts better than my textbook did. Every time I got a question wrong it told me exactly why, and pointed me to the section that tested it. Worth every penny.”
“I had an exam the next day and panicked. ExamAce’s practice mode let me hammer 150 questions in two hours and the explanations stuck. Walked out of Humber knowing I’d passed before I saw the score.”
“Tried Passit first. The 6-week access window stressed me out — I was rushing through instead of actually learning. ExamAce’s monthly subscription let me slow down and re-tackle weak topics. Passed first try with 88%.”
“Math was always my weak spot. The progress dashboard showed me where I was losing points and the spaced repetition kept those questions in front of me until I didn’t miss them. Worth every cent.”
“I’m a slow studier and I worried I’d run out of time on the timed simulator. Practiced timed exams 4 weeks straight before my Course 1. Showed up calm, finished with 30 minutes to spare. Highly recommend.”
Real students
Hear from Humber real estate students
10-second stories from students using ExamAce to prepare for the Humber program.
Frequently asked questions
How many practice questions are in the Course 1 study guide?
The Course 1 guide includes over 870 practice questions, organized by topic and available in a timed exam simulator mode that mimics the real 100-question exam format.
Does ExamAce cover the actual Humber Course 1 exam format?
Yes. Questions are written to match the difficulty and style of the Humber College Course 1 exam, targeting the 75% passing threshold. The exam simulator replicates the timed, multiple-choice format you will face on exam day.
Can I access the Course 1 guide on my phone?
Yes. ExamAce is a progressive web app (PWA) that works on any device, iPhone, Android, tablet, or desktop. You can download it to your home screen for offline access so you can study anywhere, even without a connection.
Studying for the exam? Read the Course 1 exam study guide — exam format, high-yield topics, and common traps.
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