What Does the 99 Hour Delaware Real Estate Course Cover?

Written By Danielle Smith

Before applying for a Delaware real estate salesperson license by examination, prospective agents must complete an approved 99 hour Delaware salesperson pre-licensing course.

The course is designed to provide a foundation in real estate sales, Delaware law, financing, contracts, property ownership, settlement procedures, and the calculations commonly used in real estate transactions. Delaware’s regulations divide the required education into primary sections:

  • Real Estate Orientation: 3 hours

  • Real Estate Sales: 36 hours

  • Real Estate Law: 33 hours

  • Real Estate Mathematics: 24 hours

  • Review for Sales, Law, and Mathematics: 3 hours

Together, these sections total a minimum of 99 hours. Approved schools may offer more than 99 hours, but they may not offer fewer than the required minimum.

Here is a closer look at what students can expect to study.

What does the 99 hour Delaware real estate course cover?

Real Estate Orientation: 3 Hours

The course begins with an orientation to the education and licensing process.

This section introduces students to:

  • The requirements for completing the pre-licensing course

  • Delaware’s salesperson licensing requirements

  • The responsibilities and expectations associated with working in real estate

Orientation helps students understand how the course fits into the larger process of becoming licensed. Completing the course is an important step, but students must also pass the required licensing examination, select an employing broker and submit a license application through Delaware’s online licensing system, DELPROS.

Real Estate Sales: 36 Hours

The real estate sales section focuses on the practical knowledge involved in representing buyers and sellers.

Brokerage and agency

Students learn about the relationships between real estate professionals and their clients, including:

  • Brokerage relationships

  • Agency

  • Buyer representation

  • Dual agency

  • The responsibilities owed to clients and customers

Understanding agency is essential because it affects whom the agent represents, what duties the agent owes and how information must be handled during a transaction.

Real estate financing

Students study the practical side of financing, including:

  • Common types of real estate financing

  • Basic buyer qualification

  • How financing affects a buyer’s purchasing ability

  • The role financing plays in a real estate transaction

The purpose is not to train students to become mortgage professionals. It is to give future agents enough working knowledge to communicate responsibly with buyers, sellers, lenders and other professionals.

Fair housing and ethics

The sales curriculum includes dedicated instruction on:

  • Fair housing

  • Ethical conduct

  • Professional responsibilities

  • Equal access to housing

These subjects are central to lawful and responsible real estate practice.

Environmental and property concerns

Students are also introduced to property related concerns that may affect a transaction, including:

  • Soil conditions

  • Septic systems

  • Wells

  • Wetlands

  • Radon

  • Asbestos

  • Storage tanks

  • Wood destroying insect infestation

Real estate agents are not expected to replace qualified inspectors or environmental specialists. They do need to recognize issues that may require disclosure, investigation or professional evaluation.

Real Estate Law: 33 Hours

The law portion explains the legal framework governing property ownership and real estate transactions in Delaware.

Delaware license law

Students study Delaware’s real estate license laws, rules and regulations.

This includes the standards that apply to licensed salespersons and the authority of the Delaware Real Estate Commission, which licenses and regulates Delaware real estate brokers, associate brokers and salespersons.

Property interests and ownership

The course covers different interests in real property and common forms of ownership.

Students learn that ownership can take different legal forms and that those forms can affect:

  • The rights of the owners

  • The transfer of the property

  • Inheritance

  • Liability

  • The ability to sell or finance the property

Legal descriptions, surveys and title

Students receive instruction on:

  • Legal property descriptions

  • Surveys

  • Title transfers

  • Public title records

These concepts help students understand how real property is identified, documented and legally transferred.

Contracts

The course covers real estate contracts, including listing agreements and commonly used sales contracts.

Students learn about the legal elements of an agreement and the importance of accurately completing and communicating documents. Real estate licensees use forms in their work, but they must also understand the limits of their role and avoid providing legal advice.

Land use and development

The law curriculum also addresses:

  • Subdivision

  • Property development

  • Zoning

These topics help students understand how government rules and land-use restrictions can affect how a property may be divided, developed or used.

Settlement and taxation

Students learn about settlement procedures and review the documents and financial information associated with closing a real estate transaction.

The course also introduces tax-related topics such as:

  • Property ownership

  • Investment real estate

  • Transfer tax

  • Tax deferred exchanges

  • The treatment of certain gains and vacation properties

Real estate agents are not tax advisers, but they need enough general knowledge to recognize when a client should consult a qualified tax professional.

Real Estate Mathematics: 24 Hours

Real estate math is one of the sections that prospective students often ask about. The course begins with a review of basic mathematics as needed and then applies those skills to common real estate situations.

Students may work through calculations involving:

  • List price and sales price

  • Commission rates and commission amounts

  • Mortgage payments

  • Principal, interest, taxes and insurance

  • Simple interest

  • Loan amortization

  • Discount points

  • Private mortgage insurance

  • Assessed value and property taxes

  • Transfer taxes

  • Prorations

  • Property area and volume

  • Heated square footage

  • Appreciation and depreciation

  • Basic appraisal calculations

  • Buyer funds needed at closing

  • Seller proceeds at closing

The purpose is not simply to memorize formulas. Students need to understand which calculation applies to a particular situation and how to interpret the result.

Course Reviews and Examinations

Delaware’s required hour allocation includes review and examinations within the sales, law and mathematics sections.

Completing the school’s pre-licensing course requirements allows a student to receive the course completion certificate needed for the next stage of licensing. The school course examination and the state licensing examination are not the same test.

After completing the approved 99 hour course, an examination applicant must pass both the general and Delaware law portions of the salesperson licensing examination administered by Pearson VUE. The course provides the required education and foundation, but students should still review the current candidate handbook and examination content outline when preparing for the licensing exam.

Does the Course Teach You How to Run a Real Estate Business?

The 99 hour course teaches the legal, mathematical and practical foundations required before licensure. It is not intended to cover every skill an agent will eventually need to build and operate a successful real estate business.

After becoming licensed, a new agent will continue learning subjects such as:

  • Lead generation

  • Database management

  • Client communication

  • Marketing

  • Time management

  • Brokerage systems

  • Local market knowledge

  • Contract application

  • Transaction management

The education does not stop when the pre-licensing course ends. Delaware also requires newly licensed salespersons to complete specific new salesperson education after initial licensure.

Your Next Step

Delaware’s 99 hour real estate course covers considerably more than basic sales techniques. It introduces students to the laws, documents, calculations and professional responsibilities involved in helping people buy, sell, lease and manage real property.

For many students, the course is their first detailed look at how a real estate transaction works from beginning to end. Understanding what the course covers can help you decide whether real estate education fits your interests, learning style and career goals. When you are ready to continue your research, review the full process in our guide: How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Delaware

About the Author

Danielle Smith is a Delaware native and the Owner of Central Delaware Real Estate Academy. She started her real estate journey in 2007 with a local brokerage where she continues to serve today. As a local real estate leader, she helps professionals build profitable businesses through the right relationships, clear strategies, and proven systems.

Danielle Smith
Next

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Real Estate License in Delaware?