What is the exam-ready answer?
| Roadmap lesson | 116 of 500 |
|---|---|
| Official syllabus topic | Antitrust: Price Fixing, Market Allocation, Boycotts, and Tie-Ins |
| Official PSI area | Practice of Real Estate |
| Published area weight | 12% of the 100-question national portion |
| Exam portion | National salesperson portion |
| Source edition | PSI Georgia Candidate Information Bulletin dated July 1, 2026 |
| Last verified | August 2, 2026 |
The Rule
PSI publishes the weight for the complete content area, not a fixed question count for this lesson. Learn the rule well enough to apply it when PSI changes names, numbers, or parties in a new scenario.
Complete lesson
Read each concept as part of one decision system. The exam often gives one accurate statement and three statements that belong to a nearby concept.
Agreement is the core
Competitors do not need a signed document. Conversations, signals, association meetings, messaging, or coordinated patterns can evidence an agreement. Independently reaching similar decisions is different.
Price fixing
Agreements on commission percentages, minimum fees, buyer-broker charges, cooperative compensation, discounts, or service-price relationships can suppress competition. Fees must be independently established and negotiated.
Allocation and boycotts
Competitors cannot agree to divide neighborhoods, clients, listings, or property types, or collectively refuse to work with a discount firm to force conformity.
Tie-ins and lawful choice
Requiring an unrelated second product can create tying risk when legal elements are met. Referrals should preserve consumer choice, disclose relationships, and comply with settlement law.
Decision rule
Georgia-specific distinction
Worked example
Scenario. Four competing brokers agree none will list property below a six-percent commission.
Reason it through. The competitors made a horizontal agreement controlling price rather than deciding fees independently.
Answer. This is classic price fixing.
Common exam traps
- Thinking only written agreements count
- Calling commission standard
- Confusing independent parallel choices with agreement
- Using an association meeting to coordinate fees
Original practice questions with detailed explanations
These questions were written for instruction and mapped to the current outline. They are not copied from PSI or any live examination. Choose an answer before opening the explanation.
Question 1Competitors divide a city into exclusive territories. What is this?
- A. Market allocation
- B. Puffing
- C. Subagency
- D. Novation
Show answer and explanation →
Answer: A. Market allocation
Territorial division prevents competition for customers in the allocated areas.
Question 2Competing firms jointly refuse to cooperate with a discount brokerage. What concern arises?
- A. Group boycott
- B. Escheat
- C. Variance
- D. Redlining only
Show answer and explanation →
Answer: A. Group boycott
A coordinated refusal to deal can unlawfully restrict market access and competition.
Question 3How should a brokerage set its fees?
- A. Independently and through client negotiation
- B. At the MLS minimum
- C. By competitor vote
- D. At a state-fixed rate
Show answer and explanation →
Answer: A. Independently and through client negotiation
Independent pricing and negotiation preserve competition.
Mastery tracking
Mark this lesson mastered only when every statement is true.
- State the direct answer and decision rule without notes.
- Explain every core concept in plain English.
- Solve the worked example after changing one important fact.
- Identify the Georgia distinction before reading answer choices.
- Answer all three questions correctly and reject every distractor.
- Repeat the topic in mixed practice on a later day.
Recommended next lesson
Continue with Do-Not-Call, Social Media, Internet Advertising, and Communication. Continue to roadmap lesson 117 and build on this decision rule.
Return to the Practice of Real Estate hub to see every official branch and the complete lesson sequence for this content area.