Real Estate Investing Real Estate Investing Property Valuation Techniques Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A residential property generates $2,400 per month in rental income. Using a capitalization rate of 8%, what is the estimated property value using the income approach?
- $360,000 (Correct answer)
- $300,000
- $288,000
- $400,000
Correct answer: $360,000
Annual income of $28,800 divided by a cap rate of 0.08 equals $360,000.
Question 2: Which appraisal method is most appropriate for valuing a newly constructed single-family home in a subdivision with many recent sales?
- Sales comparison approach (Correct answer)
- Income capitalization approach
- Cost approach
- Gross rent multiplier method
Correct answer: Sales comparison approach
The sales comparison approach is ideal when there are abundant comparable recent sales of similar properties.
Question 3: What does the gross rent multiplier (GRM) represent in property valuation?
- The ratio of property price to gross annual rental income (Correct answer)
- The ratio of net operating income to property price
- The ratio of operating expenses to gross income
- The ratio of debt service to net income
Correct answer: The ratio of property price to gross annual rental income
GRM is calculated by dividing the property price by its gross annual rental income.
Question 4: In the cost approach to valuation, which type of depreciation accounts for losses in value due to factors outside the property boundaries?
- External obsolescence (Correct answer)
- Functional obsolescence
- Physical deterioration
- Curable depreciation
Correct answer: External obsolescence
External obsolescence refers to value loss caused by factors external to the property such as neighborhood decline or environmental hazards.
Question 5: An investor is analyzing two comparable properties but one has a swimming pool valued at $25,000 that the subject property lacks. How should this be handled in the sales comparison approach?
- Subtract $25,000 from the comparable's sale price (Correct answer)
- Add $25,000 to the comparable's sale price
- Add $25,000 to the subject property's value
- Ignore the difference as immaterial
Correct answer: Subtract $25,000 from the comparable's sale price
When a comparable has a feature the subject lacks, you subtract that feature's value from the comparable's price to make them equivalent.
Question 6: Which factor would most likely cause functional obsolescence in a commercial property?
- An outdated floor plan that cannot accommodate modern office layouts (Correct answer)
- Cracking in the foundation due to settling
- A new highway ramp creating excessive noise nearby
- Normal wear and tear on the roof over 20 years
Correct answer: An outdated floor plan that cannot accommodate modern office layouts
Functional obsolescence results from design deficiencies or outdated features within the property itself that reduce its utility.
A residential property generates $2,400 per month in rental income.
Using a capitalization rate of 8%, what is the estimated property value using the income approach?