Texas Real Estate Sales Agent ExamValuation and Market AnalysisMedium

A buyer's agent is conducting a CMA for a client interested in purchasing a property. The agent finds a comparable property that sold last month for $350,000. This comparable property has an attached two-car garage, while the subject property has a detached one-car garage. The market value difference for the garage types is estimated at $15,000 in favor of the attached two-car garage. How should the agent adjust the comparable property?

  1. ANo adjustment is needed, as garage types are subjective.
  2. BAdd $15,000 to the subject property's value.
  3. CAdd $15,000 to the comparable's sales price.
  4. DSubtract $15,000 from the comparable's sales price.
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D. Subtract $15,000 from the comparable's sales price.

When a comparable property is superior to the subject property in a specific feature, the value of that superior feature is subtracted from the comparable's sales price. In this case, the comparable's attached two-car garage is superior to the subject's detached one-car garage by $15,000, so $15,000 must be subtracted from the comparable's price.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Garage types represent a measurable difference in utility and value and require adjustment.
  • B. Adjustments are always made to the comparable properties, not the subject property.
  • C. Adding would imply the comparable is inferior, which is not the case here.

CMA Superior Comp Adjustment

If a comparable property has a feature that is superior to the subject property, the estimated value of that superior feature is subtracted from the comparable's sales price.

  • Adjustments are made to comparables.
  • Superior feature on comparable means subtract.
  • Makes comparable more like the subject.

Memory trick: If the 'C'omparable is 'S'uperior, 'S'ubtract, if 'C'omparable is 'I'nferior, 'I'ncrease.

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