6/17/23, 7:02 AM Real Estate Principles A Value Approach Book Solutions
CHAPTER 1
THE NATURE OF REAL ESTATE AND REAL ESTATE MARKETS
Test Problems
1. A market where tenants negotiate rent and other terms with property owners or their
managers is referred to as a:
b. User market
2. The market in which required rates of return on available investment opportunities are
determined is referred to as the:
d. Capital market
3. The actions of local, state, and federal governments affect real estate values
d. All of the above
4. Approximately what portion of U.S. households own their own home?
b. Approximately two-thirds
5. Of the following asset categories, which class has the greatest aggregate market value?
d. Real estate
6. Storm water drainage systems are best described as:
b. Improvements to the land
7. What is the single largest asset category, in terms of value, in the portfolio of the typical
U.S. household?
a. Real estate
8. Real estate markets differ from other asset classes by having all of the following
characteristics except:
d. Homogeneous product
9. Which of the following is not important to the location of commercial properties?
c. Access to schools
Study Questions
1. The term real estate can be used in three fundamental ways. List these three alternative
uses or definitions.
Solution: Real estate is most commonly defined as land and any improvements made to
or on the land, including fixed structures and infrastructure components. The term is also
used to describe the “bundle of rights” associated with the ownership and use of the
physical characteristics of space and location. Finally, real estate may be described as the
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business activities related to the development, construction, acquisition, operation, and
disposition of real property assets.
2. The U.S. represents about 6 percent of the earth’s land service, or approximately 2.3
billion acres. Who actually owns this land? What is the distribution of this land among
the various uses (e.g., developed land, federal, land, forest land).
Solution: Developed land, consisting of residential, industrial, commercial, and
institutional land, represents approximately 6 percent of the total land in the U.S. Federal
lands and water areas occupy about 23 percent of the land; crop land and CRP land
represent about 21 percent; and pasture land comprises about 6 percent of the land.
Finally, the remaining land is divided between range land and forest land, with each
representing 21 percent of all U.S land.
3. Describe the value of U.S. real estate by comparing it to the values of other asset classes
(e.g., stocks, bonds).
Solution: As of September 2005, real estate (including owner-occupied housing, but
excluding real estate held by non-real estate corporations) was the single largest asset
class in the U.S., valued at approximately $23.4 trillion. Publicly traded corporate
equities equated to about $17.2 trillion of the U.S. market. The value of mortgage debt is
approximately $11.1 trillion. This is larger than the existing stock of both corporate and
foreign bonds and the outstanding value of U.S. Treasury Securities.
4. How much of the wealth of a typical U.S. household is tied up in real estate? How does
this compare to the role that assets and investments play in the portfolios of U.S.
households?
Solution: Real estate is the single largest asset in the typical U.S. household’s portfolio,
representing approximately 30 percent of household wealth in September of 2005. In
comparison, the total value of corporate stocks and mutual fund shares represents 16
percent of household assets. Pension reserves, excluding stocks, represent 17 percent of
household assets. Deposits and money market funds represent 9 percent of household
assets.
5. Real estate assets and markets are unique when compared to other assets or markets.
Discuss the primary ways that real estate markets are different from the markets for other
asset that trade in well-developed public markets.
Solution: Real estate is unlike other asset classes because it is heterogeneous and
immobile. Real estate assets have unique and distinctive characteristics, such as age,
building design, and location. Real estate is also immobile; therefore, location is an
important attribute. Because real estate assets are heterogeneous and immobile, real estate
markets are localized. Potential users of real property and competing real estate are
typically located in the same area or region. Additionally, real estate markets are highly
segmented because of their heterogeneous nature. Therefore, potential users of a specific
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type of real property generally do not seek to substitute one property category for
another. Finally, most real estate transactions are privately negotiated and have relatively
high transaction costs.
6. Explain the role of government in real estate at the federal, state, and local level. Which
has the most significant impact on real estate markets?
Solution: Local government has the most influence on real estate markets. It affects the
supply and cost of real estate through zoning and land use regulations, fees on new land
development, and restrictive building codes. It also affects rental rates through the
assessment of property taxes. Finally, local government affects the supply and quality of
real estate through the provision of community infrastructure and through building codes.
The Federal government influences real estate through income tax policy, housing
subsidy programs, federal financial reporting requirements, fair housing laws, and
disclosure laws. State government generally has the least influence on real estate. State
government affects real estate through the licensing of real estate professionals,
establishment of statewide building codes, the creation of fair housing and disclosure
laws, and through numerous housing related subsides for low and moderate income
households. In addition, the state may protect some environmentally sensitive lands from
development.
7. Identify and describe the interaction of the three economic sectors that affect real estate
value.
Solution: The three economic sectors that influence real estate value are user markets,
capital markets, and government. In real estate user markets, households and firms
compete for physical location and space. This competition determines who will obtain the
use of a specific property and how much will be paid for the use of this property. Capital
markets provide the financial resources necessary for the development and acquisition of
real estate assets. Real estate competes for resources against other investment
opportunities in the capital market based on investor required rates of returns and risk
considerations. Capital markets are segregated into two categories: equity interests and
debt interests. Government influences the interaction between the user markets and
capital markets through tax policy, regulations, provisions of services and infrastructure,
subsidies and other means.
8. Real estate construction is a volatile process determined by the interaction of the user and
capital markets. What signals do real estate producers use to manage this process? What
other factors affect the volatility of real estate production?
Solution: When real estate market prices exceed the cost of production, this signals
producers to build, or add additional supply. As the supply of real estate increases, rental
rates decline in the user market, which lowers property values and signals the real estate
market to slow the production of real estate. Furthermore, shocks in the capital markets
and the volatility of construction costs add to the volatility of real estate production. For
example, higher interest rates adversely affect property values, all else equal, thereby
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reducing the attractiveness of new construction. Additionally, shortages of key building
materials and organized labor disputes may contribute to the volatility of real estate
production.
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CHAPTER 1
THE NATURE OF REAL ESTATE AND REAL ESTATE MARKETS
Test Problems
1. A market where tenants negotiate rent and other terms with property owners or their
managers is referred to as a:
b. User market
2. The market in which required rates of return on available investment opportunities are
determined is referred to as the:
d. Capital market
3. The actions of local, state, and federal governments affect real estate values
d. All of the above
4. Approximately what portion of U.S. households own their own home?
b. Approximately two-thirds
5. Of the following asset categories, which class has the greatest aggregate market value?
d. Real estate
6. Storm water drainage systems are best described as:
b. Improvements to the land
7. What is the single largest asset category, in terms of value, in the portfolio of the typical
U.S. household?
a. Real estate
8. Real estate markets differ from other asset classes by having all of the following
characteristics except:
d. Homogeneous product
9. Which of the following is not important to the location of commercial properties?
c. Access to schools
Study Questions
1. The term real estate can be used in three fundamental ways. List these three alternative
uses or definitions.
Solution: Real estate is most commonly defined as land and any improvements made to
or on the land, including fixed structures and infrastructure components. The term is also
used to describe the “bundle of rights” associated with the ownership and use of the
physical characteristics of space and location. Finally, real estate may be described as the
1-1
about:blank 1/117
,6/17/23, 7:02 AM Real Estate Principles A Value Approach Book Solutions
business activities related to the development, construction, acquisition, operation, and
disposition of real property assets.
2. The U.S. represents about 6 percent of the earth’s land service, or approximately 2.3
billion acres. Who actually owns this land? What is the distribution of this land among
the various uses (e.g., developed land, federal, land, forest land).
Solution: Developed land, consisting of residential, industrial, commercial, and
institutional land, represents approximately 6 percent of the total land in the U.S. Federal
lands and water areas occupy about 23 percent of the land; crop land and CRP land
represent about 21 percent; and pasture land comprises about 6 percent of the land.
Finally, the remaining land is divided between range land and forest land, with each
representing 21 percent of all U.S land.
3. Describe the value of U.S. real estate by comparing it to the values of other asset classes
(e.g., stocks, bonds).
Solution: As of September 2005, real estate (including owner-occupied housing, but
excluding real estate held by non-real estate corporations) was the single largest asset
class in the U.S., valued at approximately $23.4 trillion. Publicly traded corporate
equities equated to about $17.2 trillion of the U.S. market. The value of mortgage debt is
approximately $11.1 trillion. This is larger than the existing stock of both corporate and
foreign bonds and the outstanding value of U.S. Treasury Securities.
4. How much of the wealth of a typical U.S. household is tied up in real estate? How does
this compare to the role that assets and investments play in the portfolios of U.S.
households?
Solution: Real estate is the single largest asset in the typical U.S. household’s portfolio,
representing approximately 30 percent of household wealth in September of 2005. In
comparison, the total value of corporate stocks and mutual fund shares represents 16
percent of household assets. Pension reserves, excluding stocks, represent 17 percent of
household assets. Deposits and money market funds represent 9 percent of household
assets.
5. Real estate assets and markets are unique when compared to other assets or markets.
Discuss the primary ways that real estate markets are different from the markets for other
asset that trade in well-developed public markets.
Solution: Real estate is unlike other asset classes because it is heterogeneous and
immobile. Real estate assets have unique and distinctive characteristics, such as age,
building design, and location. Real estate is also immobile; therefore, location is an
important attribute. Because real estate assets are heterogeneous and immobile, real estate
markets are localized. Potential users of real property and competing real estate are
typically located in the same area or region. Additionally, real estate markets are highly
segmented because of their heterogeneous nature. Therefore, potential users of a specific
1-2
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,6/17/23, 7:02 AM Real Estate Principles A Value Approach Book Solutions
type of real property generally do not seek to substitute one property category for
another. Finally, most real estate transactions are privately negotiated and have relatively
high transaction costs.
6. Explain the role of government in real estate at the federal, state, and local level. Which
has the most significant impact on real estate markets?
Solution: Local government has the most influence on real estate markets. It affects the
supply and cost of real estate through zoning and land use regulations, fees on new land
development, and restrictive building codes. It also affects rental rates through the
assessment of property taxes. Finally, local government affects the supply and quality of
real estate through the provision of community infrastructure and through building codes.
The Federal government influences real estate through income tax policy, housing
subsidy programs, federal financial reporting requirements, fair housing laws, and
disclosure laws. State government generally has the least influence on real estate. State
government affects real estate through the licensing of real estate professionals,
establishment of statewide building codes, the creation of fair housing and disclosure
laws, and through numerous housing related subsides for low and moderate income
households. In addition, the state may protect some environmentally sensitive lands from
development.
7. Identify and describe the interaction of the three economic sectors that affect real estate
value.
Solution: The three economic sectors that influence real estate value are user markets,
capital markets, and government. In real estate user markets, households and firms
compete for physical location and space. This competition determines who will obtain the
use of a specific property and how much will be paid for the use of this property. Capital
markets provide the financial resources necessary for the development and acquisition of
real estate assets. Real estate competes for resources against other investment
opportunities in the capital market based on investor required rates of returns and risk
considerations. Capital markets are segregated into two categories: equity interests and
debt interests. Government influences the interaction between the user markets and
capital markets through tax policy, regulations, provisions of services and infrastructure,
subsidies and other means.
8. Real estate construction is a volatile process determined by the interaction of the user and
capital markets. What signals do real estate producers use to manage this process? What
other factors affect the volatility of real estate production?
Solution: When real estate market prices exceed the cost of production, this signals
producers to build, or add additional supply. As the supply of real estate increases, rental
rates decline in the user market, which lowers property values and signals the real estate
market to slow the production of real estate. Furthermore, shocks in the capital markets
and the volatility of construction costs add to the volatility of real estate production. For
example, higher interest rates adversely affect property values, all else equal, thereby
1-3
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, 6/17/23, 7:02 AM Real Estate Principles A Value Approach Book Solutions
reducing the attractiveness of new construction. Additionally, shortages of key building
materials and organized labor disputes may contribute to the volatility of real estate
production.
1-4
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