Definition of "Fair market value"

The definition of Fair Market Value in the real estate business is the highest amount that could be received on the sale of a property when there are a willing buyer and a willing seller. But that seems kind of vague, right?

Let’s give Fair Market Value some context:

Truth is whenever a home seller says “I want to sell my house!”, both the home seller and the real estate agent wants to sell the property for the highest price they can, right? However, the home buyer, obviously, wants to buy the house for the lowest price he/she can. So, an “arm wrestling match” regarding the value of the property begins. At the end of that negotiation, when the home seller and the home buyer agree on a price, we have the Fair Market Value of that estate.

Things you should be on the lookout to define a precise Fair Market Value of a property:

- How is the market right now? Do a Comparative Market Analysis.

- Is the house in good conditions? Have a professional Appraisal of the property done.

- How much would it cost to build a new one just like yours? Try the Replacement Cost Approach.

RealEstateAgent.com ADVICE:

Now that you’ve done your homework regarding Fair Market Value the choice is yours: you can either access our Real Estate Agent Directory and search our amazing database for that trustworthy real estate agent that will help you make your house sell, or you can keep searching for other terms on our Real Estate Glossary box below. Good luck!

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

Space that is available to all tenants or owners, such as a courtyard, main entrance, elevator, and pool. ...

Retail businesses in the same locality having a parking lot servicing them. The center may contain a department store, small retailers, and restaurants. There may also be a movie theater. ...

The term annuity due is a contract that demands payment at the beginning of each period. The most common example of an annuity due in real estate is rent when we consider that most ...

Property that is unoccupied and thus not being used. It is usually raw land with no structure or improvements theron. ...

The gross operating income definition is the total income that a real estate development receives from rentals and services before any costs or expenses are subtracted. Gross operating ...

Doing business as, or DBA, means an official moniker for your enterprise or company. Regularly, a DBA is a state certificate serving as a registration name and issued under a ...

The Internal Revenue Code (IRC Sections 1034 and 121) providing that a person over age 55 can sell a principal residence at a gain and exclude once in a life time up to $125,000 of the gain ...

If you're involved in real estate, whether buying, selling, or investing, you might have come across the term "alluvium." It's not just a fancy word but an important concept. Let's delve ...

A mortgage loan is nothing more than a real estate debt instrument. Acquiring a mortgage loan is the most common method of financing a home in America. The benefits are tremendous and ...

Popular Real Estate Questions