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sales-comparison-approacheasy

An appraiser identifies two comparable sales that are identical except that Comparable A has a finished basement of 600 square feet and sold for $426,000, while Comparable B has no finished basement and sold for $402,000. Both sales closed within 14 days of each other in a stable market. What is the indicated paired adjustment for a finished basement, expressed as a dollar amount per square foot?

Correct Answer

C) $40.00 per square foot

The price difference is $426,000 − $402,000 = $24,000. The only physical difference is the 600-square-foot finished basement. Therefore, the paired adjustment is $24,000 ÷ 600 sq ft = $40.00 per square foot. This is a direct application of paired data analysis per USPAP Standards Rule 1-4(b), which requires adjustments to be supported by market evidence — here, the single-point comparison isolates the contribution of the finished basement.

Answer Options
A
$30.00 per square foot
B
$36.00 per square foot
C
$40.00 per square foot
D
$42.00 per square foot

Why This Is the Correct Answer

The price difference is $426,000 − $402,000 = $24,000. The only physical difference is the 600-square-foot finished basement. Therefore, the paired adjustment is $24,000 ÷ 600 sq ft = $40.00 per square foot. This is a direct application of paired data analysis per USPAP Standards Rule 1-4(b), which requires adjustments to be supported by market evidence — here, the single-point comparison isolates the contribution of the finished basement.

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