A site rises 15 feet over 100 feet of horizontal distance. What follows for site analysis?
Correct Answer
D) The slope is 15%; design costs and market effects need study
The rise-to-run slope is 15/100=15%. Whether grading, retaining structures or another design is needed depends on the proposal and site information. Analyze supported costs and buyer response; views and design opportunities may also matter, so slope alone is not a universal deduction.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option D is correct because the slope is 15 feet of rise over 100 feet of run, or 15%. Whether grading, retaining walls or a different design is needed depends on the proposed use and site information. The appraiser analyzes supported costs and buyer response, recognizing that views or design opportunities may also matter.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: A 15% slope means there will be no added development cost
Option A says a 15% slope means no added development cost. A slope of that size may require grading, retaining structures or design changes, so ruling out added cost is unsupported without analysis.
Option B: A 15% slope means the site will command a view premium
Option B says a 15% slope means the site will command a view premium. A slope can create view opportunities, but whether the market pays a premium depends on the actual view and buyer response, not on the slope alone.
Option C: A 15% slope makes development of the site physically impossible
Option C says a 15% slope makes development physically impossible. Sites with this slope can often be developed with appropriate design, so impossibility does not follow from the percentage.
Rise over run, then analyze
Slope percent equals rise divided by run times 100; the number starts the analysis, it does not finish it.
How to use: Use this whenever a question gives a rise and a horizontal distance.
Exam Tip
Compute the percentage, then pick the answer that calls for analysis of cost and market effect rather than one that jumps to a fixed conclusion.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- -Dividing run by rise instead of rise by run
- -Assuming any noticeable slope makes a site undevelopable
- -Applying a fixed premium or discount for slope without market support
Concept Deep Dive
Analysis
This question tests slope calculation and how slope fits into site analysis. Rise divided by run gives 15 / 100 = 15%, but the value consequence depends on the proposed design, costs and market response rather than on the percentage alone.
Background Knowledge
Slope is expressed as rise over run times 100. Topography affects physical adaptability, development cost and marketability, and Fannie Mae expects the site's size, shape and topography to be generally conforming and acceptable in the market area. The value effect is measured with cost and market evidence.
Real-World Application
An appraiser values a hillside lot with a 15% grade. The appraiser checks comparable hillside sales and builder cost information for foundation and retaining work, and considers whether the elevated view offsets those costs in that market.
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