Property Description
Site analysis, building construction, property inspection, legal descriptions, zoning, and physical characteristics affecting value.
About Property Description on the Appraiser Exam
Under the 2026 AQB content outline, Property Description accounts for 10% of the Licensed Residential exam, 11.8% of Certified Residential, and 10.9% of Certified General. This section covers site analysis, building construction, property inspection, legal descriptions, zoning, and physical characteristics affecting value. Below you will find 200 free practice questions with detailed explanations to help you master this topic and pass your level's exam on the first attempt. The exam reports a scaled score; 75 is the passing scaled score and does NOT equal a raw 75% on practice questions. Scaled scoring adjusts for form difficulty.
Practice Questions
A property is located in FEMA Flood Zone AE with a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) of 485 feet. The lowest floor of the structure is at 487 feet. This means:
HARDWhich foundation type is most susceptible to moisture problems?
MEDIUMIn a leasehold estate, the tenant's interest in the property is called:
EASYProperty zoned as R-2 typically allows for:
EASYA rectangular lot measures 150 feet by 200 feet. What is the area of the lot in square feet?
EASYIn the rectangular survey system, a section contains how many acres?
EASYA property is located in a 100-year flood zone. This means the property has what probability of flooding in any given year?
MEDIUMIn a metes and bounds description, the term 'metes' refers to:
EASYA 2,400 square foot house has only one bathroom and no dining room. For a typical family, this represents:
MEDIUMA rectangular lot measures 150 feet by 200 feet. What is the area in square feet?
EASYAn irregular shaped lot has an area of 87,120 square feet. How many acres is this?
EASYWhen appraising a tenant's interest in a property under a long-term lease with below-market rent, the appraiser is valuing which property right?
MEDIUMA triangular lot has a base of 120 feet and a height of 80 feet. What is the area in square feet?
EASYA warehouse building measures 100 feet by 150 feet with a ceiling height of 20 feet. What is the total cubic volume?
EASYA building has dimensions of 60 feet Γ 40 feet Γ 12 feet high. What is the volume in cubic feet?
EASYWhich building construction type typically provides the greatest fire resistance and structural durability?
MEDIUMA single-family residence has only one bathroom located on the second floor, while all bedrooms are on the first floor. This is an example of:
MEDIUMA property owner wants to operate a home-based business. Which document would most likely contain restrictions on this use?
MEDIUMA property owner wants to operate a daycare center in an area zoned for single-family residential use. What would they most likely need to obtain?
MEDIUMAn easement that allows the electric company to maintain power lines across a property is classified as:
HARDA property owner holds a leased fee interest in a commercial building with a ground lease that has 15 years remaining at below-market rent. Which statement best describes this interest?
MEDIUMA site analysis reveals that a property is located in FEMA Flood Zone AE. This means:
MEDIUMWhich site characteristic would most negatively impact the value of a residential property?
MEDIUMA triangular lot has a base of 100 feet and a height of 80 feet. What is the area in square feet?
EASYA foundation settlement issue would most likely affect which building component first?
MEDIUMAn irregular shaped lot has the following measurements: Side A = 100 feet, Side B = 150 feet, Side C = 120 feet, Side D = 180 feet. If the lot can be divided into two rectangles measuring 100' Γ 150' and 120' Γ 30', what is the total area?
MEDIUMA property is located in a 100-year flood zone. This designation means:
MEDIUMA property owner holds the fee simple interest but has leased the property to a tenant for 20 years. The owner's interest during the lease term is called:
MEDIUMA commercial property has excellent street access but poor internal traffic flow due to narrow aisles and awkward loading dock placement. This represents:
MEDIUMA property is contaminated with asbestos-containing materials. How does this typically affect the appraisal process?
MEDIUMA property owner holds title to land but a utility company has the right to install and maintain power lines across the property. The utility company's right represents:
HARDA property has a 10-foot building setback requirement but the existing structure is only 6 feet from the property line. This situation is best described as:
HARDA property is located in an area that has been rezoned from residential to commercial, but the current single-family use predates the zoning change. This property has:
MEDIUMA tenant holds a 99-year ground lease on a property and has constructed a building on the land. What type of interest does the tenant have?
MEDIUMA warehouse has interior dimensions of 120 feet Γ 80 feet Γ 20 feet high. What is the volume in cubic feet?
EASYA triangular lot has a base of 180 feet and a height of 240 feet. What is the area in square feet?
EASYWhich zoning classification typically allows the highest density residential development?
EASYType I construction classification typically refers to buildings with:
MEDIUMA 10-acre parcel is zoned for 4 units per acre but soil conditions only support 3 units per acre. The physically possible density is:
MEDIUMWhich roofing material typically has the longest expected useful life?
MEDIUMA house with only one bathroom and three bedrooms suffers from:
HARDA lot contains 2.5 acres. How many square feet is this?
MEDIUMA church building in a residential area that cannot be converted to other uses due to deed restrictions represents:
MEDIUMR-1 zoning classification typically allows for:
EASYOn the URAR form (Fannie Mae 1004), the 'Site' section requires the appraiser to comment on all of the following EXCEPT:
MEDIUMA leasehold interest represents which type of property right?
EASYAn appraiser discovers that a property was previously used as a gas station. Which environmental concern should be the PRIMARY focus?
MEDIUMIn the rectangular (government) survey system, how many acres are contained in one section?
EASYWhich property right represents the tenant's interest in a leased property?
EASYIn the rectangular survey system, how many acres are contained in one section?
EASY+ 150 more questions
Other Appraiser Exam Topics
Real Estate Market
Up to 20% of exam
Land or Site Valuation
Up to 4.5% of exam
Sales Comparison Approach
Up to 25.4% of exam
Cost Approach
Up to 13.6% of exam
Income Approach
Up to 19.1% of exam
Reconciliation
Up to 4.5% of exam
USPAP
Up to 21.8% of exam
Emerging Appraisal Methods
Up to 4.5% of exam
Appraisal Statistical Methods
Up to 4.5% of exam
- β’Master the three approaches to value (sales comparison, cost, income) and know when each applies
- β’Understand USPAP requirements thoroughly β Ethics Rule, Competency Rule, Scope of Work, and Standards 1 & 2 are heavily tested
- β’Practice math problems including capitalization rates, GRM, adjustments, and depreciation calculations β a financial calculator is allowed (see calculator policy)
- β’Review wrong answers and their explanations β understanding why an answer is incorrect is as valuable as knowing the right one
- β’Allocate study time based on your level's topic weight β Property Description is 10% on LR, 11.8% on CR, and 10.9% on CG
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions cover Property Description on the appraiser exam?
Under the 2026 AQB outline, Property Description weight varies by license level: Licensed Residential 11 questions (10%), Certified Residential 13 questions (11.8%), Certified General 12 questions (10.9%). Each exam has 110 scored questions in total.
What is tested in Property Description on the appraiser exam?
Property Description covers site analysis, building construction, property inspection, legal descriptions, zoning, and physical characteristics affecting value. Questions test both theoretical knowledge and practical application of appraisal concepts.
How should I study for Property Description?
Start by reviewing the key concepts and terminology, then practice with scenario-based questions. EstatePass offers 200 free practice questions for Property Description with detailed explanations. Focus on understanding the reasoning behind each answer, not just memorizing facts.
Which license level weighs Property Description most heavily?
Certified Residential leans on Property Description most heavily at 11.8% of scored questions. Licensed Residential is 10% and Certified General is 10.9%.
Master Property Description
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