What are comparables in real estate?

Comparables, often referred to as "comps," are essential tools in real estate used to determine a property's market value. When evaluating a property for sale or appraisal, comparables represent recent sales of similar properties that share characteristics such as size, location, age, and condition. By analyzing these properties, real estate agents, appraisers, and potential buyers or sellers can gauge a reasonable price range for the property in question.

In the context of real estate transactions, understanding comparables helps to provide an informed basis for pricing strategies. They are vital in establishing a competitive price and ensuring that the property is neither overvalued nor undervalued based on the current market conditions.

The other options do not accurately define comparables. There are loan types that differ in their interest payment structures, but those are unrelated to the concept of comparables in property valuation. Properties currently on the market do not have the same relevance as recently sold properties when determining value, as they may not reflect actual sale prices or buyer behavior. Documentation regarding property ownership is essential but concerns legal records rather than the valuation process associated with comparables.