Unit 9 - 13 Flashcards
A developer purchases 20 acres of pasture on which to build a Super Target store and a Home Depot. The demographics in the area, and the traffic counts on the two boundary roads, support the project. What type of tax should most concern the developer?
A. Current use
B. Highest and best use
C. Rollback
D. Assessment
Correct Answer: C. Rollback
Explanation: Rollback taxes are often imposed when property changes its use, such as from agricultural to commercial, and can significantly impact a developer’s costs.
What is the greatest concern for a lender regarding property taxes?
A. Nonpayment of property taxes is an early warning sign of borrower trouble
B. Nonpayment of property taxes could trigger the consequences of a super priority
C. Foreclosure by the lender might result in loss of waivers and unacceptably high holding costs
D. Increasing taxes might increase total expenses in excess of required DCRs
Correct Answer: B. Nonpayment of property taxes could trigger the consequences of a super priority
Explanation: Property taxes have a super-priority lien status, meaning they can override the lender’s lien, putting the lender at significant financial risk.
A newspaper article reports City Council approval of the following projects for an area of town in which you are considering investing. Which item might indicate increased property tax expenses in the near future?
A. New library
B. Expansion of local high school
C. Widening a major artery
D. Additional 1.5 miles of sanitary sewer
Correct Answer: C. Widening a major artery
Explanation: Public infrastructure improvements, such as road widening, often lead to higher property assessments and increased taxes for surrounding properties.
In most jurisdictions, disputes over property appraisals upon which taxes are calculated can be accomplished through the:
A. City council
B. Board of adjustment
C. Board of equalization
D. County (or parish) tax board
Correct Answer: C. Board of equalization
Explanation: The Board of Equalization handles disputes over property valuations and ensures tax assessments are fair and accurate.
Which property right is probably NOT liable for property taxes?
A. Twenty-year ground lease
B. Three-year residential lease
C. Mineral rights
D. Life estate
Correct Answer: B. Three-year residential lease
Explanation: Short-term leases, like a three-year residential lease, do not typically create a taxable interest, unlike longer-term leases or ownership interests.
Keyword: Ad Valorem Tax
Definition: A tax levied according to value, generally used to refer to real estate tax. Also called general tax.
Keyword: Appropriation
Definition: A taxing body authorizes the expenditure of funds and provides for the sources of the funding.
Keyword: General Real Estate Tax
Definition: A tax that is made up of the taxes levied on the real estate by government agencies and municipalities.
A property is encumbered by both a senior and junior loan. If the property is sold at foreclosure, after costs, the:
A. Senior lender is required to pay the balance of the junior loan.
B. Junior lender will be paid first.
C. Senior lender will be paid first.
D. Courts will decide how to divide the proceeds.
Correct Answer: C. Senior lender will be paid first.
Explanation: In foreclosure proceedings, the senior lender has the first claim to the proceeds after foreclosure costs, as their lien is considered superior to any junior liens.
Keyword: Special Assessment
Definition: A tax or levy customarily imposed against only those specific parcels of real estate that will benefit from a proposed public improvement like a street or sewer.
Keyword: Tax Levy
Definition: The formal action to impose the tax, usually by a vote of the taxing district’s governing body.
Your client wishes to purchase an apartment building and assume the existing mortgage at the original interest rate. There is no due-on-sale clause in the mortgage. Your client:
A. Must renegotiate the loan.
B. May assume the mortgage whether qualified or not.
C. May assume the mortgage only if qualified.
D. None of these.
Correct Answer: C. May assume the mortgage only if qualified.
Explanation: Without a due-on-sale clause, a buyer may assume an existing mortgage, but qualification ensures the lender’s approval and reduces their risk.
Rollover loans are advantageous to lenders because:
A. They can automatically be rolled over to the next buyer.
B. They have short payout periods.
C. There are no due-on-sale clauses in the loans.
D. They allow interest rates to be adjusted.
Correct Answer: D. They allow interest rates to be adjusted.
Explanation: Rollover loans include provisions for adjusting interest rates periodically, enabling lenders to align with current market rates.
After the notice of foreclosure of a note and mortgage, the borrower can:
A. No longer bring the loan current and regain the property.
B. Make partial payments and regain the property.
C. Bring the loan current anytime until the auction sale of the property.
D. Bring the loan current at any time.
Correct Answer: C. Bring the loan current anytime until the auction sale of the property.
Explanation: Borrowers retain the right to reinstate the loan by paying overdue amounts in full up to the point of the foreclosure auction.
The owner of an apartment complex with long-term financing in place wishes to sell in Year Four of the mortgage loan. Which clause in the note and mortgage or deed of trust should be examined for its potential economic impact?
A. Default
B. Defeasance
C. Indemnity
D. Exculpatory
Correct Answer: B. Defeasance
Explanation: A defeasance clause may require the borrower to provide additional funds or securities to release the mortgage lien, affecting the economic viability of the sale.
Keyword: Acceleration Clause
Definition: A contract provision that allows a lender to require a borrower to repay all of an outstanding loan if certain requirements are not met.
Keyword: Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)
Definition: A mortgage loan that has an interest rate that is changed (adjusted) periodically based upon an index agreed to between a borrower and a lender.
Keyword: Assumable
Definition: A loan that may be taken over (assumed) by a buyer when purchasing a parcel of real estate. Often requires the lender to approve the new buyer.
Keyword: Bridge Loan
Definition: A short-term loan used until a person or company secures permanent financing or removes an existing obligation.
Keyword: Caps
Definition: Limits to the increase in either the interest rate or payment amount under an adjustable-rate mortgage. Often includes an annual limit and a lifetime limit.
Keyword: Ceiling
Definition: An absolute maximum rate of interest that may be charged under an adjustable-rate loan.
Keyword: Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities (CMBS)
Definition: A type of mortgage-backed security that is secured by mortgages on commercial properties instead of residential real estate.
Keyword: Conduit Loans
Definition: Commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), also called conduit loans. Such loans are originated through mortgage brokers, usually made for 10-year terms at fixed interest rates, and are fully nonrecourse, meaning with no personal liability by the borrower.
Keyword: Collateral
Definition: Property—real or personal—pledged as security to back up a promise to repay a debt.
Keyword: Construction Loan
Definition: An open-end mortgage loan, usually for a short term, obtained to finance the actual construction of buildings on a property.
Keyword: Contract for Deed
Definition: A contract under which the purchase price is paid in installments over a period of time during which the purchaser has possession of the property but the seller retains title until the contract terms are completed. Usually drawn between individuals. Also called a land contract, installment contract, or agreement for sale.
Keyword: Debt Coverage Ratio (DCR)
Definition: The number of times the annual net operating income will pay the annual debt service as required by the lender.
Keyword: Deed of Trust
Definition: A financing instrument in which the borrower/trustor conveys title into the hands of a third-party trustee to be held for the beneficiary/lender. Also called a trust deed.
Keyword: Default
Definition: Nonperformance of a duty; failure to meet an obligation when due.
Keyword: Defeasance
Definition: The substitution of collateral.
Keyword: Defeasance Option
Definition: Allows the borrower to exchange another cash-flowing asset for the original collateral on the loan.
Keyword: Deficiency Judgement
Definition: The difference in the amount received at an auction of defaulted property between the amount owed and the amount received as an award to the lender.
Keyword: Draws
Definition: A system of payments made by a lender to a contractor as designated stages of a building’s construction are completed.
Keyword: Exculpatory Clause
Definition: (1) A clause sometimes inserted in a mortgage note in which the lender waives the right to a deficiency judgment. (2) As used in a lease, a clause that intends to relieve the landlord from liability for tenant’s personal injuries and property damages.
Keyword: Due-on-sale Clause
Definition: A clause in a mortgage or trust deed that stipulates that a borrower cannot sell or transfer the property without prior written consent of the lender. Also called an alienation clause.
Keyword: Forbearance Agreement
Definition: An agreement to postpone, reduce, or suspend payment due to a loan for a limited and specific time period.
Keyword: Foreclosure
Definition: Court action initiated by the mortgagee or a lienor for the purpose of having the debtor’s real estate sold to pay the mortgage or other lien.
Keyword: Four Major Food Groups
Definition: Life companies look for loans in four major food groups—multifamily, office, retail, and industrial.
Keyword: Graduated Payment Loan
Definition: A loan for which payments increase regularly over time.
Keyword: Hypothecation
Definition: The act of pledging real estate as security without surrendering possession of the property.
Keyword: Index
Definition: A benchmark that is used to adjust the interest rate in an adjustable-rate loan; for example, the one-year Treasury bill.
Keyword: Interim
Definition: A use for property until it can be put to its highest and best use.
Keyword: Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV)
Definition: A financial term used by lenders to express the ratio of a loan to the value of an asset purchased.
Keyword: Junior Loan
Definition: Any loan that is not in first lien position.
Keyword: Lien
Definition: A legal claim that one party has against the property of another as security for a debt.
Keyword: LIBOR
Definition: A benchmark rate that some of the world’s leading banks charge each other for short-term loans.
Keyword: Lock-out Clause
Definition: An absolute prohibition against an early prepayment.
Keyword: Mortgage
Definition: A document that makes property security for the repayment of a debt.
Keyword: Negative Amortization
Definition: Less than Interest-Only loan payments, which cause the balance of a loan to increase by the amount of the deficient interest.
Keyword: Nonrecourse
Definition: A loan or other financial tool with no personal liability by the borrower.
Keyword: Note
Definition: A signed instrument acknowledging the existence of a debt and promising repayment.
Keyword: Partially Amortized Loan
Definition: A loan that has a series of payments—part principal and part interest—that is not sufficient to pay off the total loan at maturity. There is a remaining amount of principal (a balloon) that must be paid at the end of the loan term.
Keyword: Recourse
Definition: A legal agreement that gives the lender the right to pledged collateral in the event that the borrower is unable to satisfy the debt obligation.
Keyword: Sale-Leaseback-Buyback
Definition: A financing arrangement under which an investor purchases real estate owned and used by a business corporation, then leases the property back to the business, including a buy-back option.
Keyword: Senior Loan
Definition: Any loan that has priority over another.
Keyword: SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate)
Definition: A benchmark interest rate for dollar-denominated loans and securities.
Keyword: Split-Fee Financing
Definition: A financing arrangement wherein the lender purchases land and leases it to a developer, while at the same time financing the construction of the improvements.
Keyword: Sponsor
Definition: A key individual or entity with management experience that partners with cash investors to execute a project, leveraging their track record and expertise.
Keyword: Subject To
Definition: Becoming responsible for an existing loan without assuming personal liability.
Keyword: Take-Out Commitment
Definition: An agreement by a financial institution or investor to make a long-term loan at a specified date in the future.
Keyword: Term Loan
Definition: A loan to be paid in full at a specified time; not an amortizing loan.
Keyword: Wraparound Loan
Definition: A new loan that encompasses existing loans without altering the legal priority of the underlying loan.
Keyword: Variable Interest Rate
Definition: An approach to financing in which the lender is allowed to alter the interest rate based on a specific index, with notice. Monthly payments can change, or maturity can be extended, depending on fluctuations.
The costs for holding raw land for investment purposes would NOT include:
A. Opportunity costs
B. Mortgage payments
C. Taxes
D. Depreciation
Correct Answer: D. Depreciation
Explanation: Depreciation applies to improvements on the property, not to raw land. Land does not lose value due to physical or functional obsolescence, which makes depreciation inapplicable.
Your clients intend to buy land with little down payment and hold it until the area develops. What should they consider carefully?
A. The cost recovery effect on the land
B. Replacement value as a factor
C. Their age in relation to the investment duration
D. The holding costs associated with the investment
Correct Answer: D. The holding costs associated with the investment
Explanation: Holding raw land comes with recurring expenses such as taxes, insurance, and loan interest. These costs can significantly impact investment profitability.
Your investors plan to subdivide land for resale. Which of the following is NOT necessarily true?
A. This will most likely be an active investment
B. It may be necessary to refinance the property
C. It will probably require a zoning change
D. They must joint venture with a partner
Correct Answer: D. They must joint venture with a partner
Explanation: While subdivision projects often involve partnerships, a joint venture is not a strict requirement. Investors can subdivide land independently if they have sufficient resources.
In a build-to-suit situation, the single MOST important factor is:
A. Size of the proposed building
B. Zoning restrictions
C. Location of the land
D. Strength of the lessee
Correct Answer: D. Strength of the lessee
Explanation: The strength of the lessee ensures the reliability of income, which is critical for the success of a build-to-suit investment.
When purchasing a lot in a land-promotion subdivision, which of the following is NOT required in the contract?
A. An escrow collection to hold the deed until the contract is satisfied
B. A release clause from the underlying lender
C. A recognition clause from the underlying lender
D. An escape clause to cancel the contract anytime
Correct Answer: D. An escape clause to cancel the contract anytime
Explanation: While clauses providing security and clarity are standard, an escape clause allowing cancellation at any time is generally not feasible in real estate contracts.
Ownership by a corporate entity and proprietary leases to stockholders BEST describes:
A. Multiunit apartment
B. Condominium
C. Conversion condominium
D. Cooperative
Correct Answer: D. Cooperative
Explanation: Cooperatives are owned by corporate entities, and stockholders have proprietary leases rather than owning individual units outright.
An owner-occupant of a single-family home or condominium may deduct which of the following from income taxes?
A. Property insurance premiums
B. Depreciation
C. Repair costs
D. Interest
Correct Answer: D. Interest
Explanation: Interest on a mortgage is tax-deductible for owner-occupants, while expenses like insurance, repairs, and depreciation are not deductible for personal residences.
A tax credit of 10% on a $2 million low-income housing project for a 33% tax bracket investor results in which of the following savings?
A. $20,000
B. $66,000
C. $200,000
D. $660,000
Correct Answer: C. $200,000
Explanation: A 10% tax credit on $2 million equals $200,000. Tax credits directly reduce tax liability, offering significant savings compared to tax deductions.
The 1988 amendment to the Civil Rights Act added which of the following to the protective law?
A. Religion
B. National origin
C. Gender
D. Persons with disabilities
Correct Answer: D. Persons with disabilities
Explanation: The 1988 amendment expanded protections under the Fair Housing Act to include persons with disabilities and familial status.
Laws governing evictions for non-payment of rent:
A. Are uniform throughout the country
B. Are determined by each district court where the rental property is located
C. Vary according to federal law
D. Vary according to state law
Correct Answer: D. Vary according to state law
Explanation: Eviction laws and procedures differ by state, including notice periods, legal requirements, and court processes.
All of the following are advantages of office condominium ownership EXCEPT:
A. Controlled occupancy costs
B. Equity growth
C. Deductible depreciation expense
D. The ability to control future expansions
Correct Answer: D. The ability to control future expansions
Explanation: Unlike renting, office condominium ownership does not guarantee control over adjacent units for expansion.
Office rents are normally based upon:
A. Price per room
B. Price per square foot of useable space
C. Price per cubic foot of space
D. A percentage rent
Correct Answer: B. Price per square foot of useable space
Explanation: Useable square footage is the standard metric for determining office rental rates, excluding common areas.
To create a homogeneous tenancy in your office building where the primary tenant is a bank, you might approach:
A. Medical practitioners
B. The state for an unemployment office
C. Retail boutique-type tenants
D. Professional service tenants
Correct Answer: D. Professional service tenants
Explanation: Professional service tenants complement the bank’s presence and create a cohesive, business-oriented environment.
Three doctors approach you to rent office space for a medical clinic. You discuss a long-term lease with higher rent because:
A. Doctors are risky tenants
B. Doctors can afford to pay more
C. You anticipate extra expenses for build-out requirements
D. You assume they will want to lease for a long time
Correct Answer: C. You anticipate extra expenses for build-out requirements
Explanation: Medical offices often require specialized build-outs, increasing initial expenses for property owners.
In an office lease, which party is responsible for modifications necessary under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
A. The tenant
B. Neither the property owner nor the tenant
C. The property owner
D. Both the owner and the tenant
Correct Answer: D. Both the owner and the tenant
Explanation: ADA compliance often involves shared responsibility, with landlords addressing common areas and tenants modifying leased spaces as needed.
A 40,000-square-foot shopping center anchored by a 20,000-square-foot supermarket is MOST likely to sell to:
A. The anchor tenant
B. An insurance company
C. A limited partnership
D. An individual or small partnership
Correct Answer: D. An individual or small partnership
Explanation: Smaller shopping centers typically attract individual investors or small partnerships rather than institutional buyers.
The advantage of shopping at a neighborhood center compared to a community or regional shopping center is:
A. More competitive stores
B. Lower prices
C. Less time required
D. More parking spaces
Correct Answer: C. Less time required
Explanation: Neighborhood centers are conveniently located for quick errands, saving time compared to larger centers.
The success of a small shopping center is generally tied to:
A. The level of debt service
B. Tax implications of the investment
C. The success of the tenants
D. The investment marketplace
Correct Answer: C. The success of the tenants
Explanation: A thriving tenant base ensures consistent rental income and attracts more customers to the center.
A national chain drugstore offers to pay a percentage of revenues above a base amount in exchange for a lower base rent. What are they asking for?
A. A trial period
B. Subsidization of start-up costs
C. Assurance of success
D. Sharing the risk of their success
Correct Answer: D. Sharing the risk of their success
Explanation: A percentage lease aligns the landlord’s income with the tenant’s performance, sharing the risk and potential reward.
Analysts estimate that a significant portion of the country’s malls are obsolete. What percentage is estimated to be obsolete?
A. 10%
B. 25%
C. 33%
D. 50%
Correct Answer: B. 25%
Explanation: Industry experts estimate that around 25% of malls are obsolete due to changing consumer preferences and economic conditions.
A manufacturer will be least interested in a site that is close to:
A. Raw materials
B. Its customers
C. Required labor pool
D. Its competition
Correct Answer: D. Its competition
Explanation: Manufacturers typically prioritize proximity to raw materials, customers, or labor over being near competitors, which might not provide a strategic advantage.
All of the following techniques are used to attract new industry into a community EXCEPT:
A. Industrial development bonds
B. Tax waivers
C. Subsidized plant locations
D. Low-income housing tax credits
Correct Answer: D. Low-income housing tax credits
Explanation: Tax credits for low-income housing are not typically used as an incentive to attract industrial businesses.
To enhance the value of an industrial park, you could provide:
A. Residential housing
B. More land per user space
C. Restaurants, hotel rooms, and meeting rooms
D. Uncontrolled signage
Correct Answer: C. Restaurants, hotel rooms, and meeting rooms
Explanation: Amenities such as restaurants, hotels, and meeting spaces add convenience and appeal, increasing the industrial park’s overall value.
In reviewing transportation linkages, an important consideration unique to industrial development is:
A. Air transportation access
B. Railroad and rail spurs
C. Road and highway access
D. Waterways
Correct Answer: B. Railroad and rail spurs
Explanation: Industrial facilities often rely on rail access for efficient bulk transportation of goods and materials.
Which of the following is NOT considered a potentially responsible party (PRP) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)?
A. Lenders as long as they perform no management functions
B. Anyone that installed the hazardous material
C. Anyone who produced the hazardous material
D. Previous owners
Correct Answer: A. Lenders as long as they perform no management functions
Explanation: Lenders are generally exempt from PRP status under CERCLA if they do not exercise management control over the property.
The popularity of manufactured home park investments is based on all of the following circumstances EXCEPT:
A. The relative ease of relocating the units
B. Higher standardized housing costs
C. Vesting pension and retirement programs
D. Increased population longevity
Correct Answer: B. Higher standardized housing costs
Explanation: Manufactured home parks are popular due to their affordability and flexibility, not higher standardized housing costs.
Hotel and motel investments are sometimes advantageous over other real estate investments because when the operators own the land and the building:
A. They are eligible for low-interest financing
B. They do not have to put much equity into the investment
C. They are considered a limited partnership
D. The income or losses from operations is considered active
Correct Answer: D. The income or losses from operations is considered active
Explanation: Active income or losses provide tax advantages for hotel and motel operators who own the property.