Definition of "Property appreciation"

Appreciation, or property appreciation in real estate is the increase in the value of a property or asset over time. This increase in value can be due to a number of factors; inflation, population growth, economic growth of an area, etc. Property appreciation can occur under a variety of different circumstances and with virtually any piece of real estate. Appreciation is the opposite of depreciation. Let’s explore some examples of appreciation in real estate. 

 

Examples of property appreciation in real estate

 

Joan is a young woman in her early 30’s. After finishing a masters degree in finance, Joan finds an excellent job with a good salary at a stock brokerage company. As she nears her mid thirties, her house is paid off and she has saved up a tidy sum of money. With her savings, Joan invests in a cozy little bungalow in the suburbs, spending a reasonable sum of $125,000. 

 

After finding a tenant and contracting a property management service, Joan begins to reap the rewards of her investment. However, after a few years of being a landlady, Joan tires of the responsibility and stress of maintaining the property, and decides to sell. After contacting a real estate agent and finding a buyer, Joan manages to get $225,000, making a tidy profit of $100,000. 

 

The cause for this higher price is what is known as property appreciation. During the time that Joan had owned the house, a mall had been built nearby, a new movie theatre opened and an office complex newly constructed. The resulting demand for housing caused the value of Joan’s house to go up, without her even having to do anything.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

A type of equity participation loan where, in exchange for charging a below-market interest rate, the lender receives a predetermined percentage of a any increase in value of the property ...

The term’s abstract of title definition is the recorded summary of a property’s history. Abstracts of title can be used to determine former and present ownerships of any ...

Expenditures incurred building a structure, including material and labor. ...

That portion of a loan collaterized by a leased property extending beyond the expiration date of the lease. For example, a lending institution collaterizes a 20-year loan on a commercial ...

cash value or other consideration that can be received in a forced sale of real estate, such as that occurring in a foreclosure or when a company is going out of business. The liquidation ...

The meaning of a disclosure statement is a legal document signed by both parties, the lender and the borrower or buyer. This statement outlines the terms and conditions, the potential ...

A criminal act of falsely representing another individual to gain profit or gain an advantage. ...

income statement destroyed by a casualty such as a fire. This requires the reconstruction of the income statement based on source records, information, and documents. Income statement ...

An improvement to property that is below the standard, usual expectation. An example is when a contractor's work on a house is below the quality that the homeowner reasonably expected for ...

Popular Real Estate Questions