In analyzing the subject property's sales history, which timeframe is used for analyzing all sales?

• A. All sales of the subject property that occurred within three years prior to the effective date of the appraisal
• B. All sales within the calendar year preceding the appraisal
• C. All listings within the past three years
• D. Only the latest sale

Answer: (A)

The key idea is to use a three-year window before the appraisal’s effective date to review all sales of the subject property. This timeframe keeps data recent enough to reflect current market conditions while providing enough transactions to identify price trends and verify value movements. Looking at every sale in that period helps you understand how the property has been valued over time and supports credible adjustments in the appraisal. Calendar-year data can miss transactions that occurred after the year-end or before the current year, listings aren’t sales data, and focusing only on the latest sale ignores the history and the trend it reveals.