What is the best approach to finding the value of a property that has been divided into apartments?

The sales comparison approach is ideal for determining the value of a property divided into apartments because it involves comparing the subject property with similar properties that have recently sold in the same area. This method is particularly effective in residential real estate, including multifamily units, as it reflects current market conditions and gives a clear idea of what buyers are willing to pay for similar apartment buildings. By analyzing recent sales data from comparable properties, you can adjust for differences and arrive at a realistic market value for the apartment property in question.

Using the cost approach, which estimates value based on the cost to replace or reproduce the property minus depreciation, may not be as effective in this scenario because it doesn’t consider market demand or investment potential. The income approach, while useful for commercial real estate and investment properties to estimate value based on expected rental income, is less applicable if the focus is entirely on what similar apartments are selling for in the area rather than their income potential. The term "market value approach" is somewhat vague and does not specifically refer to a recognized valuation method used in real estate. Hence, it does not provide the targeted analysis that the sales comparison approach delivers for apartment valuation.