Measurements Used In Real Estate.

June 21st, 2008 Categories: Real Estate 101

Math and the associated discussion of measurements may become a problem for people only because they are not exposed, nor need this information in their day to day lives.  

Listed below are the terms, measurements and conversion factors which a person can use when discussing or trying to figure out some real estate math.

Linear measures:

  • 12 inches = 1 foot 
  • 1 yard = 3 feet
  • 1 mile = 5,280 ft = 1,760 yards

Square

  • 1 sq. ft. = 144 sq. inches
  • 1 acre = 43,560 sq. ft. = 4,840 sq. yds.
  • 1 sq. yd. = 9 sq. ft.

Cubic

  • 1 cu. ft. = 1,728 cu. in.
  • 1 cu. yd. = 27 cu. ft.
  • 1 broad foot = 144 cu. in. (1 foot x 1 ft. 1 inch = 144 cu. in.)

Other

  • 1 township contains 36 sections or 36 square miles or is 6 miles on a side or has 24 miles on its perimeter.  (Perimeter is the distance measured around the outside of a geometric shape such as a square or rectangle).
  • Setback is the distance between the street and the front of the building (home) that must exist to comply with local ordinances.
  • Side yard setback is the distance between the property ine and the edge of the building that must exist to comply with local ordinances.
  • Front footage is the width of a lot fronting on the designated street, and is used as a means to value lots.
  • Contiguous are lots that adjoin, touch, or abut to each other which includes adjacent lots (touching at the corners).

Conversion factors:

  • To convert feet to inches, multiply the number of feet by 12 (ex.  1 ft x 12 in. = 12 in)
  • To convert inches to feet, divide the number of inches by 12.
  • To convert yards to feet, multiply the number of yards by 3.
  • To convert feet to yards, divide the number of yards by 3.
  • To convert square feet to square feet, divide the number of square inches by 144.
  • To convert square yards to square feet, multiply the number of square yards by 9.
  • To convert square feet to square yards, divide the number of square feet by 9. 

Time

  • Annual = once per year.
  • Bimonthly = every two months (6 times per year)
  • Biennial = every two years
  • 1 year = 12 months
  • 1 month = (generally) 30 days but mortgages are based on actual days.

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 21st, 2008 at 1:08 pm and is filed under Real Estate 101. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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