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.

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