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Real estate glossaryNational exam concept

Equity

Equity is the owner's financial interest in property, calculated in a basic exam problem as current property value minus debts and liens against it.

Exam area: Real Estate Calculations

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What does “equity” mean in real estate?

Equity is the owner's financial interest in property, calculated in a basic exam problem as current property value minus debts and liens against it.

How is “equity” different from the closest wrong answer?

Equity is not cash in hand and is not always the same as seller net proceeds, which also subtract transaction costs and uses the actual sale figures.

What is the Georgia-specific rule?

Georgia's security-deed title theory does not eliminate the borrower's equitable ownership. Loan paydown and value appreciation can increase equity, while new liens or falling value can reduce it.

Worked exam example

Scenario

A home worth $420,000 has a $265,000 loan balance and a $15,000 lien. Equity is $140,000.

What is the most common exam trap?

Trap correction

Use current loan balances, not original loan amounts, and include all liens stated in the problem.

Original exam check

Apply the definition

An owner bought a home for $300,000 with a $270,000 loan. Today the home is worth $410,000, the loan balance is $240,000, and a home equity line has a $25,000 balance. What is the owner's equity?

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Continue with Real Estate Calculations complete lesson. It places this term inside the full rule, worked examples, exam traps, and mixed practice required for mastery.