Also known as:fair market values · FMV · market value
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
The price that would be agreed upon between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm's-length transaction, with neither party under compulsion to buy or sell and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts.
Sources & Authorities
How it applies
Common Examples
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Tenant Termination Damages
Fatima Flores, a commercial tenant, validly terminates her lease after the landlord fails to make required repairs. She vacates the premises and seeks damages. The court measures her recovery in part by the fair market value of the lease on the termination date to determine the loss of her contractual interest.
Estate Inventory Valuation
After appointment as personal representative, Finn Fletcher must inventory the decedent's assets within three months. He lists each item with reasonable detail and assigns its fair market value as of the date of death, noting any encumbrances, before mailing copies to interested persons.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Cases
Uniform Acts
Model Codes
Restatements
Casebooks
Hornbooks
Course Outlines
Fiona Foster owns a historic terminal building subject to a city landmarks ordinance that restricts development of the air rights. When the city condemns a portion of the property, the court awards just compensation based on the fair market value of the taken interest at the time of the taking.
Penn Central Transportation Co. et al. v. New York City438 U.S. 104, 98 S.Ct. 2646, 57 L.Ed.2d 631 (1978)
Fractional Interest Taking
Floyd Franklin and other heirs hold undivided fractional interests in allotted Indian lands. A federal statute bars inheritance of those interests outside the tribe. The Court holds that the statute effects a taking and requires payment of fair market value for the extinguished rights.
Hodel v. Irving481 U.S. 704 (1987)
Zoning Regulation Challenge
Flora Ford's realty company owns land rezoned for residential use only. The company claims the restriction destroys commercial value. The Court upholds the zoning but confirms that any compensable taking would be measured by the fair market value of the property at the time of the alleged deprivation.
Village of Euclid Ohio v. Ambler Realty Co.272 U.S. 365, 47 S.Ct. 114, 71 L.Ed 303 (1926)
Securities Disclosure Context
Flagship Logistics executives learn of a major mineral discovery that will affect share prices. Before public announcement, they trade on the information. Liability turns in part on whether the undisclosed fact would have altered the fair market value of the securities in the eyes of a reasonable investor.
SEC v. Texas Gulf Sulphur Co.401 F.2d, at 849
Common questions
Frequently Asked
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How is fair market value determined when comparable sales are unavailable?+
Courts may use the income approach by capitalizing net earnings or the cost approach by calculating reproduction cost less depreciation. These methods substitute for direct market data when no recent arm's-length sales of similar property exist.
Supporting sources
Does fair market value include subjective value to the owner?+
No. Fair market value reflects the objective price between willing parties in an arm's-length transaction. Subjective or sentimental value above that price is not compensable under the standard definition.
Supporting sources
When is fair market value measured in a foreclosure deficiency action?+
It is measured as of the date of the foreclosure sale. The mortgagor may request a determination, and any excess of fair market value over the sale price offsets the deficiency after deducting liens not extinguished by the sale.
Supporting sources
How does fair market value apply to gifted property for tax purposes?+
Gifted property is valued at its fair market value on the date of the gift. That value determines the donor's basis and any taxable gift amount after applying exclusions and credits.
438 U.S. 104, 98 S.Ct. 2646, 57 L.Ed.2d 631 (1978)Property
…the city has “taken” their right to this superjacent airspace, thus entitling them to “just compensation” measured by the fair market value of these air rights. Apart from our own disagreement with appellants’ characterization of the effect of the New York City law, see infra , at 134-135, the submission that appellants may…