CGA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CGA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the PRIMARY purpose of continuing education requirements in Tenant Relations & Retention for CGA professionals? → Maintaining current knowledge and competency as the field evolves
2. Which provision of the Fair Housing Act specifically prohibits steering minority buyers away from certain neighborhoods? → Section 804(b)
3. When appraising a property with above-market (excess) contract rent, how is the excess rent component typically treated in the income approach? → Capitalized at a higher rate than market rent due to its greater risk of non-renewal
4. When a conflict arises between standard procedures and a unique situation in Market Analysis & Valuation, what should a CGA professional prioritize? → Safety and ethical obligations while seeking expert consultation
5. An appraiser applies a 10% upward adjustment to a comparable sale. This most likely means the comparable is: → Inferior to the subject in the adjusted characteristic
6. What is the PRIMARY purpose of continuing education requirements in Lease Negotiation & Terms for CGA professionals? → Maintaining current knowledge and competency as the field evolves
7. Under USPAP, when an appraiser uses client-provided financial data in a real property report, the appraiser must: → Disclose reliance on the data and note any steps taken to verify or reconcile it
8. An appraisal performed for a federally related transaction must comply with: → USPAP and the federal financial institution regulatory agencies' appraisal regulations
9. The Gross Income Multiplier (GIM) technique divides the sale price of a comparable property by which income figure? → Potential gross income
10. The 'extraction method' of land valuation is most useful when: → No vacant land sales exist and improvement costs can be estimated and subtracted
11. The 'gross adjustment percentage' on a comparable sale is calculated by: → Adding the absolute values of all adjustments and dividing by the sale price
12. When an appraiser uses an extraordinary assumption, USPAP requires them to: → State the assumption and note it could alter the value conclusion if found false
13. What is the purpose of adjusting for depreciation in the cost approach? → To adjust for physical wear and age-related factors.
14. In Tenant Relations & Retention, what is the FIRST step a CGA professional should take when encountering a new case or situation? → Conduct a comprehensive assessment and gather all relevant information
15. What is the primary purpose of 'limiting conditions' in an appraisal report? → To disclose assumptions made where actual facts were unavailable or unverified
16. The term 'transactional adjustment' in the sales comparison approach refers to adjustments for: → Conditions of sale, financing terms, and market conditions
17. Which highest and best use test requires that a proposed use must be legally permissible, physically possible, financially feasible, and: → Maximally productive
18. When an appraiser states that a property has 'good market appeal,' this judgment should be supported by: → Evidence from actual buyer behavior and market data
19. Which tenant financial metric is MOST useful to an appraiser evaluating income stability in a retail center? → Tenant's sales per square foot relative to breakpoint
20. What is the primary purpose of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP)? → To establish ethical and performance standards for appraisers
21. An appraiser discovers that a commercial property has been marketed for 24 months without a sale. What conclusion is most appropriate? → The asking price may exceed market value, or there are significant property deficiencies
22. In lease negotiations, a 'work letter' or 'tenant improvement agreement' primarily addresses: → The scope, cost, and responsibility for buildout improvements to the leased space
23. Which of the following is an example of a financially infeasible highest and best use? → Building a luxury hotel in a low-demand market.
24. When selecting comparable sales, an appraiser should FIRST seek comparables that: → Are located within the same neighborhood or competing market area
25. Which standard of practice is MOST important for ensuring quality in Tenant Relations & Retention? → Following evidence-based protocols while adapting to specific circumstances
26. An appraiser notes that a multi-tenant office building has a 40% rollover of leases in the next 12 months. This is BEST described as a: → Significant lease-up risk factor
27. When a conflict arises between standard procedures and a unique situation in Regulatory & Fair Housing Compliance, what should a CGA professional prioritize? → Safety and ethical obligations while seeking expert consultation
28. What is the PRIMARY purpose of continuing education requirements in Property Evaluation & Analysis for CGA professionals? → Maintaining current knowledge and competency as the field evolves
29. The concept of 'reasonable exposure' in marketing time assumes the property is offered at: → A price reflective of market value under market conditions
30. In real estate appraisal, 'exposure time' refers to the period during which a property: → Would have been offered on the open market prior to the appraisal date