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Last edited 27 Jan 2025

Market value

Market value is defined as the underlying economic value of items such as goods and services. This is as opposed to other measures of value, such as moral values, socio-economic values, environmental values, values associated with beliefs and so on.

Market value is different to 'market price' which is the price that individuals and companies are prepared to pay for goods and services in a competitive market. This price will be determined by the scarcity of the product/service which is itself determined by supply and demand. The lower the supply, the greater will be the demand and therefore the price will be higher.

Expressed another way, the price that is determined by the interaction of supply and demand, and is an indicator of how important that item is perceived to be by the target audience.

Market value and market price may be equal but only under an efficient market where rational expectations prevail. Where this is not the case, a disequilibrium occurs so that the prevailing market price does not reflect the true market value. Some suggest that London’s high house prices reflect an inefficient market where people have irrational expectations; the prices asked for do not reflect the real value of houses.

Market value should also be distinguished from 'fair value' which may be agreed between two parties according to their individual beliefs. Thus, the sale price of a second-hand car may not reflect its actual market value if in the estimation of both parties a fair transaction has been achieved that fulfils both their economic and emotional needs.

However, defining value can be problematic, especially when market values and personal values are in conflict. An old broken watch may have a very low market value yet may have huge personal value to the owner.

RICS Insights, Valuation and sale price, March 2019 Edition defines market value as: ‘The estimated amount for which an asset or liability should exchange on the valuation date between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction after proper marketing where the parties had each acted knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion.’

A market-adjusted valuation (MAV ) is: ‘The preceding valuation adjusted for capital growth and capital expenditure.’

The Green Book, Central Government Guidance On Appraisal And Evaluation, Published by HM Treasury in 2018, suggests that: ‘Market value or price is the price at which a commodity can be bought or sold, determined through the interaction of buyers and sellers in a market.’

RICS Valuation – Global Standards, Effective from 31 January 2022, Published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in November 2021, defines market value (MV) as: ‘The estimated amount for which an asset or liability should exchange on the valuation date between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction, after proper marketing and where the parties had each acted knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion .’

The International Valuation Standards (IVS), published by the International Valuation Standards Council is 2021, states:

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines fair market value as the price a willing buyer would pay a willing seller in a transaction on the open market.
In United States tax purposes, Regulation §20.2031-1 states: “The fair market value is the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or to sell and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts”