What is useful when comparing similar types of properties of different ages?

Choosing trending or indexing values is essential when comparing similar types of properties of different ages because it helps to adjust values for changes over time due to inflation, market conditions, or other economic factors. By applying trending or indexing values, assessors can establish a more accurate comparative framework that reflects the current market and effectively captures how different ages of properties may be valued differently based on current demand and supply dynamics.

This method allows for a standardized approach to adjust for age-related value differences, making it easier to analyze how properties that might be structurally similar but differ in age can be assessed on a level playing field. Thus, it enables fair comparisons and helps to inform decisions regarding assessments, valuations, or tax implications.

Other options do have their uses in different contexts—cost of goods focuses more on the production aspect, assessment ratios provide a way to evaluate the equity of assessments, and depreciation rates are more specific to the individual property's loss of value over time. However, for the task of comparing properties of varying ages effectively within the real estate market, trending or indexing offers a broader, more applicable solution.