What is true about comparable sales in rural area appraisals?

In rural area appraisals, it's common for comparable sales to be more distant and to vary significantly in characteristics. This is primarily due to the limited number of transactions in rural areas, which often means appraisers must expand their search radius to find relevant sales data. When available properties for comparison are sparse, the appraiser may need to look at properties that are farther away or that may not match the subject property perfectly. This approach helps ensure a more accurate valuation despite the challenges posed by rural real estate markets, where sales may also reflect unique local conditions and property features that don't have direct counterparts close by.

The other options suggest characteristics of comparables that are less typical in rural appraisals. For instance, the closeness in distance between comparables is more applicable in urban settings where properties are more numerous and uniform. Similarly, bracketing all features of a property often is not feasible in rural areas due to uniqueness and lack of inventory. While a minimum number of sales could be considered ideal, it is not a rigid requirement in assessing comparables within these less populated regions.