Calculating square footage of living space, square footage of pavement/building, comparing that to total acreage, price per acre, price per square foot, estimating taxes based on assessment and millage rates, calculating escrow payments, commission due on sales price at given percentages, calculating mortgage payments at different interest rates and terms and loan values.... There's really no end to use of math in real estate. It's pretty much all numbers.
As an appraiser I use all different kind of mathematics from simply percentage increases, decreases, geometry and addition/subtraction/division and multiplication. I also use complex mathematics such as financial calculations (Discounting cash flows) present value, future value, mortgage constant etc. It really depends on what field in real estate you are in.
Almost every major real estate decision you'll ever be faced with will involve math in some form or another. The less competent you are with math, the less able you'll be to make a good decision.
You'll need Excel to run the model.
Well, there are a multitude of reasons. Every day you are, at a minimum, having to figure commission. You need to know how different financial aspects of the contract affect your client. You would need to understand the impact of taxes, closing costs and the like on the HUD-1 (closing statement). Bottom line is, you just could not survive in real estate without knowing math.
