Measurement Conversions and PITI You Must Memorize for the Texas Real Estate Exam

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This is the real estate math page you want open the night before the exam.

Not because it is advanced.

Because it is the page that prevents small mistakes.

Texas real estate exam math often depends on a tiny conversion:

1 acre = 43,560 square feet

or:

1 mile = 5,280 feet

Miss the conversion and the whole problem goes sideways.

PITI works the same way. The math is not hard. The trap is knowing which monthly amounts belong in the payment and which annual amounts must be divided by 12.

This guide covers:

• The conversions Pearson specifically says to memorize.
• The other measurement conversions that appear often in real estate math.
• How to convert square feet to acres.
• How to convert acres to square feet.
• How to use yards, square yards, sections, and townships.
• What PITI means.
• How to calculate monthly taxes and insurance.
• How to add principal, interest, taxes, and insurance.
• What not to include unless the question says so.

Table Of Contents

• What Pearson says to memorize
• One-page conversion sheet
• How to use area conversions
• Linear feet vs square feet
• Sections, townships, and acreage
• PITI explained
• Principal and interest basics
• Taxes and insurance basics
• Worked examples
• Practice set
• Answer key and explanations
• Common mistakes
• FAQ

What Pearson Says To Memorize

Pearson VUE's current Texas real estate content outline includes notes on math calculations.

It says the following information is not available at the test center and should be memorized:

That is the official must-memorize list.

The same outline also lists:

• Property area calculations.
• Square footage.
• Acreage total.
• Loan financing costs.
• Interest.
• Loan to value.
• Fees.
• Amortization, discount points, and prepayment penalties.
• Monthly mortgage calculations for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance.

So measurement conversions and PITI are directly exam-relevant.

This article uses original educational examples, not copied exam questions.

One-Page Conversion Sheet

Memorize the first two. Practice the rest until they feel normal.

Percent conversions

You also need percentage fluency.

PITI cheat sheet

Simple monthly PITI:

Monthly PITI = monthly principal and interest + monthly taxes + monthly insurance

If the question gives annual taxes and annual insurance:

Annual taxes / 12 = monthly taxes

Annual insurance / 12 = monthly insurance

How To Use Area Conversions

Real estate area math usually asks one of four things:

• Convert acres to square feet.
• Convert square feet to acres.
• Find lot area from dimensions.
• Find a missing dimension from area.

Acres to square feet

Use:

Acres x 43,560 = square feet

Example:

2 acres:

2 x 43,560 = 87,120

Answer: 87,120 square feet.

Square feet to acres

Use:

Square feet / 43,560 = acres

Example:

130,680 square feet:

130,680 / 43,560 = 3

Answer: 3 acres.

Lot dimensions to square feet

For a rectangular lot:

Area = length x width

Example:

A lot is 120 feet by 150 feet.

120 x 150 = 18,000

Answer: 18,000 square feet.

If the question asks for acres:

18,000 / 43,560 = 0.4132

Answer: about 0.41 acres.

Square yards

Use:

1 square yard = 9 square feet

Why 9?

Because one yard is 3 feet, so a square yard is:

3 feet x 3 feet = 9 square feet

If a room has 450 square feet and flooring is priced per square yard:

450 / 9 = 50

Answer: 50 square yards.

Linear Feet Vs Square Feet

This is one of the easiest ways to lose a point.

Linear feet measure distance.

Square feet measure area.

If the question asks for fencing, you are probably using perimeter.

If the question asks for land area, you are probably using square feet or acres.

Perimeter

For a rectangle:

Perimeter = 2 x length + 2 x width

Example:

A lot is 80 feet wide and 120 feet deep. How many linear feet of fencing are needed to enclose it?

2 x 80 = 160

2 x 120 = 240

160 + 240 = 400

Answer: 400 linear feet.

Do not multiply 80 by 120 for a fencing problem. That gives square feet, not perimeter.

Sections, Townships, And Acreage

Government survey questions may use sections and townships.

The common exam relationships:

Section fractions

If one section is 640 acres:

Example:

How many acres are in the NE 1/4 of a section?

640 / 4 = 160

Answer: 160 acres.

Example:

How many acres are in the N 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of a section?

Start with the full section:

640 acres

Apply SW 1/4:

640 / 4 = 160

Then apply N 1/2:

160 / 2 = 80

Answer: 80 acres.

PITI Explained

PITI means:

Principal + Interest + Taxes + Insurance

For exam purposes, it is the basic monthly housing payment idea.

The CFPB explains that principal and interest usually make up the main components of a monthly mortgage payment, and that the total monthly payment is typically more because of taxes and insurance.

That is the plain-English version of PITI.

Simple PITI formula

If monthly principal and interest is already given:

Monthly PITI = monthly principal and interest + monthly taxes + monthly insurance

Example:

Monthly principal and interest: $1,950
Annual property taxes: $6,000
Annual insurance: $1,800

Monthly taxes:

$6,000 / 12 = $500

Monthly insurance:

$1,800 / 12 = $150

Monthly PITI:

$1,950 + $500 + $150 = $2,600

Answer: $2,600.

Does PITI include PMI?

PITI by itself means principal, interest, taxes, and insurance.

In real-world mortgage conversations, the insurance part may include homeowner insurance and may also include mortgage insurance if required.

For exam math, use the wording in the question.

If the question says add monthly mortgage insurance, add it.

If the question only asks for PITI and gives homeowner insurance, do not invent PMI.

Principal And Interest Basics

Principal is the loan amount or loan balance.

Interest is the lender's charge for lending money.

For simple annual interest:

Annual interest = principal x annual interest rate

For simple monthly interest:

Monthly interest = annual interest / 12

Example:

Loan amount: $300,000
Interest rate: 6%

Annual interest:

$300,000 x 0.06 = $18,000

Monthly interest:

$18,000 / 12 = $1,500

Answer: $1,500 monthly interest.

Principal and interest on an amortized loan

Most real mortgages are amortized, which means each monthly payment includes interest and some principal.

Early payments are more interest-heavy. Later payments include more principal.

For the Texas real estate exam, do not build a full amortization schedule unless the question gives the necessary information.

If the question gives monthly principal and interest, use that number.

If the question asks for simple interest, calculate simple interest.

If the question gives an amortization factor, payment table, or monthly payment amount, use the provided value.

Taxes And Insurance Basics

Property taxes and insurance are often annual amounts.

PITI math often wants monthly amounts.

The conversion is simple:

Annual amount / 12 = monthly amount

Monthly property taxes

Annual property taxes: $7,200

$7,200 / 12 = $600

Monthly taxes: $600.

Monthly insurance

Annual insurance: $2,400

$2,400 / 12 = $200

Monthly insurance: $200.

PITI vs closing costs

PITI is not the same as cash to close.

Cash to close can include:

• Down payment.
• Closing costs.
• Prepaids.
• Escrows.
• Credits.
• Other settlement adjustments.

PITI is a monthly payment concept.

If a question asks for monthly PITI, do not add closing costs unless the question specifically tells you to calculate cash to close or buyer cost.

Worked Examples

1. Acres To Square Feet

A parcel contains 4 acres. How many square feet are in the parcel?

4 x 43,560 = 174,240

Answer: 174,240 square feet.

2. Square Feet To Acres

A lot contains 87,120 square feet. How many acres is it?

87,120 / 43,560 = 2

Answer: 2 acres.

3. Lot Area

A rectangular lot is 90 feet wide and 140 feet deep. What is its area?

90 x 140 = 12,600

Answer: 12,600 square feet.

4. Lot Area In Acres

Using the same lot, how many acres is it?

12,600 / 43,560 = 0.2893

Answer: about 0.29 acres.

5. Square Feet To Square Yards

A room has 540 square feet. How many square yards is that?

540 / 9 = 60

Answer: 60 square yards.

6. Linear Feet Of Fence

A lot is 100 feet wide and 125 feet deep. How many linear feet of fence are needed to enclose it?

2 x 100 = 200

2 x 125 = 250

200 + 250 = 450

Answer: 450 linear feet.

7. Section Fraction

How many acres are in 1/4 of a section?

640 / 4 = 160

Answer: 160 acres.

8. Nested Section Fraction

How many acres are in the E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of a section?

Start with a section:

640 acres

Apply NW 1/4:

640 / 4 = 160

Apply E 1/2:

160 / 2 = 80

Answer: 80 acres.

9. Monthly Taxes

Annual property taxes are $8,400. What is the monthly tax amount?

$8,400 / 12 = $700

Answer: $700.

10. Monthly Insurance

Annual homeowner insurance is $1,920. What is the monthly insurance amount?

$1,920 / 12 = $160

Answer: $160.

11. Simple Monthly Interest

A borrower has a $250,000 loan at 6% simple annual interest. What is the monthly interest?

Annual interest:

$250,000 x 0.06 = $15,000

Monthly interest:

$15,000 / 12 = $1,250

Answer: $1,250.

12. Monthly PITI

Monthly principal and interest is $2,050. Annual taxes are $7,200. Annual insurance is $1,800. What is monthly PITI?

Monthly taxes:

$7,200 / 12 = $600

Monthly insurance:

$1,800 / 12 = $150

Monthly PITI:

$2,050 + $600 + $150 = $2,800

Answer: $2,800.

13. PITI With Mortgage Insurance Stated

Monthly principal and interest is $2,200. Monthly taxes are $625. Monthly homeowner insurance is $175. The question says monthly mortgage insurance is $110. What total monthly payment should be used?

$2,200 + $625 + $175 + $110 = $3,110

Answer: $3,110.

The key phrase is that the question specifically told you to include mortgage insurance.

Practice Set

Try these before reading the answer key.

1. Acres To Square Feet

A parcel has 3 acres. How many square feet does it contain?

2. Square Feet To Acres

A parcel has 217,800 square feet. How many acres is it?

3. Lot Area

A lot is 75 feet wide and 160 feet deep. What is the lot area in square feet?

4. Lot Area In Acres

Using the same lot from question 3, how many acres is it? Round to two decimal places.

5. Square Yards

A room has 675 square feet. How many square yards is that?

6. Linear Feet

A rectangular lot is 60 feet wide and 110 feet deep. How many linear feet of fence are needed to enclose it?

7. Feet In Miles

A boundary is 2 miles long. How many feet is that?

8. Section Acres

How many acres are in one section?

9. Township Acres

How many acres are in one township?

10. Fraction Of A Section

How many acres are in the S 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of a section?

11. Monthly Taxes

Annual property taxes are $9,600. What is the monthly tax amount?

12. Monthly Insurance

Annual homeowner insurance is $2,100. What is the monthly insurance amount?

13. Simple Monthly Interest

A loan balance is $360,000 at 5% simple annual interest. What is the monthly interest?

14. PITI

Monthly principal and interest is $2,400. Annual property taxes are $8,400. Annual insurance is $2,040. What is monthly PITI?

15. PITI With Monthly Amounts

Monthly principal and interest is $1,875. Monthly taxes are $525. Monthly insurance is $125. What is monthly PITI?

16. PITI With PMI Stated

Monthly principal and interest is $2,100. Monthly taxes are $650. Monthly homeowner insurance is $180. The problem says monthly mortgage insurance is $95. What is the total monthly payment?

17. Cash To Close Trap

A buyer's monthly PITI is $2,750. Closing costs are $8,000. If the question asks only for monthly PITI, what number should you use?

18. Perimeter Trap

A lot is 80 feet by 120 feet. A question asks for fencing. Should you calculate area or perimeter?

19. Area Trap

A lot is 80 feet by 120 feet. A question asks for square footage. Should you calculate area or perimeter?

20. Annual To Monthly

Annual taxes are $6,600 and annual insurance is $1,500. What is the combined monthly amount for taxes and insurance?

Answer Key And Explanations

1. Acres To Square Feet

3 x 43,560 = 130,680

Answer: 130,680 square feet.

2. Square Feet To Acres

217,800 / 43,560 = 5

Answer: 5 acres.

3. Lot Area

75 x 160 = 12,000

Answer: 12,000 square feet.

4. Lot Area In Acres

12,000 / 43,560 = 0.2755

Answer: 0.28 acres.

5. Square Yards

675 / 9 = 75

Answer: 75 square yards.

6. Linear Feet

2 x 60 = 120

2 x 110 = 220

120 + 220 = 340

Answer: 340 linear feet.

7. Feet In Miles

2 x 5,280 = 10,560

Answer: 10,560 feet.

8. Section Acres

One section contains 640 acres.

Answer: 640 acres.

9. Township Acres

36 x 640 = 23,040

Answer: 23,040 acres.

10. Fraction Of A Section

Start with one section:

640 acres

Apply NE 1/4:

640 / 4 = 160

Apply S 1/2:

160 / 2 = 80

Answer: 80 acres.

11. Monthly Taxes

$9,600 / 12 = $800

Answer: $800.

12. Monthly Insurance

$2,100 / 12 = $175

Answer: $175.

13. Simple Monthly Interest

Annual interest:

$360,000 x 0.05 = $18,000

Monthly interest:

$18,000 / 12 = $1,500

Answer: $1,500.

14. PITI

Monthly taxes:

$8,400 / 12 = $700

Monthly insurance:

$2,040 / 12 = $170

Monthly PITI:

$2,400 + $700 + $170 = $3,270

Answer: $3,270.

15. PITI With Monthly Amounts

$1,875 + $525 + $125 = $2,525

Answer: $2,525.

16. PITI With PMI Stated

$2,100 + $650 + $180 + $95 = $3,025

Answer: $3,025.

17. Cash To Close Trap

Use the monthly PITI number only.

Answer: $2,750.

18. Perimeter Trap

Fencing is a perimeter problem.

Answer: perimeter.

19. Area Trap

Square footage is an area problem.

Answer: area.

20. Annual To Monthly

Annual combined amount:

$6,600 + $1,500 = $8,100

Monthly amount:

$8,100 / 12 = $675

Answer: $675.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Forgetting 43,560

Pearson specifically says 43,560 square feet per acre should be memorized.

If you do not know it, acreage questions become guesswork.

Mistake 2: Forgetting 5,280

Pearson also says 5,280 feet per mile should be memorized.

This matters for long-distance legal-description and land-measurement problems.

Mistake 3: Using 3 Instead Of 9 For Square Yards

One yard is 3 feet.

One square yard is 9 square feet.

Area squares the conversion.

Mistake 4: Confusing Perimeter With Area

Fencing usually asks for linear feet.

Lot size usually asks for square feet or acres.

Read the noun after the number.

Mistake 5: Forgetting To Divide Annual Taxes By 12

PITI is usually monthly.

If taxes are annual, divide by 12.

Mistake 6: Forgetting To Divide Annual Insurance By 12

Insurance is often given annually.

Monthly insurance is annual insurance divided by 12.

Mistake 7: Adding Closing Costs To PITI

PITI is a monthly payment concept.

Closing costs are part of settlement or cash to close.

Do not mix them unless the question asks for a total that includes both.

Mistake 8: Inventing Mortgage Insurance

If the problem tells you to include mortgage insurance, include it.

If it does not, do not add a PMI amount from memory.

Use only the given facts.

How To Study This Topic

Use a short daily drill.

Step 1: Recite The Two Pearson Conversions

Say them out loud:

One acre is 43,560 square feet.
One mile is 5,280 feet.

Do that until there is no hesitation.

Step 2: Practice Both Directions

Do not only practice acres to square feet.

Practice:

Acres x 43,560 = square feet

and:

Square feet / 43,560 = acres

Step 3: Drill Annual To Monthly

Take random annual amounts and divide by 12.

Taxes and insurance questions often become easy once you convert annual amounts into monthly amounts.

Step 4: Label The Problem Type

Before calculating, write one label:

area
perimeter
acreage
PITI
monthly interest
monthly taxes
monthly insurance

The label protects you from using the wrong formula.

Where This Fits In The Texas Math Cluster

Measurement conversions and PITI sit underneath several bigger exam topics.

FAQ

What conversions must I memorize for the Texas real estate exam?

Pearson says 43,560 square feet per acre and 5,280 feet per mile are not available at the test center and should be memorized.

Should I memorize other conversions too?

Yes. You should also know 1 yard equals 3 feet, 1 square yard equals 9 square feet, 1 section equals 640 acres, and 1 township equals 36 sections. Pearson specifically names 43,560 and 5,280 as the test-center memory items, but the others are useful for solving common real estate math questions.

What does PITI mean?

PITI means principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. In simple exam math, monthly PITI is usually monthly principal and interest plus monthly taxes plus monthly insurance.

How do I calculate monthly taxes for PITI?

Divide annual property taxes by 12. If annual taxes are $7,200, monthly taxes are $600.

How do I calculate monthly insurance for PITI?

Divide annual insurance by 12. If annual insurance is $1,800, monthly insurance is $150.

Does PITI include closing costs?

No. PITI is a monthly payment concept. Closing costs are settlement costs. Add closing costs only if the question asks for cash to close, buyer cost, or another total that includes closing costs.

Does PITI include mortgage insurance?

Only include mortgage insurance if the question tells you to include it or gives it as part of the monthly payment. PITI stands for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance, but exam questions should tell you which insurance figures to use.

Is PITI the same as principal and interest?

No. Principal and interest are only two parts. PITI also includes taxes and insurance. The CFPB explains that monthly principal and interest are usually the main components of a mortgage payment, but the total monthly payment is typically higher because of taxes and insurance.

Should I practice this in the app?

Yes. Measurement and PITI questions are easy to improve with repetition. The Texas real estate exam prep app gives you original conversion, acreage, square footage, monthly tax, monthly insurance, simple interest, and PITI practice with explanations. Native Texas exam prep. Original questions. No copied exam questions. Not affiliated with TREC or Pearson VUE. Not a 180-hour pre-license course or a pass guarantee.

Are these copied exam questions?

No. The examples and practice questions in this article are original educational practice questions. The Texas real estate exam prep app also uses original questions. Native Texas exam prep. Original questions. No copied exam questions. Not affiliated with TREC or Pearson VUE. Not a 180-hour pre-license course or a pass guarantee.

Verification Note

This article was verified against the current Pearson VUE Texas real estate content outline, the Pearson VUE candidate handbook, and the CFPB Loan Estimate explainer.

It is for educational exam prep, not legal, tax, lending, appraisal, brokerage, or financial advice. Real mortgage payments can include escrow rules, mortgage insurance, HOA dues, loan terms, adjustable-rate features, and lender-specific calculations beyond simple exam math. For the Texas real estate exam, use the numbers and instructions in the question.

Sources

• Pearson VUE: Texas Real Estate Content Outlines
• Pearson VUE: Texas Real Estate Candidate Handbook
• CFPB: Loan Estimate Explainer