What is meant by 'fair market value' in a lease?

'Fair market value' in a lease context refers to the estimated price that an asset would likely sell for in the open market between a willing buyer and a willing seller, both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts and not being under any compulsion to buy or sell. This concept is crucial because it reflects the true economic value of the leased asset and is often used to determine lease payments, residual values, and other financial metrics associated with leasing transactions.

When parties to a lease need to assess values for terms like purchase options or end-of-lease decisions, fair market value provides an objective standard that helps ensure fairness and transparency in those transactions. It serves as a benchmark for deciding whether a lease payment is reasonable in relation to the asset's current market situation, which is essential for both lessors and lessees in structuring their agreements.

In contrast, the other choices reflect different financial concepts that do not align with the definition of fair market value, such as fixed lease payments, subjective maximum willingness to pay, or the aggregate cost of leasing, which do not account for market dynamics.