The appraisal profession is hamstrung. Who did this to us? Looking for cause? When things feel and act difficult, it is only human to look at cause. It is them who create problems. If only they would see things our way. If we took a poll, who is it that is causing us the biggest […]
Which comes first? The model tells us how. The tool tells us what. The more important may be the why. Why use a model? Why use a tool? Last Friday, December 8, we gave the first ever class on R for Appraisers. R is the tool. R is too cool. It’s clearly the toolbox of […]
No it’s not. Just do what you’re told. Do what you were taught. Follow the Rules. No thinking required. What are the “rules” of appraisal? Easy: Get your intended user’s expectations (scope of Work). Pick your comps. Apply one or more “approaches”. Provide your opinion (then explain, justify and support that opinion). How will you […]
This week’s post, “Faster! Faster! Have You Noticed?” is written by my good friend and data analyst, Bruce Hahn, SRA, ASA, CRE. Bruce is a past president of the Northern California Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. Find him at BruceHahn.com. The world is changing faster! Technology marches forward. Data is collected about anything and everything. […]
Is valuation one analysis or two analyses? Traditionally, we have been taught to pick our comps carefully. A comparable is competitive to the subject. A competitive sale is similar to the subject. And a property is similar if it can be compared to the subject. Is that one analysis, or two analyses? From the 1930s […]
Stats, Graphs, Data, and now – Science. Why is science relevant? Isn’t good judgement important? Science is: “the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.” So how does this relate to valuation? First, we can get rid of a big chunk. Appraisers cannot do experiments. […]
We’ve heard that Fannie and Freddie are developing new forms. So, what might the next 1004 form look like? Will it require three comps, two listings, and a pending? Will it require a full data download, or a description of search parameters? Will it still even be designed to fit on 8 ½ inch paper? […]
Vintage appraisal focuses on a point value opinion. In reality, clients need help with estimating collateral risk, or investment potential. Risk or reliability, if measured, is the uncertainty of the analyzed result, or the opinion of value. Lenders, investors, portfolio managers today are aware of the power of today’s technology. They need a measure of […]
Things become obsolete because they fail to keep up. USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) has served us well. And things have changed. And times have changed. Appraisal standards go back quite a ways, primarily by the forerunners of today’s Appraisal Institute. Also, assessor groups sought and created standards or procedures for mass appraisal […]
How can spreadsheet software hinder the profession? A Wall Street Journal article, and a presentation at the Appraisal Institute National Conference have similar stories. One addresses accountants, the other is about appraisers. Editors Note: The Stats, Graphs, and Data Science classes taught in Detroit the week of September 23-27, 2019 included the first ever meeting of […]
If you are disrupted, you can plant your feet in fear, and not change. If you are disruptor, it’s wise to know the game and play your best position. So what do we need to understand about “data disruption”? Several things: I have seen a list of nine such general principles. So lets see each […]
Appraisers study some economics. Data training is “pick comps carefully.” AVMs use data. AVMs (Automated Valuation Models) usually use a lot more data, even dozens or hundreds or …. Appraisers usually pick six or seven comps, based on good judgment and training and experience. We are told comparables should be similar and competitive, so they […]
Everyone talks about the “market,” but no one tells us exactly what it is. The Dictionary of Real Estate, 5th ed. Appraisal Institute, defines “Real Estate Market” as “Buyers and sellers of particular real estate and the transactions that occur among them.” Close, but no kewpie doll prize. I have had at least three graduate […]
“Appraisal is not an exact science” are words I used to hear a lot. This understandable view leaves much to be explained. In the USA, appraisal is an opinion of value by an appraiser. (Licensed, and when required, for “federally related transactions”.) All other types of valuations have different or no regulations. However, they are […]
“Appraisal is market analysis!” is the title of a 1975 journal article by Richard Ratcliff, MAI. Freddie Mac Chief Appraiser Scott Reuter recently noted pervasive market analysis deficiencies in appraisal opinions. Specifically, discrepancies from actual contract prices. For appraisers, this disparity is easily accounted for by two reasons: Failure to implement time adjustments to the […]