Is the science different from the old routine – “support your opinion”? It kinda sounds like the same thing. Of course. No real difference. But is it possible there a difference in the thinking process? Would a scientist think about the problem differently? First, let’s be clear on one thing. We get paid for four […]
We are taught that our work must have believability: as per USPAP, credible means “worthy of belief”. Let’s look here at the difference between credibility and reliability. It must be important. It’s used in the actual standards (integrity and performance) part at least 59 times. If you include the whole USPAP 2018-2019 book, it is […]
New Year’s resolutions are certainly good, even great wonder and intent. I have made a few. I don’t remember any ever working out. But some things did work out. I ask: What was the difference? The difference is between January 3rd and December 28th. Generally, I had resolved to make some resolutions right away, on […]
As an appraiser, it is time to look forward to this next year. For me, it seems looking forward always means looking backward. Oh well. Perhaps life is just like the appraisal process. We are asked to predict forward—based on the past market sales. Sometimes I wonder if a present even exists. Just as soon […]
Bank regulators are nearing a decision to raise residential real estate transactions appraisal threshold to $400,000 from $250,000, for certain transactions. Perhaps it should be set to $2million, or $5million. It strikes me that we have two separate taxpayer regulatory/administrative/quasi-governmental organizations working in opposition. On one hand we have the Appraisal Subcommittee and The Appraisal […]
If your work is reliable, it’s credible. If it’s credible it may not be reliable. USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) defines credible as “worthy of belief.” So how does one strive to be worthy? Well the automatic answers are . . . automatic: 1) have education/training; 2) have experience; 3) have integrity. Let’s […]
There’s some evidence that appraisal as a marketable service is finished. Several things point in this direction. First, we must clarify what is an appraisal for purposes of this blog. It’s an opinion of value. An appraisal is a valuation service provided by an appraiser in an appraisal practice, representing that he/she complies with USPAP […]
A “hybrid” appraisal is a new name for where the property inspection is separated from the analysis and appraiser’s certification. It is faster and cheaper and. . . This is Part 5 of a (soon to be, so far) six part discussion of Hybrid Appraisals. Part One, Two, Three, and Four are behind these links. […]
An opinion of value is just that. Everyone has one. Asset value is wanted for one of three reasons: to measure risk, forecast profit, or to achieve fairness. Mostly the clients are collateral lenders, investors, and regulators/litigators. An appraisal is an opinion of value by an appraiser acting in appraisal practice. There are other opinions […]
And change it does. The biggest changes slip in almost without notice. USPAP recognizes change. In fact, Standard 1-1 says: …the principle of change continues to affect the manner in which appraisers perform appraisal services. It specifically recognizes change in cost, construction, marketing, law, lending all lead, or should lead to corresponding changes in appraisal […]
What is an adjustment? In a prior blog, we noted that no one seems to really know! We looked at the AI Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal. We looked at The Appraisal of Real Estate (TARE). And we looked at the “Uniform” standards. All these sources tell us that adjustments are important and should be […]
Hybrid Appraisal, Part VI Is it possible that Lo-Brid or even No-Brid appraisals could be even faster and more cheaper? Hybrid appraisals have been hyped as being a “modernization” of the appraisal process. While the appraiser still fills out the “Fannie Mae” form, the actual property visit is done by another person (with as yet […]
Graphs serve several purposes. There are two main mindsets in building graphs. One of them seems completely ignored in traditional appraisal ‘procedures.’ The old way of appraisal is to gather 4 or 5 comparables. They are “competitive” and “similar”. We are told that if they are competitive and similar, they make ‘ok’ comps. Ok comps […]
Statistics for appraisers started to become a hot topic some 15+ years ago. I was more involved with the Appraisal Institute then, and often argued that with the changes in data sources—appraisers would have to learn to apply statistics. Around 2003, the AQB (Appraiser Qualifications Board) revised qualifying education to include the requirement for Finance, […]
The future is here now. How can an average appraiser prepare? Some practical views. There are a lot of questions here. How are things changing? Will my knowledge be of any value? Is there any hope at all? Will clients require something different? If I am to survive, what do I need to do different […]