My First Appraisal Institute Annual Conference — Nashville, Tennessee, 2026

By Jack Li

I'll be honest — I wasn't sure what to expect walking into my first Appraisal Institute Annual Conference. But from the moment I arrived in Nashville, I knew this was going to be something special.

My journey with the Appraisal Institute started years ago at Bowery Valuation and through the Northern California Chapter, where I was fortunate to find mentors who genuinely invested in my growth and sat in sessions that showed a young appraiser just how wide and deep this profession runs. Every appraiser I've met seems to have carved out their own niche — their own corner of the real estate world they've spent decades mastering — and yet we're all connected by the same mission: serving the public interest with honest, well-supported opinions of value. That sense of shared purpose is something I've always loved about this community. Needless to say, I was eager to experience that conversation on a national scale.

The conference was kicked off by this year's National President Michael J. Acquaro-Mignogna, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS — someone I had the privilege of meeting previously — who has been tireless in traveling the country to champion our profession and build momentum heading into this gathering.

The sessions themselves were outstanding. Hearing leaders from major firms reflect honestly on where the profession has been, where it's going, and what we need to do differently was both grounding and motivating. And seeing independent appraisers and aspiring appraisers in the same room — people at totally different stages of their careers — made the conversation richer. A particular highlight was the inaugural University Valuation Case Challenge, which pits top university real estate programs in a highest and best use analysis competition. It was inspiring to see so many motivated students engaged with our profession, and a promising sign for the pipeline of talent ahead.

I soaked up as much as I could on the technical side — sessions on data centers, self-storage, REITs, LIHTC, and distressed assets, among others — all topics at the forefront of today's valuation landscape and very much top of mind across the real estate industry. I also attended some sessions on the residential appraisal side, with topics such as AVMs, natural disasters and data collectors, all of which also affect the commercial side of work and vice versa.

I also made time for the leadership development, artificial intelligence, and professional coaching sessions, which honestly surprised me with how much I took away. It's one thing to be good at writing appraisals. It's another to think carefully about how you're growing as a professional and where you want to go.

The sponsor exhibitions were equally impressive. It's remarkable to see how rapidly the tools supporting appraisers have evolved, with a holistic push to leverage new technology to reduce administrative burden and sharpen the focus on what matters most: sound judgment, quality data, and defensible valuations.

But if I'm being real, the people were the best part. There's something about sharing a meal, a hallway conversation, or a night out on Broadway with someone who just gets the work — who understands the pressure, the craft, and the pride that goes into a well-done appraisal — that you just can't replicate online. I left Nashville with a longer list of people I'm grateful to know, and a few conversations I'll be thinking about for a long time.

This conference reminded me of how I chose this profession and how much further I want to explore. If you've ever been curious about the appraisal world — or if you're already in it and haven't made it to a national conference yet — I hope I'll see you in New Orleans next year!

	Jack Li is an Associate Vice President at Bowery Valuation and a Candidate for Designation in the MAI candidacy program of the Appraisal Institute, based in San Mateo, California. He has experience appraising a wide variety of commercial real estate properties for lender and non-lender clients throughout California and the Desert Southwest, with a deep understanding of how real estate values are shaped across dynamic markets.
The Appraisal Institute is looking ahead to 2027, when we will gather in New Orleans for our Annual Conference. Save the date: April 27-28 at the Hyatt Regency. Registration and hotel details coming soon. Thoughts on this week’s blog? Share them here, whether it’s quick feedback or a full response. Our team reads every submission and may consider select responses for publication.