Appraisal Now

Daily Herald | Chicago’s 2025 commercial real estate market shows growth in the industrial, multifamily, and mixed-use sectors. Districts like Fulton Market attract investment for live-work-play communities. Office conversions create opportunities despite vacancy challenges.

Capital Press | Oregon Agricultural Trust helps farmers preserve working land through conservation easements, protecting 30,800 acres so far. Landowners get paid to forego development rights, keeping land affordable for farming while preventing subdivision into ranchettes.

ChosunBiz | South Korean financial authorities are considering regulations for external appraisal firms after Company A’s fraudulent accounting scandal involving inflated asset values. The current laws lack penalties for poor evaluations by accounting firms and credit agencies.

Capitol Hill Seattle Blog | The Seattle City Council considers legislation to protect homeowners from predatory buyers who make unsolicited offers. The proposal would require appraisals, provide cancellation rights, and impose stricter penalties. It aims to address displacement concerns, especially in communities of color like the Central District.

The Richmonder | Richmond’s Affordable Housing Performance Grant Program refunds developers’ increased property taxes for building affordable units (60% AMI). Since 2022, 25 projects have been approved for 3,213 units. The program costs the city $7.2 million annually in foregone taxes but addresses housing crisis.

The Fence Post | Agricultural land values remain stable in mid-2025 despite farm profitability challenges. Limited inventory and strong buyer demand drive resilience, though lower net farm income and higher interest rates create caution. Regional variations exist, with quality land still commanding premium prices.

CNBC | CNBC ranked the top 10 US housing markets balancing affordability and value. Vermont leads with 8% appreciation and good inventory. Tennessee offers 87% seller gains and low taxes. Montana and Idaho see strong growth but affordability issues. Market shows pockets of stability amid national challenges.

Real Estate New Jersey | Industrial real estate experts see strong demand for flexible, future-ready buildings with enhanced electrical capacity, EV readiness, and automation features. Key trends include 3D modeling/BIM, flight to emerging submarkets, and power infrastructure as critical differentiator for developers.

Montana Free Press | Montana home values jumped 66% in four years to $378,000 median, driven by COVID pandemic. Monthly payments rose from $921 to $2,173 while income grew only 26%. Gallatin County leads at $685,000. Southwest counties saw fastest growth, some doubling. Rural areas also hit hard.

Urban Land | Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act extends 2017 tax cuts, makes bonus depreciation permanent, expands affordable housing tax credits, and preserves 1031 exchanges. Experts see mixed benefits for commercial real estate but worry about deficit impacts on interest rates.

PV Magazine | Community solar is transforming commercial real estate by solving tenant turnover issues. Instead of sizing systems to short-term tenants, owners can maximize rooftops and sell power off-site, creating passive rental income that boosts property values. However, federal budget changes threaten tax credits.

Joint Center for Housing Studies | 2024 set housing records, mostly negative. The median home price hit $412,500, price-to-income ratio reached 5.0, monthly payments $2,560. Market activity plummeted with the lowest sales since 1995, the first homeownership decline in 8 years, and a record-high first-buyer age (38). Renters faced 22.6 million cost-burdened households, 12.1 million severely burdened. Homelessness reached 771,480 people. Climate disasters totaled $55 billion events. Despite the crisis, federal housing assistance faces funding cuts.

Elder Law Answers | Specific bequests in wills may need appraisals based on asset value/type, state laws, and tax implications. High-value items (art, jewelry, real estate) typically require appraisal for taxes and fair distribution. Executors may choose appraisal to prevent disputes even when not legally required.

Saving Advice | New rules make passing down real estate harder and costlier for families. Changes to "step-up basis" taxes, property tax reassessments after death, complex state inheritance laws, and rising home values create unexpected burdens for heirs who may be forced to sell inherited homes to pay taxes and fees.

Scotsman Guide | Since 2018, 90,000 properties were bought via Auction.com in underserved areas, 15,000 in Opportunity Zones. Local developers renovate distressed homes in ~7 months, resell for $200,000-$259,000 with 70% owner-occupied. They earn $83,000-$88,000 profit, reinvest in communities, create jobs and raise property values. Expanding the OZ program to more underserved areas could accelerate affordable housing and revitalization.