What’s Ahead for Appraisers: Policy, Data and Professional Development
In this issue:
- Register for the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting on Aug. 20.
- Review landmark appraisal legislation approved by Congress.
- Sign up for the next Trending Topics Thursdays webinar on BRAVE.
- Explore upcoming education opportunities, including Advanced Income Capitalization.
A Note About Your Newsletter
We're making some changes to Appraisal Now to bring you a better experience. Beginning July 21, you'll receive this newsletter every other Tuesday instead of weekly. You'll get one more issue on July 7, then we'll be back on July 21 and biweekly from there.
Mark Your Calendar for the Virtual 2026 Annual Meeting of Appraisal Institute Membership
The Annual Meeting of the Appraisal Institute membership will take place virtually on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. CT. The meeting will run until all business is concluded. Members will hear updates on the state of affairs of the Appraisal Institute and have an opportunity to stay informed about key organizational priorities and activities. Information on how to join the meeting will be forthcoming. The meeting will be conducted in conjunction with the third regular Board Meeting Recap and Q&A.
IRS Signals New Opportunities for Valuation Professionals in Opportunity Zones
The Internal Revenue Service recently issued transitional guidance for Opportunity Zone investments as Treasury works to implement changes enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. While largely technical, the guidance signals an important shift: Opportunity Zones are evolving from a temporary tax incentive into a permanent economic development program. IRS Notice 2026-40 provides interim rules governing the transition between the original Opportunity Zone framework and the new Opportunity Zone 2.0 program beginning in 2027. The notice addresses issues including gain deferral, treatment of existing investments, and compliance during the redesignation of Opportunity Zones.
For appraisers and valuation professionals, the implications extend well beyond tax administration. The revised program is expected to increase demand for market analysis, feasibility studies, redevelopment planning, and investment due diligence.
Your Benefits
Valcre is a turnkey appraisal platform providing an all-in-one solution to manage the appraisal workflow from intake to invoice. The cloud-based application has a complete properties database with comparable storage for sales, leases, expenses, and unit mix surveys. The properties and comparables databases are connected to job and client databases where users can track all their jobs across one office or multiple offices with intuitive dashboards for quick access to the status of every appraisal. Application features include one-page data entry, automated mapping, one-click datasheets, summary comp reports, professional service agreements, and invoicing. The cloud-based application provides a scalable, easily-searchable database available anytime, anywhere. Private and secure, data is protected by institution-grade encryption, geo-redundant backups, and globally accepted standards for data protection.
Valcre has high quality USPAP compliant Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word templates for Retail, Office, Industrial, Land, and Multifamily property types. The templates include all the standard property valuations and approaches to value and can easily accommodate custom charts, graphs, or text. One-click importing of data is standard. Synchronizing charts and text is efficient and effortless. Full branding support with logos and company branded colors is included. The content was developed by Appraisal Institute Designated Members with over 50 years of experience with a thorough knowledge of regulations and the appraisal process.
Exclusive Offer for AI Members
AI Members are eligible for:
- 25% off the implementation fee
- One (1) complimentary Valcre Assist Report
Offer must be requested prior to contract execution and be included on the order form.
Learn more about Valcre and the exclusive AI pricing plans.
Email Valcre Sales at sales@valcre.com to get started today!
AI Blog
Strong analysis deserves strong communication. Even the most well-supported value conclusion can lose credibility if the report does not clearly explain the reasoning behind it.
A new AI blog explores why General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies focuses on one of the profession's most important skills: communicating complex analysis in a clear, logical, and defensible way. Learn how this qualifying education course helps appraisers strengthen their reporting through applied case studies and personalized instruction.
The next live online session begins July 14. Read the blog and register today.
Sign up for our next free webinar
The Next Generation of Commercial Appraisal Data: Understanding BRAVE
July 16, 2026, 11 AM CT
As commercial real estate valuation becomes increasingly data-driven, the need for standardized, interoperable appraisal data has never been greater. The BRAVE (Business Rules for Appraisal and Valuation Exchange) Appraisal Data Standard was developed to create a common framework for exchanging commercial appraisal information across lenders, appraisal firms, technology providers, and other industry stakeholders.
Join Jeff Garvin, MAI, Senior Vice President and Chief Appraiser at Bank OZK, and Elaine D. Liz-Plowman, MAI, AI-GRS, Director of Appraisal Services at Hancock Whitney Corp., for an overview of the origins and development of BRAVE, the challenges it was designed to address, and its role in the future of commercial valuation.
Congress Approves Landmark Appraisal Legislation
Congress has approved the most significant appraisal legislation in years as part of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, now awaiting the President's signature.
The package includes changes affecting FHA appraiser eligibility, Appraisal Subcommittee oversight, appraiser and AMC registry fees, second appraisal requests and new standards for reconsiderations of value.
Read our summary of the appraisal provisions and what they mean for the profession.
Appraisal Institute Joins Coalition Supporting Risk-Based Capital Reforms
The Appraisal Institute joined a broad coalition of real estate, housing, and financial services organizations in supporting proposed revisions to the federal banking agencies' risk-based capital framework. The coalition's comment letter urges regulators to adopt a more risk-sensitive approach to capital requirements that better reflects the actual risk of real estate lending while preserving safety and soundness. The recommendations include refinements to loan-to-value-based capital treatment for residential and commercial real estate loans and other changes intended to improve credit availability and support housing production and investment. The Appraisal Institute supports policies that strengthen safe, efficient real estate finance markets and recognizes that a well-calibrated regulatory framework benefits lenders, property owners, and consumers while reinforcing the importance of credible collateral valuation in sound underwriting decisions.
AQB Proposes Major Changes to Appraiser Qualification Requirements
The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) has released its Second Exposure Draft of proposed revisions to the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria, including several significant changes that could reshape entry into the profession. Among the proposals is replacing the current valuation bias course with a new one-time, five-hour qualifying education course titled Fair Housing Laws, Impartiality, and Objective Valuation Practice while eliminating the recurring continuing education requirement on valuation bias. The Appraisal Institute supports this approach, recognizing the importance of educating new appraisers on fair housing and objective valuation while avoiding repetitive requirements that add costs without demonstrated public benefit.
Other proposed changes include eliminating the college degree requirement for Certified Residential and Certified General appraisers, removing minimum experience timeframes, allowing candidates to take the national exam upon completing qualifying education, making passing exam scores permanent, expanding PAREA to Certified General candidates, and eliminating continuing education requirements for Trainee Appraisers. The AQB is accepting public comments through July 27, 2026, and the Appraisal Institute encourages members to review the proposal and participate in the comment process.
Real Estate Horizons
Stay updated and check out links to the latest major real estate industry stories!
More Opportunities to Learn
Search the latest educational offerings! Find National and Chapter-sponsored classroom, synchronous, and online opportunities.
Until Next week
Team Appraisal Institute
