Appraisal Institute News | Appraisal Institute

Dec 19, 2018 12:30 PM

Fannie Mae Issues Special Newsletter Focused on Rural Appraiser Concerns

Fannie Mae on Dec. 10 released a special Appraiser Update e-newsletter focused on rural appraising. The issue provides guidance on numerous issues affecting rural appraisers, including highest and best use, standards for comparable selection, data sources, adjustments and reconciliation.

Dec 19, 2018 12:30 PM

FHA Increases Loan Limits for 2019

The Federal Housing Administration on Dec. 14 announced new loan limits for 2019, with most of the country seeing increases. Effective Jan. 1, the new loan limit will increase to $314,827, up from $294,515 this year. In high-cost areas, the new loan limit will increase to $726,525, up from $679,650.

Dec 13, 2018 08:00 AM

Current Use is Key Factor for Retail Valuation in the Age of Amazon: The Appraisal Journal

Financial statements should be used when appraising retail properties to determine the “durability of the current use” as Amazon and e-commerce threaten brick and mortar retail sales, according to a study published this week in The Appraisal Journal.

Dec 12, 2018 12:30 PM

Agencies Seek Comment on Residential Appraisal Threshold Proposal

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced Dec. 4 that they are seeking comment on a proposal to raise the threshold for residential real estate transactions requiring an appraisal from $250,000 to $400,000.

Dec 12, 2018 12:30 PM

Some Economists See Looming Recession, but Goldman Sachs Says No

Goldman Sachs sees only a 30 percent chance of a recession by 2020, the opposite of what other economists have been predicting, HousingWire reported Dec. 4. Goldman Sachs noted the biggest concerns focus on tariffs, labor inflation and pressure on margins and higher rates.

Dec 12, 2018 12:30 PM

CRE in Urban Areas Benefits from Incentive Programs, State Agencies Say

Multifamily housing and commercial real estate in large urban areas are the primary beneficiaries of capital raised through Opportunity Zone incentive programs aimed at boosting investment in needy areas, according to the National Council of State Housing Agencies, MarketWatch reported Dec. 3.

Dec 05, 2018 12:30 PM

AI Joins 17 Groups Opposing Proposed Credit Union Administration Action

The Appraisal Institute on Dec. 4 joined 17 other organizations in strongly opposing the National Credit Union Administration’s proposal to quadruple – from $250,000 to $1 million – the appraisal threshold for non-residential loans. AI said the threshold increase would drastically increase the number of non-residential real estate loans that would not require an appraisal.

Dec 05, 2018 12:30 PM

AI and Land Trust Alliance Support Conservation Easement Legislation

The Appraisal Institute and the Land Trust Alliance co-signed a letter Nov. 29 urging congressional leaders to advance the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act, which would help maintain the integrity of conservation easement donations by closing an apparent loophole related to abusive syndicated tax shelters.

Dec 05, 2018 12:30 PM

Massachusetts Supreme Court Rules on Applicability of Appraiser Bias

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on Nov. 26 ruled that the prohibition on appraiser bias contained in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and the Appraisal Institute’s Code of Ethics and Certification Standard, or the appearance of bias, applies only to individuals and not to an appraiser’s employer.

Dec 04, 2018 10:09 AM

Appraisal Institute Joins 17 Groups Opposing Credit Union Administration’s Proposed Action

The nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers joined 17 other organizations Monday in saying it “strongly opposed” the National Credit Union Administration’s plan to reduce the number of non-residential real estate loans requiring appraisals.