Appraisal Institute News

Aug 28, 2019 12:30 PM

Economy Thriving, Major Risks Being Monitored: Fed Chair

The U.S. economy is thriving with economic expansion entering its 11th consecutive year — the longest on record, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said during a symposium at the Federal Reserve’s central banking conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, HousingWire reported Aug. 26. Powell noted significant risks, however, including slowing global growth and trade policy uncertainty.

Aug 28, 2019 12:30 PM

Commercial Real Estate Executives Report Stable Conditions: Real Estate Roundtable

Commercial real estate executives expressed confidence in the market as reports show balanced and stable economic market conditions, according to The Real Estate Roundtable’s 2019 Q3 Sentiment Index released Aug. 16. Around 60% of respondents said they believe real estate asset values will be the same a year from now.

Aug 27, 2019 08:00 AM

Appraisal Institute, Fannie Mae Join Forces to Foster Diversity in Valuation Profession

The Appraisal Institute is partnering with Fannie Mae to promote appraisal careers and to foster diversity in the valuation profession, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers announced today.

Aug 23, 2019 08:00 AM

Appraisal Institute Debuts Artificial Intelligence Seminar

The Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers, debuted a four-hour classroom seminar on artificial intelligence, automated valuation models and blockchain today in Denver.

Aug 21, 2019 12:30 PM

AI Opposes Banks' Residential Appraisal Threshold Increase

Federal banking regulators on Aug. 20 approved a final rule to increase the residential appraisal threshold from $250,000 to $400,000, effective after publication in the Federal Register, which should happen within days.

Aug 21, 2019 12:30 PM

FHA Passes Condo Approval Rule to Promote Ownership

The Federal Housing Administration on Aug. 14 published a final regulation establishing new condominium approval rules, notably allowing some individual condo units to be eligible for FHA mortgage insurance even if the condo project is not FHA approved. The regulations, which take effect Oct. 15, also permit more mixed-use projects to qualify for FHA insurance.

Aug 21, 2019 12:30 PM

US Office Sector Has Momentum; Second Quarter Vacancy Rate Hits 18-year Low: CBRE

The U.S office market experienced significant growth during the second quarter, with vacancy dropping to an 18-year low of 12.2%, according to real estate services firm CBRE, National Real Estate Investor reported Aug. 14. The market absorbed 17.1 million square feet, bringing the year-to-date total to 66.5 million square feet.

Aug 14, 2019 12:30 PM

US Farmland Value Increases Average of $60 Per Acre: USDA

The average value of U.S. farm real estate is $3,160 per acre, up from $3,100 per acre in 2018, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department’s 2019 Land Values Summary released Aug. 6, Ag Professional reported. The per-acre average for cropland also increased, while the per-acre average for pastureland reached a record $1,400.

Aug 14, 2019 12:30 PM

GSE Reform Mostly Complete, Former Freddie Mac CEO Says

The government-sponsored enterprises have almost been restored to a condition where they can be privatized without legislative input from Congress, according to the paper “GSE Reform: None or Mostly Done?”, authored by Donald Layton and released Aug. 7 by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. Layton resigned as Freddie Mac CEO last month.

Aug 14, 2019 12:30 PM

Multifamily Sector Going Strong, Expected to Continue Through 2020: Freddie Mac

The multifamily market has performed above average during the first half of the year, with especially strong performance during the second quarter, which is expected to continue through 2020, Freddie Mac reported Aug. 8 in its Multifamily Midyear Outlook. Low interest rates are expected to increase demand for multifamily investments and drive up origination volume.