Appraisal Institute News | Appraisal Institute

Sep 11, 2018 08:00 AM

Appraisal Institute Unveils Property Use Classification System

The nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers today unveiled an information system that classifies and describes property uses and assists real estate analysts and others with their property use data storage and analysis.

Sep 05, 2018 12:30 PM

Fed Sees Greater Recession Risk as Some Seek to Halt Rate Increases

The gap between short-term and long-term borrowing costs is narrowing, which could signal the growing risk of a recession, according to a Federal Reserve study published Aug. 27, Business Insider reported. Some Fed officials believe that the flattening yield curve is a reason to halt additional interest rate increases.

Sep 05, 2018 12:30 PM

Moodys Says It Will Acquire Reis

Ratings agency Moody’s announced Aug. 30 that it is acquiring the analytics firm Reis, MarketWatch reported. The $278 million deal expands Moody’s presence in the U.S. commercial real estate market.

Sep 05, 2018 12:30 PM

Medical Office Vacancies at 10-Year Low; Developers Stay Busy: Report

The medical office market remains a hot sector for institutional investors, with building vacancies rising slightly but still at a 10-year low, according to commercial real estate brokerage Marcus & Millichap, Globest.com reported Aug. 30. Developers are on track to deliver an additional 9.9 million square feet this year.

Aug 29, 2018 12:30 PM

National Mortgage Settlement Involving Feds, States and Banks Wraps Up

The National Mortgage Settlement between the federal government and 49 states and five of the nation’s largest banks and mortgage servicers has concluded after netting $25 billion in consumer relief and other payments, HousingWire reported Aug. 22. The settlement, announced in February 2012, involved allegations that mortgage documents were being “robo-signed.”

Aug 29, 2018 12:30 PM

Fannie, Freddie Drop Pilot Programs That Targeted Single-family Rentals

The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Aug. 21 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will end their pilot programs for the single-family rental market, HousingWire reported. The government-sponsored enterprises conducted its “test and learn” for a year before determining that the market can function without GSE assistance.

Aug 29, 2018 12:30 PM

Oregon Allows Timber High-Rises

Oregon passed an addendum to its building code that allows timber structures to be built higher than six stories without having to apply for special permission — the first state to OK this type of construction, Curbed reported Aug. 21.

Aug 22, 2018 12:30 PM

Royal Bank of Scotland to Pay Nearly $5B Over Mortgage Securities Misconduct

The U.S. Justice Department announced Aug. 14 that Royal Bank of Scotland will pay $4.9 billion to settle claims that it misled investors when underwriting and issuing residential mortgage-backed securities leading up to the housing crisis, HousingWire reported. The penalty is the largest ever imposed by DOJ related to the financial crisis.

Aug 22, 2018 12:30 PM

High Demand for Warehouse Facilities in Coastal Markets, Report Shows

Coastal markets are reporting significant demand for warehouses between 25,000 and 40,000 square feet, with vacancy rates for such properties hovering around 1 percent for four consecutive quarters, according to real estate services firm Colliers International, National Real Estate Investor reported Aug 13.

Aug 22, 2018 12:30 PM

Commercial Real Estate Executives See Balanced, Stable Market: Survey

Commercial real estate is expected to remain “balanced and stable” despite concerns that the market is nearing the end of its current cycle, according to CRE executives who responded to a survey from nonprofit public policy organization the Real Estate Roundtable, MBA NewsLink reported Aug. 15.

AI News