MA/RI Chapter of AI president’s February message - by George Demopulos

The Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chapter of the Appraisal Institute opened the 2020 year with our first organizational meeting in January to establish our important committees and to discuss our yearly goals. The entire board of directors and committee heads look forward to a very productive year.

Our first event, “The 2020 Economic Outlook and Real Estate Trends” seminar took place on Monday, January 27^th at the Federal Reserve in Downtown Boston. The seminar included a distinguished group of panelists who reviewed of the 2019 economic and real estate market conditions and provided a 2020 national, regional and New England area economic outlook, a look at the downtown Boston office market as well as a look at the Boston area residential markets and regulatory environment.

A special thank you to our panelists; Julia Georgules, SVP and director of research at JLL, Boston; Lauren Phelan Lipsomb SVP at CBRE, Boston; Mark Roth, executive managing director, Newmark Knight Frank, Boston; and Kurt Thompson, 2020 president, Massachusetts Association of Realtors. Thank you to John Drew, MAI, and chapter vice-president for organizing this seminar.

Our education offerings for 2020 are complete and we have a terrific line-up of education for new appraisers who may need introductory classes and many offerings for seasoned appraisers who need continuing education course credits. Some of our upcoming offerings include:

• February 20^th - 2020-2021 Seven-Hour National USPAP Update Course in Warwick, RI;

• March 5^th - The Cost Approach: Unnecessary or vital to a Healthy Practice in Woburn, MA;

• March 18^th - General Appraiser Income Approach, Part 2 in Woburn, MA.

For all Chapter educational offerings please visit our website at www.massri-appraisalinstitute.org. You can also follow our chapter on Facebook!

Congratulations to the following designated member professionals who will representing the MA/RI Chapter in Washington, D.C. this spring at the Appraisal Institute’s annual Leadership Development and Advisory Council (LDAC); Nicole McDonnell, MAI, Susan Kelley, SRA and Robert Maloney, MAI LDAC is three day event held every spring in Washington, DC where over 100 AI professionals from across the country meet to discuss the Appraisal Institute and its current mission and future programs. There is also a full day of lobbying on Capitol Hill to bring to our congressional representatives in the House and Senate issues important to the appraisal and real estate fields. It’s also a great way to meet fellow AI professionals from around the country. Congrats Nicole, Susan and Rob!

Our chapter is made of the very best commercial and residential appraisers providing real estate solutions for clients throughout New England and beyond. Our chapter designated professionals specialize in all aspects of real estate appraisal and consulting and are ready to provide these services to all of our clients, current and future. A complete list of our members and their appraisal concentrations can also be found on our website, http://massri-appraisalinstitute.org/

Please feel free to reach out to our offices via our website for any additional information you may need regarding the MA/RI Chapter of the Appraisal Institute or to find a qualified appraisal professional for all your appraisal needs you may have in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

George Demopulos, MRICS, RA, SRA, AI-RRS is the 2020 president of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chapter of the Appraisal Institute and president and chief valuations officer at Lincoln Appraisal & Settlement Services (LASS) and Lincoln Abstract & Settlement Services, Providence, RI.