News: Finance

Positive movement for the Appraisal Board: Part 2

* The AQB Criteria include USPAP education and continuing education requirements. Are the USPAP education and continuing education requirements adequate, inadequate, too much? Is quality education being received? What should be added or changed to enhance the quality of USPAP education? * The ASB strives to create enforceable Standards. What are examples of enforcement successes related to USPAP? Which parts of USPAP present difficulties for enforcement? What else would be necessary in USPAP to address enforcement challenges? * What methods can the AQB and ASB use to continue to enhance our ability to interact with a broad constituency of appraisers and users of appraisal services? * Are there other comments or suggestions you would like to make? The Invitation represents an unprecedented outreach effort on the part of the two Boards of the Foundation to solicit new input from constituencies rarely or ever heard from and to obtain fresh commentary from existing constituencies to questions that have never been asked in so direct a manner. Rather than forge ahead with new projects, the Invitation represents an opportunity by the Boards to carefully consider future actions in light of the major changes made in the recent past. What does the Invitation represent to the average appraiser or appraiser user? If you believe that your voice would not be heard in the past, now believe otherwise. This is an important opportunity to make an individual contribution toward the good of the appraisal profession with your singular, unique input. It is not necessary to have an organization speak for you - take the chance to speak for yourself and this is the time to do it. Have your say. The Invitation represents a unique - and positive - opportunity to have input into those matters that most closely affect appraisers: USPAP and USPAP Education. View it as some brightness in an otherwise bleak late winter landscape. Take advantage of it. Have an opinion! A complete version of the Invitation can be found at http://www.appraisalfoundation.org William Pastuszek, MAI, SRA, heads Shepherd Associates, Newton, Mass.
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Columns and Thought Leadership
Reverse exchanges and the challenges of a competitive real estate market - by Michele Fitzpatrick

Reverse exchanges and the challenges of a competitive real estate market - by Michele Fitzpatrick

Our current, highly competitive real estate market poses specific challenges for investors who are considering taking advantage of a tax-deferred 1031 exchange. In this market, investors will have no problem selling their current property if priced properly, but they may find it difficult to find a suitable replacement property
Massachusetts real estate transfers  over $1 million face new tax rules as of November 1st - by Daniel Meyer

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The focus on price per s/f compared to the  comparable sales used in the appraisal report - by Dennis Chanski

The focus on price per s/f compared to the comparable sales used in the appraisal report - by Dennis Chanski

Over the past several weeks, I have completed appraisal assignments for private clients. Interestingly, after submitting these appraisals, I received several phone calls – not to question the value, content, or any incorrect information, but rather to discuss the price per s/f compared to the comparable sales used in the report.
Are appraisers on the same page as the assessor? - by Richard Seman

Are appraisers on the same page as the assessor? - by Richard Seman

The purpose of this article is to address problematic or confusing issues which may help assessors and appraisers to better understand how to value real estate for tax assessment purposes.