Norwood, MA The 2016 New England Appraisers Expo will take place October 24 from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel located at 1125 Boston-Providence Tpke. The event is organized by MBREA|The Association for Valuation Professionals.

The 2016 New England Appraisers Expo will open with both residential and commercial appraisers in a combined session: 

• 7:30 a.m.: Registration and continental breakfast with the vendors.

• 8:30 to 9:20 a.m. - Sean Becketti, Ph.D., vice president and chief economist, Economic & Housing Research, Freddie Mac.

• 9:30 to 10:20 a.m. - Joseph Traynor, MRICS, GAA, chair, Appraisal Qualifications Board.

• 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: New Cool Tools for Better Appraisals. Description: There’s no denying that technology has revolutionized the appraisal process. Gone are the days of measuring wheels, film developing, rub-on graphics and comp books. Modern appraisers use laser measuring devices, digital cameras and a variety of online data sources to complete reports more efficiently and effectively. And every day new hardware and software solutions emerge bringing ways to create digital workfiles on the go, measure buildings and sites more accurately and employ mobile devices to record real time information in the field. The Expo’s technology panel will demonstrate tools they use in the field such as tablets, measuring instruments and mapping services that allow an appraiser to dig deep into big data. Panelists: Marie Wentling, moderator; Matt Cabrera, president, 3D Data; Glenn Enger, certified general appraiser; and Jeffrey Howry, certified general appraiser.

Commercial Sessions: • 1:30 to 2:45 p.m.: Transit Oriented Development: Transportation & Real Estate Synergies. Description: Through presentation, discussion and Q&A, the panel of experts will address transit oriented development. Transit oriented development (TOD) is compact, higher density, mixed use, walkable development that is generally centered within a half mile of a transit station. TOD’s can be private or public/private ventures that yield economic as well as social benefits. When transit owned real estate is redeployed to higher uses that create additional ridership, additional revenue is created for transportation maintenance. A balanced, market oriented mix of uses within a TOD are critical to its success. Topics: 1. Social and public benefits of TOD’s. 2. TOD zoning issues and working within the regulations. How do these differ from non-TOD projects? 3. Permitting and development issues for TOD’s. 4. Determining use mix within TOD’s and estimating demand. 5. Affordability requirements for TOD units. 6. What is the target market for TOD units and how are prices determined? 7. How do investors view TOD developments? Who are the investors? Speakers: Janice Bergeron vice president, Boston office manager, Kennedy Jenks Consultants; Christopher Kuschel, senior regional planner & transportation specialist, Metropolitan Area Planning Council; Francis DeCoste, COO, TR Advisors, LLC; Matthieu Zahler, senior project manager, Trinity Financial; and Rose Perrizo, MAI, RP Realty Advisors, moderator.

• 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.: Private Student Housing: Not Your Father’s Dorm Room. Description: Through presentation, discussion and Q&A, the panel of experts will address a relatively new property type, private student housing. While these properties resemble typical apartments, the economics are very different. Universities and their students are benefitting from purpose built off campus student housing and the trend toward private student housing is likely to strengthen. Topics: 1. Private student housing’s position within university growth plans. 2. Permitting and development issues for private student housing. 3. Projecting student housing demand and price points. 4. Typical unit fit up, furnishings and amenities. 5. Appraising private student housing versus typical apartment properties. Speakers: Adam Baacke, director of campus planning & development, University of Lowell; John Cappellano, senior vice president, Lincoln Property Co.; Rick Shaffer, president, Vision Properties; Sean Finnerty, senior director, Cushman & Wakefield Valuation & Advisory Services; and  Don Bouchard, MAI, moderator.

Residential Session: • 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.: Forms to Reports: Intended Use & Reporting Issues. Description: This presentation by William Pastuszek, Jr., MRA, SRA, MAI, will take the audience through a discussion of how intended use affects development and reporting requirements; how the same property, appraised for different intended uses, can have a different result. The discussion will move into reporting requirements and what form, format, or style is most suitable based on assignment conditions and scope of work.

• 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.: Defending Your Appraisal. Description: You are in your office trying to get an assignment completed, you are under the gun, work has been piling up and you need to catch a break, when the phone rings. Not a new assignment you hope, as you pick up the phone. Your client is on the phone, and begins with, “I have some real concerns with the appraisal that you performed on XYZ property in South Center Massachusetts” and launches into a list of questions and concerns. The sweat beads up on your forehead, your palms begin to sweat and your mind begins racing for responses that you know need to be mounted. “Did I really blow this one?” you think as you promise your client to review the appraisal, address her concerns and get back to her as soon as possible. • Sound familiar, has this happened to you or a colleague? • How do you prevent this from happening to you or at least how do you minimize the possibility? • Where does a good defense begin? • How do you respond to questions/concerns that come across your desk? A panel of experienced appraisers, review appraisers, and a past state Board member will discuss defending appraisals and offer guidance and advice so you may never have to go on the defensive. Speakers: • Richard Simmons, Jr. RA, moderator; • Gregory Accetta, MRA, MAI, AI-GRS; • Richard Goulet, MRA; and • Dario Mercadante, certified general appraiser.

Credit information: Approved for 7 -hours in CT, ME, MA (NR), NH & RI and submitted for up to 7-hours in VT .