Appraisal & Consulting

To inspect or not inspect? A question many appraisers ask - by Laurie Mentz Nichols

To inspect or not inspect? That is the question many appraisers have faced with the onset of the pandemic. On any given day, a residential appraiser is in and out of several homes, in addition to making stops along the way for research,

High performance buildings and stable affordable housing - by Brett Pelletier

Affordable housing is among the Counselors of Real Estate’s Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate for 2020-2021. COVID-19 has made the housing affordability challenge more widely seen and more widely felt throughout the US.

Housing pressures “helped” by COVID: Not certain, but certainly changed - by Daniel Calano

There are definitely shifts afoot in housing demand because of the coronavirus pandemic. The problem is, no one really knows how dramatically, or even in what direction, the shift will take us. Just like the economy, it all depends on how long pandemic lasts, and whether there is a vaccine in sight.

Technology in the time of COVID-19 - by Bill Pastuszek

In this jumbled, unreal, and hard time world, after a long, uncomfortable lock-down, we yearn for some semblance of normalcy. As we start to come out of the lock-down, we think about doing things that we haven’t done or haven’t been allowed to do. 

Appraising in the COVID-19 market - by Steven Spangle

If there is one constant in the real estate industry it is change. Occupancy levels go up or come down, expenses increase or decrease as do rents. Ultimately values move in reactions to the changes.

New construction may be subject to pro rata taxation - by Richard Conti

One day a local contractor walked into the Taunton, Mass. assessor’s office, pointed his finger at me and said, “You are trying to put me out of business!” He had just received a July 1st real estate tax bill for a new single family home

Escape from New York - by Laurie Mentz Nichols

Escape from New York. I’m referring to the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the New York and Connecticut housing markets, lest you think I’m speaking of John Carpenter’s 1981 classic sci-fi action movie, “Escape from New York,” starring Kurt Russell

President’s message: Chapter officers for 2021 - by George Demopulos

The Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chapter of the Appraisal Institute is hoping all of our friends and customers are continuing to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Appraisers, just like all of our customers, clients and friends in the real estate

Manchester and surrounding area: Appraiser’s perspective - by Ron Lavallee

The residential real estate market in the greater Manchester and surrounding area markets has been strong for the past 18 – 24 months. The first quarter of 2020 showed continued appreciation in values with rates of increase in the range of 4% to 6% annually in the residential

2020 at the halfway point - by Brett Pelletier

We’re nearly halfway through 2020 and it is already promising to be a year for the history books. The country, the region, and the city of Boston have experienced unprecedented conditions imposed by the COVID-19 response and necessary safety measures.