By Michael Tucker

Commercial real estate executives see "balanced and stable" market conditions despite growing concerns the market could be nearing the end of its current cycle, the Real Estate Roundtable reported.

By Patricia Kirk

Industrial developers in coastal U.S. markets are cashing in on the extraordinarily high demand by small businesses for for-sale modern warehouse facilities of between 25,000 and 40,000 sq. ft.

The Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers, today announced it has hired Jim Amorin, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, of Austin, Texas, as its chief executive officer after a nearly year-long search.

“Jim did an outstanding job as acting CEO, and we’re fortunate to have his leadership going forward,” Appraisal Institute President James L. Murrett, MAI, SRA said. “His experience in many Appraisal Institute leadership roles makes him highly qualified for this position, and I look forward to continuing to work with him.”

The Federal Housing Finance Agency extended the public comment period for the Agency's proposed rule on Enterprise Capital Requirements by an additional 60 days, citing "high level of interest in the proposed rule and requests from multiple stakeholders for more time to evaluate it."

The previous deadline for comments was September 17; the new deadline is November 16.

President Trump on July 31 signed legislation that extends the National Flood Insurance Program by four months — until Nov. 30, the White House reported. The extension gives lawmakers a small window to craft a longer-term extension for the program, which is underfunded by about $20 billion.

Click here to read more.

Written by Patricia Kirk

While new office construction has been robust so far in 2018, next year developers might begin pulling back, according to David Bitner, head of Americas capital markets research with real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield. He cites rising construction costs, concerns about the end of the real estate cycle and zoning issues as the reasons.

Craig M. Harrington, SRA, AI-RRS, of Prior Lake, Minnesota; and Leslie P. Sellers, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, of Clinton, Tennessee, were honored Tuesday with the Appraisal Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Timothy P. Runde, MAI, of San Francisco, was named the recipient of the Outstanding Service Award during the Appraisal Institute Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Two individuals also were announced as winners of the annual President’s Award from the Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers with nearly 18,000 professionals in almost 50 countries. Additionally, eight individuals were honored by the Appraisal Institute Education and Relief Foundation, the Appraisal Institute’s charitable organization that offers education scholarships and disaster assistance to appraisers.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (July 30, 2018) – More than 550 real estate professionals from around the world today attended the opening session of the valuation profession’s most important annual event, hosted by the Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers.

The 2018 Appraisal Institute Annual Conference, being held at the downtown JW Marriott Nashville today through Wednesday, features world-renowned keynote speakers, nearly 30 breakout sessions on trend-setting valuation topics, networking opportunities for industry professionals, an exhibit hall featuring cutting-edge products and services, and an awards ceremony honoring the valuation profession’s best and brightest.

Written by Michael Tucker

Commercial real estate asset prices have "plateaued" and transaction volume has moderated as the real estate cycle matures, reported Green Street Advisors, Newport Beach, Calif., and CoStar, Washington, D.C.

Some Fed districts reported moderate improvements in the residential real estate sector, but their reports on commercial activity revealed largely stagnant conditions, the Federal Reserve reported July 18 in its newest Beige Book.

Click here to read more.

Congratulations to NCAI member Scott Robinson, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, AI-RRS, who was presented with the Appraisal Institute President’s Award today at the Institute’s National Meetings in Nashville! Scott was the President of the Appraisal Institute in 2016 and has been integral to the success of the organization at the state, national, and global levels before, during, and after his Presidency. Scott has chaired multiple committees at the national level and continues his service to the organization by leading the CEO search. The North Carolina Chapter is proud of Scott and his many accomplishments!

Written by Kelsey Ramirez

Last Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell had his second hearing this week, this time before the House Committee on Financial Services for his semi-annual monetary policy report.

The Appraisal Institute today announced its opposition to proposed federal legislation that would reduce the requirements for appraisals in major Small Business Administration loan programs.

The Appraisal Institute objects to the provisions of H.R. 6347, the 7(a) Real Estate Appraisal Harmonization Act, and H.R. 6348, the Small Business Access to Capital and Efficiency Act, both of which would adjust upward the real estate appraisal thresholds for SBA loan programs. An appraisal threshold is the amount of a real estate transaction above which an appraisal is required.

Written by Ben Lane

We’ve known that the rent may be too high for quite a while now, but a new report shows that rent has never been this high before.

Written by Liz Wolf

Cap rates for net lease retail properties have finally pushed upward.

The Appraisal Institute has posted new videos to its YouTube channel. 

You can see the related blog posts on AI’s “Opinions of Value” blog.

A stronger economy, wage growth and an improving job market are expected to march home sales and prices higher in 2018, but low supply and weakening affordability will tamper the rate of increases, according to speakers at a residential real estate forum during the 2018 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors®, presented his 2018 midyear forecast and said despite headwinds a moderate and multiyear increase in home sales is likely ahead. After accelerating 3.8 percent in 2016, existing home sales rose only 1.1 percent to 5.5 million in 2017 and are forecast to finish 2018 at a pace of around 5.6 million (up 1.8 percent). He projects 5.7 million sales for 2019.

NCAI remains committed to keeping you informed of recent legal issues affecting the appraisal industry in North Carolina. The NC Court of Appeals issued a decision this week that may impact appraisers and their clients. According to David Ferrell, our legislative consultant, the case is about the potential liability of a bank for providing an inaccurate appraisal value to its borrower in connection with a residential loan. The Court ultimately ruled that the borrower’s complaint failed to sufficiently plead a contractual duty owed to him by the bank with regard to the appraisal – so the Court upheld the trial court’s dismissal of the case.