• Admissions and Designation Qualifications Committee: Stephen D. Roach, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS (Jan. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2021 term).
• International Relations Committee: Ernst. Ulich H. Bergmann, MAI, SRA (Sept. 10, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2021 term).
• Audit Committee:  Robert L. Moorman, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS beginning Nov. 13, 2020.  Moorman’s term will continue through Dec. 31, 2022.
• Strategic Planning Committee Chair:  Robert R. Elliott, MAI, SRA (Nov. 13, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2021).

 Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 2.78 percent, the lowest rate in our survey’s history which dates back to 1971.

“Mortgage rates hit another record low, the twelfth time this year, due to economic and political ambiguity,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Despite the uncertainty that we’ve all experienced this year, the housing market, buoyed by low rates, continues to be a bright spot.”

Read more.

By Michael Tucker

Real Capital Analytics, New York, reported commercial real estate price growth increased at a 1.4 percent annualized pace in September as gains in apartment and industrial sector prices offset declines in retail and office price.

The Trepp CMBS delinquency rate continued to trend notably lower in October. After two huge jumps in May and June, the rate has now declined for four consecutive months.

The CMBS Delinquency Rate in October is 8.28%, a decline of 64 basis points from the September number. About 1.00% of that number represents loans in the 30 days delinquent bucket – down 40 basis points for the month.

By Michael Tucker

The Urban Land Institute, Washington, D.C., said a consensus of real estate economists surveyed expect a short-lived recession and above-average GDP growth in 2021 and 2022.

AI will continue to compile vital information about this ever-changing environment. On our Coronavirus Updates page, you’ll continue to find news and updates from government-sponsored enterprises and agencies. You’ll also find all of AI’s resources that are relevant to the pandemic including: AI Answers, webinars, ANO articles, guides, summaries and emails.

Please visit the Coronavirus Updates page on AI’s website.

By Bendix Anderson

Though the majority of properties were still close to fully occupied, over-eager developers had squeezed too many new projects into growing cities like Phoenix and Orlando, Fla., which put some downward pressure on rents. Then the initial chaos caused by the pandemic rents down further.

As you’re probably aware, the topic of diversity and alleged bias in the valuation profession has been covered in the media recently, and it’s an issue that AI continues to take very seriously.

As the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers with over 17,000 professionals, and with more than 73,000 appraisers in the U.S., there’s no way we, or anyone else, can categorically say that no bias exists in the profession and that no individual appraiser has any bias. “Good” appraisals are credible and well supported – as you know, value is not a fact to be found. Attempting to find a non-appraiser’s opinion of the “correct” value sends us quickly down a rabbit’s hole. Instead, we are springing into action with a range of programs meant to attack whatever unconscious individual biases may exist; addressing matters of diversity within the profession; and developing policy solutions relating to mortgage financing and community and economic development.

In NAIOP’s sixth monthly survey tracking the effects of the pandemic on the commercial real estate industry, respondents reported continued gradual improvement in deal activity, but also reported more tenants seeking rent relief, particularly in the office sector. 

The survey was completed by 203 NAIOP members between September 15 - 18, 2020. Respondents represent a range of professions, including developers, building owners, building managers, brokers, lenders and investors.

The Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) Home Purchase Sentiment Index® (HPSI) increased 3.5 points in September to 81.0, rising for the second consecutive month and continuing the rebound from late spring. Three of the six HPSI components increased month over month, with consumers reporting a substantially more optimistic view of home-selling conditions, expected home price growth, and the labor market, but a more pessimistic view of homebuying conditions and mortgage rate expectations. Year over year, the HPSI is down 10.5 points.

“The HPSI has recovered more than half of the early pandemic-period decline, mirroring the strong home purchase activity of the past few months,” said Doug Duncan, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist. “Consumers’ home price expectations were up strongly this month, with high home prices playing an increasingly – though unsurprisingly – important role in driving both the increase in ‘good time to sell’ sentiment and the decline in ‘good time to buy’ sentiment. Going forward, we believe the wild card to be whether enough sellers enter the market to continue to meet the strong homebuying demand. The home purchase market requires the proper mix of home price growth and continued economic recovery to achieve sustainable levels of housing activity.”

Read more.

The Appraisal Institute, the American Society of Appraisers, the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and the Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Appraisers today announced their collective support for the development of additional training that addresses unconscious bias in valuation, and for each organization to individually review its Code of Ethics and other governing documents to further ensure awareness and compliance among its membership and the valuation profession as a whole.

“During this important time in our nation’s history, our organizations stand together to enhance existing training and ethics initiatives and work even harder to ensure that the appraisal process is free of bias or discrimination of any kind,” said Appraisal Institute President Jefferson L. Sherman, MAI, AI-GRS.

Specifically, the professional organizations pledge to develop training programs for appraisers covering unconscious bias issues, helping to increase awareness by connecting the appraisal community with thought leaders on bias and discrimination.

“Acknowledging that bias exists is but one small step. Together with our partners, we commit to doing the hard work of educating our members about the various ways bias can affect their work, and provide them the tools necessary to overcome bias. By doing this as a profession, and not merely as individual organizations, we hope to underscore to our members and the public just how important this issue is to all of us,” stated American Society of Appraisers International President Lorrie Beaumont, ASA.

Each of the organizations also commit to take steps to enhance their respective Code of Ethics to more firmly or overtly address bias and discrimination issues with protected classes.

Read more.

We’d like to welcome to our newest members who joined in Q3.

• Adam C. Watson
• M. Oniel Jessup, III
• Daniel S Ponce
• Eric L. Randall
• Heather L. Sutton
• Nirzarni A. Coston, MAI
• Jacob Quinton Palmer

The Appraisal Institute Education and Relief Foundation offers scholarships for AI professionals pursuing designations and state certification. Specific offerings are available for minorities and women. Candidates for Designation and Practicing Affiliates should apply by the October 1 deadline.

The NCAI Scholarship Committee is available to answer any of your questions and guide you through the application process. Contact Scholarship Committee Chair Kelli Mayhew.

Apply Today

As our nation continues reflecting on important matters of racial justice, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers today reiterated its efforts to expand opportunities for aspiring appraisers and help combat alleged bias in valuation.

The Appraisal Institute has several existing programs concentrating on this issue, including the Appraiser Diversity Pipeline Initiative with Fannie Mae and the National Urban League, along with the Minorities and Women Course Scholarship Program from the Appraisal Institute Education and Relief Foundation.

In the midst of a global pandemic and social justice concerns, the Appraisal Institute published “The Appraisal of Real Estate,” 15^th edition. The textbook long has been recognized as the valuation profession’s most comprehensive source of information for appraisers and other real estate professionals.

“We find ourselves in a situation much like 2008 today, with a global pandemic and social justice concerns affecting all areas of the economy—and many other aspects of daily life—in the United States and around the world,” Appraisal Institute President Jefferson L. Sherman, MAI, AI-GRS, wrote in the book’s foreword. “Today, appraisers and users of appraisal services do not know what the future will look like.”

As you might have seen, two studies have been released in recent years that are gaining some attention in light of recent events in Minneapolis and elsewhere. The Brookings Institution conducted a study on racial wealth gaps attributable to valuation processes. It does not review appraisals, but uses Zillow and owner estimates of value to draw inferences about appraisal. Another report was published by the American Sociological Society, which interviews several field appraisers and takes issue with appraisal neighborhood/location adjustment processes.

The body of knowledge is well established and accepted. The appraisal process is rigorous, and we must defend it to the greatest extent possible. People (and appraisers) are not perfect. We can do more to reinforce existing requirements and to help illuminate important issues. That spirit is central to our Aug. 20 letter to TAF and to the actions we are taking to improve education and awareness.

By Jon Banister

Tenant demand in the office market has been increasingly favoring shorter-term lease deals, a trend that complicates how much buildings are worth.

Our last NCAI Connect featured Gerald Quattlebaum with Flagship Healthcare Properties who presented a comprehensive look into the healthcare real estate sector. He discussed the development and acquisition of healthcare properties as well as Flagship’s private REIT which has managed to maintain stability in the current economic climate. Private equity increased their share of buying medical office buildings (MOBs) compared with hospital/health systems, provider owners, and REITs. Gerald discussed cap rate trends for on and off campus properties which are holding steady in 2020. Portfolios are seen to be traded at a premium, and overall, pricing remains steady for MOBs. Of the top 50 active markets, Charlotte was third, following New York and LA.  The overall effects of COVID-19 do not appear to impact healthcare properties which are considered a ‘safe harbor’ but there are potential sale-leaseback opportunities if owners and investors decide “to dispose of capital-intensive real estate holdings.”

View the Presentation