CHICAGO, Jan. 24, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Appraisal Institute today launched its Valuation of Sustainable Buildings Professional Development Program, educating appraisers on the intricacies of valuing high-performance residential and commercial buildings. The Appraisal Institute is the nation's largest professional association of real estate appraisers.
"There is a tremendous need for this type of education within the real estate sector," said Appraisal Institute President Joseph C. Magdziarz, MAI, SRA. "High-performance buildings represent a rapidly growing area of the real estate market, and reliable valuations are critical both to banks' risk management and to developers' sound development practices. The Appraisal Institute is proud to continue its leading role in educating appraisers on such an important topic."
Home builders and others have complained that appraisers often don't properly take into account "green" features when providing valuations. Building on existing Appraisal Institute education, the Valuation of Sustainable Buildings Professional Development Program is intended to arm professional appraisers with the most advanced guidance, case studies, methods and techniques on valuing high-performance buildings, positioning them as solution providers for the real estate sector.
The Appraisal Institute's program consists of three educational courses: the first, "Introduction to Green Buildings: Principles & Concepts," is being taught for the first time today in Chicago. The second, "Case Studies in Appraising Residential Green Buildings," will be taught initially Tuesday in Chicago. A third, "Case Studies in Appraising Commercial Green Buildings," will debut later this year. All three courses, which have been approved for continuing education by the U.S. Green Building Council, will be taught multiple times in numerous locations throughout the country.
"By advancing this knowledge base, the Appraisal Institute is further establishing its role as a leader in the real estate and appraisal profession," Magdziarz said. "When we see a need, we address it."
He acknowledged that misconceptions about green valuation exist among many non-appraisers, including a failure to realize that cost does not always equal value. He noted that appraisers need to have all information from underwriters, builders, real estate agents and home inspectors related to energy efficient features in order to recognize them and to make appropriate, market-based adjustments. Appraisers frequently ask for ratings information, blueprints and specifications of properties' conservation features and are not provided the information either because those involved in their construction, sale or financing mistakenly believe they are not applicable to the appraisal process or because the data are not generally available.
"As analysts of the real estate market, appraisers will look at the actions of buyers and sellers of real estate by analyzing data, conducting interviews and applying applicable approaches to value," Magdziarz said. "A critical issue to the advancement of high-performance buildings is market recognition of the actual or perceived benefits of a green building. Do market participants view high-performance features as an enhancement to the market value of the property or as an over-enhancement? This is a critical question that will likely be unique to the particular property and local real estate market."
The Appraisal Institute long has been in the forefront of green valuation. In addition to the new Valuation of Sustainable Buildings Professional Development Program:
- The Appraisal Institute was among the sponsors of the Vancouver Valuation Accord, an agreement to address the interrelationship of sustainability and valuation that was signed March 2007 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Other sponsors included the province of British Columbia and the Globe Foundation.
- The Appraisal Institute contributed to the Green MLS Tool Kit, issued in April 2010. The tool kit was created to help Realtors® add a green initiative to their local multiple listing service (MLS). The tool kit provides guidance on enhancing data in the MLS, empowering appraisers to make well-supported comparisons, analyses and adjustments.
- Published by the Appraisal Institute in June 2010, "An Introduction to Green Homes" by Alan Simmons, SRPA, LEED AP, provides the appraiser with an overview of programs, organizations, and products that relate to environmentally responsible building and remodeling.
- Appraisal Institute leaders last year spoke on green valuation topics at events sponsored by organizations such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the U.S. Green Building Council.
- The Appraisal Institute's quarterly publications, The Appraisal Journal and Valuation magazine, often include cutting-edge articles on green valuation.
To learn more about the Appraisal Institute's Valuation of Sustainable Buildings Professional Development Program, go to: http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/education/green_FAQs.aspx.
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The Appraisal Institute is a global membership association of professional real estate appraisers, with more than 24,000 members and 91 chapters throughout the world. Its mission is to advance professionalism and ethics, global standards, methodologies, and practices through the professional development of property economics worldwide. Organized in 1932, the Appraisal Institute advocates equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in the appraisal profession and conducts its activities in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Members of the Appraisal Institute benefit from an array of professional education and advocacy programs, and may hold the prestigious MAI, SRPA and SRA designations. Learn more at www.appraisalinstitute.org .
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For more information:
Ken Chitester, director of communications
O 312-335-4290; C 312-351-2818
kchitester@appraisalinstitute.org
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