This week, I’m excited to lead my first meeting of the Appraisal Institute Board of Directors at our first quarter meeting in Chicago. We’ve got a lot of exciting items on the agenda, and I’ll be eager to report them to you in next month’s President’s Message.

One thing some AI professionals might not know is that, when I’m not running board meetings, I like to throw on my boots and do some running of my own. It’s a great way to unwind and to see more of the cities I visit when traveling to your chapter and region meetings. I have found exercise to be a great stress reliever and a bonus is working off some unwanted poundage. It is usually the only “me time” during the day where I can put my mind on hold and relax. I highly recommend finding the right ways to relieve your stress, as it can lead to a healthy and happy lifestyle. Here’s some of the latest news from the Appraisal Institute.

Here’s some of the latest news from the Appraisal Institute.

Share Your Expertise at this Year’s Appraisal Institute Annual Conference
Are you a dynamic speaker who can balance knowledge with creativity? The Appraisal Institute’s 2022 Annual Conference will take place in Las Vegas, Aug. 2-3, and we’re inviting you to share knowledge, provide perspective and gain visibility by leading a presentation at the conference.

This is the valuation profession’s biggest event of the year and we’re looking for dynamic speakers who can balance knowledge with creativity. If you have an idea for a presentation, I’d highly recommend you submit your proposal on the Appraisals Institute’s website. Submissions are due by 5 p.m. central March 7, and we look forward to hearing any interesting ideas.

This year’s conference will be hosted at the Bellagio and promises to be a fun-filled event where you’ll have unrivaled opportunities to learn, make new connections and experience the Entertainment Capital of the World. Visit the Annual Conference page on AI’s website to learn more.

Residential Appraiser Panel Discusses New Fannie Mae Guidelines
I recently moderated a panel discussion of residential appraisers that focused on Fannie Mae’s new policies that will result in changes to mortgage appraisal process and procedure. This session provides an overview of the key elements of upcoming changes to desktop appraisal assignments and new ANSI square footage measurement requirements.

The panelists include:

• Lyle Radke, Senior Director, Collateral Policy, Fannie Mae;
• Allen Gardiner, MAI, SRA, Owner, GardinerRay Real Estate Appraisal and Consulting;
• Dawn Molitor-Gennrich, SRA, AI-RRS, President, Molitor-Gennrich Consulting; and
• Mark Verrett, SRA, Chief Executive Officer, Accurity Consolidated.

Click here to watch the video and here to view the slide deck. 

AI Education Offerings Cover Pressing Topics of Today
The Appraisal Institute is proud to offer two seminars on issues that will help attendees address important, timely issues for many appraisers. Follow the links below to learn which chapters are scheduled to deliver these offerings in the coming months.

Desktop Appraisals (Bifurcated, Hybrid) and Evaluations
While alternative appraisal services like bifurcated, hybrid and desktop appraisals and evaluations aren’t new, they are becoming more popular. Many appraisers are uncertain about the general requirements of each service, how appraisal standards might apply and how these services might create liability. This seminar will provide more clarity about the different services being requested and help you to decide if these services are for you. This seminar is a must for all residential appraisers who are completing desktop appraisals already or who are just beginning to understand what they are about. Learn more about this offering here.

Valuation Overview of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
The need for affordable housing, population density and multigenerational living are some of the reasons why ADUs are a growing trend. Many local governments are passing measures that make it easier for homeowners to build and rent out ADUs. There are an estimated 1.5 million ADUs in the United States, and they are growing at a rate of 9% per year. ADUs have a direct impact on value. They are especially popular in areas like Seattle, Los Angeles, Austin, Texas, Portland, Oregon, Chicago and New Jersey. Learn more about this offering here.

New Issues of Valuation Magazine, The Appraisal Journal Now Available
If you haven’t seen them yet, I’d highly recommend you check out the latest issues of Valuation magazine and The Appraisal Journal. 

The fourth quarter 2021 issue of Valuation includes in-depth interviews with this year’s elected officers, as well as discussions on the Great American Outdoors Act and new infrastructure legislation. 

The Fall issue of The Appraisal Journal features three peer-reviewed articles that look at valuing restaurants, wind projects and accessory dwelling units. 

Other News Around the Appraisal Institute 
And here’s some other important news from the Appraisal Institute: 

• The Appraisal Institute continues to expand its social media activities. Be sure to follow AI on Facebook, Twitter,LinkedIn, YouTube, and its blog, Opinions of Value.