Article
01/14/12 Categories: Article
Choosing Comps in a Declining Market
Newly published guidance from the Appraisal Institute helps appraisers know when and how to use distressed sales, such as foreclosures, as comparable sales. Such knowledge is crucial in the current market where distressed sales are common, creating complex valuation challenges.
AI’s Guide Note 11: Comparable Selection in a Declining Market notes: "transactions used in an appraisal assignment require adjustments for changes in market conditions."
The Appraisal Institute’s Guide Note 11 says: “A declining market will likely exhibit very little sales activity. When the sales comparison approach is necessary, but there are virtually no current sales in the market area to analyze as comps, the appraiser must: (1.) Expand the geographic area for comp search, then adjust for location as appropriate, and/or (2.) Use less recent sales, then adjust for market conditions as appropriate.”
It continues: “Appraisers cannot categorically discount foreclosures and short sales as potential comps in the sales comparison approach.” However, due to differences between their conditions of sale and the conditions outlined in the market value definition, these might not be usable as comps.
Further, foreclosures and short sales usually do not meet the conditions outlined in the definition of market value, the Guide Note says. A short sale or a sale of a property that occurred prior to a foreclosure might have involved atypical seller motivations (e.g., a highly motivated seller.) A sale of a bank-owned property might have involved typical motivations, so the fact that it was a foreclosed property would not render it ineligible as a comp. However, the Guide Note also points out, if the foreclosed property was sold without a typical marketing program, or if it had become stigmatized as a foreclosure, it might need to be adjusted if used as a comp. Also, some foreclosed properties are in inferior condition, so adjustments for physical condition may be needed.
Click this link to download the free PDF: “Guide Note 11: Comparable Selection in a Declining Market”
Newly published guidance from the Appraisal Institute helps appraisers know when and how to use distressed sales, such as foreclosures, as comparable sales. Such knowledge is crucial in the current market where distressed sales are common, creating complex valuation challenges.
AI’s Guide Note 11: Comparable Selection in a Declining Market notes: "transactions used in an appraisal assignment require adjustments for changes in market conditions."
The Appraisal Institute’s Guide Note 11 says: “A declining market will likely exhibit very little sales activity. When the sales comparison approach is necessary, but there are virtually no current sales in the market area to analyze as comps, the appraiser must: (1.) Expand the geographic area for comp search, then adjust for location as appropriate, and/or (2.) Use less recent sales, then adjust for market conditions as appropriate.”
It continues: “Appraisers cannot categorically discount foreclosures and short sales as potential comps in the sales comparison approach.” However, due to differences between their conditions of sale and the conditions outlined in the market value definition, these might not be usable as comps.
Further, foreclosures and short sales usually do not meet the conditions outlined in the definition of market value, the Guide Note says. A short sale or a sale of a property that occurred prior to a foreclosure might have involved atypical seller motivations (e.g., a highly motivated seller.) A sale of a bank-owned property might have involved typical motivations, so the fact that it was a foreclosed property would not render it ineligible as a comp. However, the Guide Note also points out, if the foreclosed property was sold without a typical marketing program, or if it had become stigmatized as a foreclosure, it might need to be adjusted if used as a comp. Also, some foreclosed properties are in inferior condition, so adjustments for physical condition may be needed.
Click this link to download the free PDF: “Guide Note 11: Comparable Selection in a Declining Market”