In the recent National Housing Forecast for 2017 by Realtor.com, Joe Kirchner made a number of predictions. Millennials and baby boomers will dominate the market for the next 10 years. I completely agree, as the staggering numbers of Americans hitting 65 continues year after year, the type of housing they Read more…
Our firm provides appraisals for commercial real estate in Louisville and southern Indiana. Recently, Louisville’s highway system dramatically changed with the opening of two new bridges: Lewis & Clark Bridge and Abraham Lincoln Bridge. The bridges alter the main linkages for car and truck traffic in the city by allowing Read more…
Our firm appraises farms in Kentucky and southern Indiana. Our focus is generally on smaller family farms. Recently I inspected a farm in Spencer County outside of Taylorsville, Kentucky and saw this cabin. It’s a late 1800’s log cabin with asbestos siding, which became popular as an exterior sheathing from Read more…
Inventory of single-family homes is a big issue in Louisville. No inventory for buyers simply means they have to go elsewhere for housing. Apartments are the natural choice in that situation. Here’s an example. In January 2015, in Area 6 in Louisville, which is outside the Watterson between Bardstown Road Read more…
In an article by Bonnie Sinnock on 1/9/2017, there was mention of 21-day closing times. I’ve also been seeing commercials for RocketMortgage, which is QuickenLoans new product. Their promise is for instant approval and ‘rocket-fast’ closing on your refinance or purchase. Obviously, market research has shown that borrowers don’t want Read more…
Bell Ferris is seeking a Kentucky Certified General Appraiser to complete commercial appraisal assignments beginning in January 2017. Candidate must hold current certification and have experience with commercial properties in Kentucky and southern Indiana. Certified Residential candidates seeking to achieve Certified General will be considered based on experience level. Contact Read more…
I am going through the process of selling my personal home. As an appraiser, who has walked through thousands and thousands of homes in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, I know the importance of marketing your home and knowing your audience. In the old days, people would have an open house, Read more…
Amanda Helfrich, an appraiser at Bell Ferris recently received her MAI designation in May 2016. The MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute is arguably the most difficult and prestigious designations in the professional real estate appraisal industry. The designation requires a bachelor’s degree, hundreds of hours of classroom training, thousands Read more…
People that I meet often want to ‘help’ me get more business. That’s great and I appreciate it. Most of them think that Realtors or brokers order the appraisals, or have some hand in where the appraisal order goes. However, I rarely receive work from residential Realtors. If a commercial Read more…
I have been appraising since 2003. Those were the ‘good ole days’ when we were completing 4 or 5 residential appraisals a day. The 1004 was a 2-page form plus pictures and sketch, no listings, no market addendum, etc… But, all good things come to an end. But, then again, Read more…