Amish Appraisal

[Michigan CG]

Just curious, how were you able to contact the borrower?

A local builder around here has two groups of Amish that do his framing work. They consider the cell phones to be a "tool" and necessary for work. They are driven to the work site in a van. Depending on who is in the van they will watch movies or play games on the phones. If a "strict" guy is in the van then the phones are not used during the trip.

 

[Sid Holderly]

Search the County sales database, and or neighboring counties along with GIS to find similar properties. Most transactions will be through local family associations and some should show up through the County. You should be able to search by property; type 512 in this area (rural improved small acreage 10 to 19.99.) From the aerial pre-confirm it looks like an Amish farmstead before yo9u take a driveby. Or search the State database: http://gatewaysdf.ifionline.org/Search.aspx this takes time but I have used it for additional support.

 

[J Grant]

Great idea, that will be the first line of my Final Comments addenda, it is typical within the sub-market yet atypical within the general market or to the average buyer. But as noted, there is only 1 dated comparable, the 3 main comparables will have to be typical homes with an estimated adjustment applied.

Yes those comments would be applicable

My question about clearing it with the client was whether the lender or loan program /secondary market ( if it is going there ) will accept a home without electrical service and heat source? Do the Amish use a wood stove or fireplace- what do they use for heat...maybe whatever they use is acceptable ( or do they just sit around freezing all winter I doubt it )

 

[Brian W Street]

A local builder around here has two groups of Amish that do his framing work. They consider the cell phones to be a "tool" and necessary for work. They are driven to the work site in a van. Depending on who is in the van they will watch movies or play games on the phones. If a "strict" guy is in the van then the phones are not used during the trip.

It is like that around here, I guess it depends on the level of faith?? That is kind of why I wanted to talk to the guy, had a bunch of questions but as I said I was not welcome in his home and he made it clear. So I had to make it clear that if he wanted a loan I had to.

 

[Brian W Street]

Do the Amish use a wood stove or fireplace

High-end coal stove on the first floor, wall hung LP heaters in the bathrooms but nothing in the other rooms. Typical in the sub-market but not so much in the $300k+ general market.

 

[Brian W Street]

Search the County sales database

I have looked in the Allen County site, they have an assessors site that displays the comparables used for the assessed valuation of the subject parcel but it is limited as to what I can search for. It will not let me search specifically for say parcels greater than 10 acres sold over the prior 2 years or for parcels sold specifically for each township, it is lacking. That was my first place to look since the MLS has so few competing sales. But thanks for the Indiana link, I will check it out.

 

[Sid Holderly]

Use: http://www.acimap.us/assessors.html and use advanced search and you can search by property "class code" 511 and by "Class Group" check ag improved and residential improved, and date search from --- to --- etc. This will give more information for Allen County. Also try other codes. By what is around the code listed for the subject proeprty.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

indiana amish developments

https://www.google.com/search?q=ind...rome..69i57.9553j1j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[Brian W Street]

Use: http://www.acimap.us/assessors.html and use advanced search and you can search by property "class code" 511 and by "Class Group" check ag improved and residential improved, and date search from --- to --- etc. This will give more information for Allen County. Also try other codes. By what is around the code listed for the subject proeprty.

Thanks, I'll comb through it and see if I can find any private sales. I didn't know that I could search by class, this is different than the engineering view that you get through the MLS. Still, wish that I could add a few more variables but this will help.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

4 or 5 years ago I was in South Bend and we went to an Amish restaurant somewhere not far away.
Maybe the electric etc they had there was a tool to run the place.

Good luck with the job. Sounds interesting but not easy.