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Are Churches Commercial Influences?

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It is not so much the building (Church, School, Fraternal Club) but the traffic and activities that are the negative factors.

This is all that needs to be considered.
 
This is all that needs to be considered.

So if the the certification states that external influences have been considered and adverse conditions have been disclosed, why would you be required to make a specific comment about something that has no adverse influence as apposed to any other external influence that you did not comment on, susch as the adjacent school?

Why would a church, simply by fact that it is a church, require a special explanation that it has no influence over and above the certification saying if it had, it would have been reported?
 
Wow Mark, you have really thought this through, I think, grats. My answer to your question, at least I hope this is your question, is to address the client concern. The client has a question that is reasonable. Jeese…..What is this entire BS about denomination?
 
Wow Mark, you have really thought this through, I think, grats. My answer to your question, at least I hope this is your question, is to address the client concern. The client has a question that is reasonable. Jeese…..What is this entire BS about denomination?


Terra,

would it be equally reasonable to expect the client to clarify what they mean by “commercial/negative”?
 
The really interesting thing is the vast majority of churches are located in residential neighborhoods. They may be along major streets, but they remain largely a fixture of residential areas.

There are many reasons for this I believe and I believe there is a reason zoning ordinances typically allow land use in a residential neighborhood to include a church.

Considering that "religion" is a protected class under Fair Housing Laws ... I would suggest the lender may have an issue even asking the question as they have.
 
It is reasonable to give a reasonable response to a reasonable request from a reasonable client. If in your estimation the client is not reasonable, tell them to stick it, and don’t expect any orders from them in the near future.
 
What if the property adjoined any other non-residential use? You would mention that fact in the appraisal. The user would then expect an affirmative comment as to its influence, positive or negative. It's common sense and failing to mention it is not covered by the certs.

I suspect your client should have classified it as "non-residential," rather than commercial. Request is still reasonable.
 
1. Churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, etc., are not a commercial use. 2. Land use planning and zoning is based on law and public consensus, and religious related buildings are outright and conditional uses in a number of zones. 3. Its hard to conceive of a residence suffering from some form of detrimental or economic obsolescence because of a legal use of a church or other religious permitted use.
 
The really interesting thing is the vast majority of churches are located in residential neighborhoods. They may be along major streets, but they remain largely a fixture of residential areas.

There are many reasons for this I believe and I believe there is a reason zoning ordinances typically allow land use in a residential neighborhood to include a church.

Considering that "religion" is a protected class under Fair Housing Laws ... I would suggest the lender may have an issue even asking the question as they have.

PE

Thank you for the comment. I do respect your opinions and professionalism.
 
Yeah....there are no folks like appraisers for worrying non-issues to death. I am so tired of political correctness. The name of the establishment is what it is. Put it in your report.
 
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