Map Quest has a tab to Aerial Photos.

[Ben Vukicevich SRA]

If you use www.mapquest.com to locate subject and comparable properties, check out the neat little Aerial Photo tab after you see your subject on the map. They have satellite photos of the area also.

See you don't have to inspect the property to be USPAP compliant-use the satellite........it's there. Really, it is. That dot....to the left... Mr. LO, it's got to be $150,000 easy. I've compared "dots" before.

Ben

 

[airphoto]

Was interesting to note that Pinellas County, FL has aerial photos, and places and "+" right on the subject property .. (when locating the tax parcel!)

 

[Dale Smalley]

I have used the mapquest aerial photos to review an appraisal where the comps were on a golf course and the subject was obviously in different section of the community. I told them it did not make sense that there were sales close to the subject selling for a lot lesss than the sales used in the report. All were similar in age and size. The aerials pretty much killed the deal. Of course they continued to bad mouth my assessment until I emailed the pics.

Miami-Dade county property appraisers has a good GIS system that overlays the plat over the aerial photo. When you pick a box it brings up the tax card. Real good when there is a question about waterfront or location adjustments. Best part is that it is free.

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Good story Dale. They all think they can't get caught. Huh!

 

[Thomas N. Morgan]

Ben,

Not availbale in all areas. If you can't see an Aerial Tab on the screen, it's because MapQuest doesn't have them for that area.

Thomas N. Morgan (Florida)

 

[Ken in Arkansas]

Ben -

Thanks for the tip! I sure could have used that last week.

Ken Bethge

 

[Restrain]

Just used the MapQuest aerial to look at a piece of landlocked property. Attached it as a JPEG to the report to show that there was no access to the site. A picture is worth a thousand words (and numerous memos).

 

[Lotca01]

Not sure if things have changed with licensing at mapquest recently, but keep in mind that maps (and photos) provided at Mapquest.com are under certain copyright laws that normally prohibit their reproduction for a business use.

Same is (or at least was) true of Microsoft Streets and Trips. The folks at MicroShaft will glady take some extra money from you to upgrade your license for business reproduction use.

The only mapping packages that I am aware of that are licensed in such a manner that an appraiser can reproduce them in a report (without additional fees) are:

1. Delorme Street Atlas
2. WinTotals online mapping features.

 

[Dale Smalley]

Try this guys site for fly bys

http://www.terrafly.com/