Need Help About Yellow Book Appraisals

[Ray Miller]

Know I need help with this one.

Got a request today to Registered in the ORCA so I can do Yellow Book Appraisals for some goverment agency. I was recomended to the regional office from there National Headquarters they say.

They are telling me I can have four to six week turn times.

Anyone know what a yellow book appraisal is. What ORCA is? I just got in and both of my semi mentors are out and about tonight and tomorrow.

I would like to respond to these guys in the morning.

 

[Tom Barclay]

Online Representations and Certifications Application

ORCA is an e-Government initiative that was designed by the Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE) to replace the paper based Representations and Certifications (Reps and Certs)

ORCA is the purchasing agent for the government. Sorry, can't help with the "yellow book appraisals". Never worked for them.

 

[Tom Barclay]

Ray,
Found this reference.

The "yellow book" (Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions) provides standards "...to promote uniformity in the appraisal of real property among the various agencies acquiring property on behalf of the United States." Basically the "yellow book" pertains to what are generally referred to as direct federal acquisitions which are essentially, acquisitions by a Federal agency (or their agent)for a Federal project. In these cases condemnation would be carried out by the U.S. Department of Justice with title held by the U.S. It appears the acquisition of your property may be for a Federally funded project under the Federal-aid highway program; not for a Direct Federal project. Under the Federal-aid highway program, State DOTs use their own condemning authority and hold title to acquired property, unlike a direct Federal acquisition. As such, they are not subject to the "yellow book", however, they are subject to the Uniform Act requirements and its implementing regulations found in 49CFRPart24.

 

[Fred]

Anyone know what a yellow book appraisal is.

an eminent domain appraisal done to meet federal land aquisition guidelines ?

 

[Stone]

an eminent domain appraisal done to meet federal land aquisition guidelines ?

It doesn't have to be eminant domain. Any appraisal for an entity that is using federal funding is likely to be done to USFLA standards (or should be, depending on how compliant the agency is). That includes groups who are applying for funding grants or other governmental agencies that share funding with the federal govt.

 

[Ray Miller]

It doesn't have to be eminant domain. Any appraisal for an entity that is using federal funding is likely to be done to USFLA standards (or should be, depending on how compliant the agency is). That includes groups who are applying for funding grants or other governmental agencies that share funding with the federal govt.

Mike, do you know anything more about the kind of work they do in Wisconsin?

It appears it is the Dept of Ag regional office that sent me the email. At least that is the last part of the email and if you hit reply to all it goes back to email with a Washington DC location. From the main office of Dept. of Ag.

Guess I will see what they are about. I will look up as well to see if I can find a couple of courses on the Yellow book.

Thank you to all that answered and called me at the office tonight.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Condemnation, land exchanges, etc. etc. The market value definition is different and usually it involves typical before/after valuation for condemnation.

Also, you do the entire fee simple, no exception. air,land,mineral,etc. No caveats about not including mineral rights.

 

[Fred]

It doesn't have to be eminant domainI

I suppose that is possible, but it would be an amusing request as virtually everything unique to the book relates to takings.

No caveats about not including mineral rights.

You make that sound like an exception.

 

[Stone]

Ray - If they are calling about WRP/GRP assignments, I believe those are mostly (only?) easement assignments. I have not done work on assignments for them, so I'm not sure what exactly they are looking for. "Yellow Book" assignments can be just about anything. The standards in the yellow book apply to an assignment based on its funding, as opposed to the type of valuation.

As we discussed, I highly recommend taking the 16 hour class that AI (and, I think ASFMRA, as well) is putting on. Also, if they are looking for partial acquisition assignments, I think the AI has an easement analysis class you might want to look into taking.

 

[Ray Miller]

Ray - If they are calling about WRP/GRP assignments, I believe those are mostly (only?) easement assignments. I have not done work on assignments for them, so I'm not sure what exactly they are looking for. "Yellow Book" assignments can be just about anything. The standards in the yellow book apply to an assignment based on its funding, as opposed to the type of valuation.

As we discussed, I highly recommend taking the 16 hour class that AI (and, I think ASFMRA, as well) is putting on. Also, if they are looking for partial acquisition assignments, I think the AI has an easement analysis class you might want to look into taking.

Thanks Mike,

I will be giving them both a call in the morning as being an associate member of both. I will try and get the courses in over the next couple of weeks. I think the AI Easement Analysis class will be good also.