Where Do You Think "geographic Competency" Begins And Ends?

[residentialguy]

I cover the areas where I have been most of my life.

You stated in urban that every block is different. You're in DC. I know you haven't personally appraised a house on every block in the surrounding DC area. So essentially, you do appraise in areas you don't know. We all do. Appraisers go into new areas they haven't appraised in before. My area around the Twin Cities included 15+ counties surrounding. There are small cites that I haven't appraised, but I would have no problem appraising in them. It's really not that hard to become geo competent. Make a few call to the local agents and talk to them. Drive around. Pay attention to the map & aerials. Look at the school systems, etc. That's what appraisers do on a regular basis.

I have no doubt that George Hatch could come here and appraise a SFR better then at least 70% of the appraisers in the area.

 

[Joe Flacco]

You stated in urban that every block is different. You're in DC. I know you haven't personally appraised a house on every block in the surrounding DC area. So essentially, you do appraise in areas you don't know. We all do. Appraisers go into new areas they haven't appraised in before. My area around the Twin Cities included 15+ counties surrounding. There are small cites that I haven't appraised, but I would have no problem appraising in them. It's really not that hard to become geo competent. Make a few call to the local agents and talk to them. Drive around. Pay attention to the map & aerials. Look at the school systems, etc. That's what appraisers do on a regular basis.

I don't want to argue with you about this. I'll just say based on what I know about the neighborhoods I cover, I don't want to value any neighborhood I am not familiar with.

 

[George Hatch]

I have no trouble believing the idea that urban neighborhoods behave differently from one block to another. I see that on a regular basis in the oldest parts of towns. And the towns in this region were all built out in the 20th century.

But Joe, aside from your area being extra special and hard, the question being asked is if you think you could figure it out in, say, Tampa or Houston? Assuming you had access to all the different types of data the locals have.

 

[Joe Flacco]

Lol I don't think my area is extra special or "hard". I think all areas are probably like my area. I don't know about Tampa or Houston. Maybe I can get lucky and get a property without any unique locational influences. Or maybe I get unlucky.

 

[George Hatch]

The question is posed as an abstract in order to suss out the concepts and principles involved. The purpose of the question is to stimulate some discussion, some back-n-forth between the differing perspectives and the opportunity for participants to cogitate on the topic a little for their own thinking. I am not attempting to tell anyone what to think.

Taking the extreme to the level of the absurd, if you're walking into a home you've never appraised before are you geographically incompetent because you've never been there before? if you're appraising a home in a brand new subdivision that you've never worked in before are you geographically incompetent and does that lack of familiarity rise to the level of being reportable per the requirements of the COMPETENCY RULE?

We are not required under USPAP to decline assignments where we're incompetent at the outset, but rather requires getting to competent prior to submitting the workproduct. IIRC Fannie requires competencty at the outset but that's an extra on their part, not a minimum in USPAP.

 

[George Hatch]

Lol I don't think my area is extra special or "hard". I think all areas are probably like my area. I don't know about Tampa or Houston. Maybe I can get lucky and get a property without any unique locational influences. Or maybe I get unlucky.

As far as your situation, I'm not asking if you think you could do the do in EVERY foreign neighborhood, but rather if you think you could do the do in ANY foreign neighborhood. 'Cause if you can do it in even one I would think that indicates that the odds are you could probably do it in a number of them.

 

[Eli]

As far as your situation, I'm not asking if you think you could do the do in EVERY foreign neighborhood, but rather if you think you could do the do in ANY foreign neighborhood. 'Cause if you can do it in even one I would think that indicates that the odds are you could probably do it in a number of them.

Now, you are assuming all appraisals are performed by competent appraisers and they have plenty of time to get competent. “Cough cough”.

You are a trip sometimes. Lol

You are competent in the English language. No doubt in my mind. I don’t understand the buttons you push lately. Something over the years has changed the buttons you push.

I assume it is a change in your personal business strategy or structure.

 

[residentialguy]

I like thread. It resulted in a lot of good perspectives from both sides....even though I'm not the debating type.

 

[Michigander]

Haven’t read the comments, but if not restricted by time, I would say capable of most anywhere.

 

[DTB]

Lol I don't think my area is extra special or "hard". I think all areas are probably like my area. I don't know about Tampa or Houston. Maybe I can get lucky and get a property without any unique locational influences. Or maybe I get unlucky.

IMO that would make the property atypical.