Thanksgiving is almost here and we're in the thankful mood. So, who else goes around the table saying what they are thankful for during their Thanksgiving meal? We decided to say a few things that we're thankful for this year, too. We're Thankful For... 1. Opening New Offices. In order to better serve our clients, we were able to open new … [Read more...]
The Same Difference
This morning I read a fascinating article entitled "League of Nationalists" published by The Economist. The article discusses the growing trend towards nationalism in response to globalization. A book I'm currently reading, Marketing 3.0, notes the same paradox. Somehow, the process of globalization has reinforced tribalism. Whatever your political … [Read more...]
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Adjustments in a Commercial Appraisal
The response to recent election results on social media websites has made it obvious that Americans are deeply divided, politically. Two opposing sides are firmly convinced that their convictions are 'right' and that those who voted differently are 'wrong.' From my perspective, this polarization of views is the result of a false dichotomy. The … [Read more...]
Humanity
Some years back, I actually saw the original sketch by Leonardo da Vinci. Whether or not it was his intent, his sketch of 'Vitruvian Man' evokes in me the ideal of human potential. Somehow, the current political climate has had the opposite effect. Divisive and polarizing would be an understatement. For me personally, the incessant barrage of … [Read more...]
Avoid These Scary Commercial Real Estate Mistakes
As the cobwebs decorate the stair railings and ghostly apparitions are hung on entry doors, Halloween ushers in both the trick-or-treaters and the commercial real estate investors who are always in search of the best places that offer the sweetest deals. Yet there are several mistakes that commercial real estate buyers and sellers need to avoid so … [Read more...]
It’s Time to Appraise Your Local Farm – Here’s Why!
It's the land of fast horses and beautiful women... or is it the other way around? People fight about whether they bleed red or blue, and the highest compliment you can pay someone is, "Wow, you have a handsome horse!" Kentucky is flooded with commercial farms, be it horse farms, tobacco farms, or farms that raise livestock. In fact, according to … [Read more...]
Community Banks: How Appraisal Management Companies Can Help
Early on in my college years, I was introduced to the concept of Just-in-Time management, a concept embraced by foreign automobile manufacturers. The idea was that raw materials necessary to produce an automobile would be delivered to the factory 'Just in Time' to transform them into an automobile; thus, reducing waste and increasing efficiency. … [Read more...]
The Commoditization of the Commercial Appraisal Industry
In 1991, I flew from Dallas, Texas, to Dayton, Ohio, to appraise a self-storage facility for the first time in my career. The facility had cost around $2 million to construct but subsequent overbuilding had saturated the market and it was now worth around $600,000. "Excess profits breed ruinous competition." The truth of that maxim sank in as … [Read more...]
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