Christian Torgrimson wrote an article for Appraiser Focus magazine about best practices for appraisers in the context of eminent domain.

"Appraisers play a critical role in one of the foundational elements of our Constitution: private property rights," she wrote. "When a government body exercises its Fifth Amendment authority to condemn property for public use, it must pay just compensation. Appraisers determine the threshold question for this duty: what is the fair market value of the subject property to be taken? They also serve as expert witnesses before a judge, jury, or other type of body working to determine just compensation owed for the property taken. By explaining an opinion of value, the appraiser helps bring the market into the courtroom for the trier of fact."

"Along with assisting in the constitutional procedure, appraising property in a condemnation can expand an appraiser’s breadth and experience," she continued. "A condemnation appraisal often requires a before and after market determination with varying highest and best uses, hypothetical or future conditions, and construction elements. Testifying in court and defending an appraisal under cross-examination provides advantageous training, helping the appraiser discover different views of the market he or she may not otherwise be exposed to."

Click here to read the full article: Why Appraisers Should Gain Competency in Eminent Domain

Appraiser Focus is the quarterly magazine of the National Association of Appraisers.  

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