NCAI is pleased to announce that Valbridge Property Advisors has joined the 2026 WIN Conference as a Platinum Sponsor. This generous sponsorship was led by Valbridge’s North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia offices, demonstrating their continued commitment to supporting the appraisal profession across the region. The North Carolina office is led by our own John Bosworth.

Valbridge Property Advisors is one of the largest independent commercial appraisal and advisory firms in the United States, providing valuation, consulting, and market analysis services across a wide range of property types. Through its national network of local offices, Valbridge delivers market expertise combined with deep industry knowledge to support clients including financial institutions, corporations, government agencies, and private investors.

Originally published in the March 3, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

Questions surrounding attic inspection expectations under the FHA Single Family Housing Program have persisted for years within the appraisal profession. Although FHA has made incremental updates to its appraisal guidance, uncertainty remains as to whether attic observation is implied as a default requirement.

NCAI is pleased to announce that the Appraisal Institute Education & Relief Foundation (AIERF) has elected to be a Platinum Sponsor of the WIN Conference, scheduled for Thursday, March 12th in Charlotte, NC. AIERF is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support charitable, literary, and educational and scientific initiatives within the appraisal profession. AIERF initiatives include:

• Funding the improvement, advancement, research and teaching of real estate appraisal techniques,
• Providing emergency financial assistance to appraisers who have experienced a disaster or emergency that has resulted in financial, physical, or emotional distress,
• Providing scholarships and grants to qualified persons for education in or work in the field of real estate appraisal,
• Promoting and conducting research into all aspects of real estate appraisal,
• Fostering the establishment of educational standards for real estate appraisals,
• Maintenance of a library and encouraging the writing and publication of treatises, books and pamphlets relating to real estate appraisal, and
• Encouraging other organizations to improve, advance and teach real estate appraisal.

 Each year, AIERF provides:

Originally published February 28 by Elevation Strategies
Reprinted with permission

Property taxes are a hot topic in Raleigh right now. The NC House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform has held several meetings, and NC Senator Phil Berger also recently announced a task force in the NC Senate to examine property taxes.

Originally published in the February 24, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

Fannie Mae has announced an important update to its collateral risk management framework: Collateral Underwriter® (CU®) access is now available to Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs). The stated goal of this change is to improve transparency and alignment in the appraisal review process by enabling lenders and AMCs to work from a shared view of collateral risk.

Originally published in the February 17, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

When a property moves into foreclosure and REO status, valuation becomes more than a technical exercise, it becomes a market signal.

The window is closing fast for applications for this year’s scholarship money from the North Carolina Chapter.  The deadline is February 22, 2026.

Last year, everyone received full tuition for their respective classes.

Originally published in the February 3, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

Registration is now open for the Appraisal Institute’s 2026 Legislative Day, taking place in Washington, DC on May 20–21, 2026.

Register Now

My name is Spencer Brown, I have been an appraiser with Hotel & Club Associates, Inc. in Greensboro since 2018. I obtained my MAI designation in October 2024 and have been increasingly engaged with NCAI since that time. I am currently the chair of the Appraiser Guidance Committee (previously the Candidate Guidance Committee).

The Appraiser Guidance Committee (new in 2026) is designed to facilitate engagement amongst candidates, future candidates, aspiring appraisers, and professionals alike. Over the last year or so I have been working with Erich Straughn, MAI (chair of the Candidate/Practicing Affiliates committee) to create some level of engagement between candidates as well as between the chapter and candidates.

In the years following the pandemic, many elements of the designations process went virtual. While this has clear benefits, it has also reduced opportunities for collaboration and peer engagement. During 2026 we plan to focus on creating events, forums, and other opportunities that foster meaningful interaction and support among candidates. As for the expanded responsibilities of the Appraiser Guidance Committee that are new in 2026, I am still brainstorming ideas and welcome any feedback or recommendations.

If you are a candidate for any AI designation, plan to begin the designation process soon, an aspiring appraiser, or have any questions about involvement in NCAI, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Additionally, AI will be hosting the Capstone Program in Raleigh from October 26 to November 1 and NCAI is hosting Advanced Income Capitalization class in Raleigh from October 19 to October 23. We hope this will become a consistent theme within NCAI.

Sincerely,
Spencer L. Brown, MAI
[email protected]

Originally published in the February 3, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

The National Association of REALTORS® has updated the MLS Handbook, removing longstanding policy language, some of which relates to MLS access requiring REALTOR® membership. MLSs have had the local discretion to open up MLS Participation to nonmembers dating back to the mid-1990s, so this is not new, but local MLSs are using the recent changes to reconsider their local rules and requirements for MLS Participation.

The North Carolina Chapter of the Appraisal Institute is pleased to congratulate John R. Accornero on earning the AI-GRS designation. John successfully completed all requirements for the designation in December 2025. We commend him on this significant professional achievement and wish him continued success.

John grew up in Miami, Florida, before moving to the Raleigh, North Carolina, area in 2018. His family's involvement in appraisal began with his grandfather, who started as a local real estate broker in North Miami during the late 1960s. Seeing an opportunity, his grandfather expanded the business into appraisal services. John's Uncle, Lawrence Pendleton, MAI, followed in his footsteps after earning a degree in Real Estate from the University of Florida. Lawrence developed the company into a successful small firm that, at its peak, employed more than ten staff appraisers.

Originally published by Elevation Strategies

The NC General Assembly will return to action on April 21st for the 2026 short session. When lawmakers get back to work -- after the dust settles on the primary election -- they will resume working towards a deal on the state budget. As we have reported before, there was no new state budget enacted last year, due to a standoff between the NC House and Senate, making NC the only state in the nation that is operating off of a budget from the 2023-24 cycle.

Originally published in the January 27, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

The latest numbers from the American Enterprise Institute tracking appraisal waiver activity at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac show that more than one in four GSE loans in November 2025 used an appraisal waiver. The combined appraisal waiver share for both enterprises was 26%, up 3 percentage points from October, but still 23 points below the peak in March 2021.

Originally published in the January 27, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

Policy adjustments and new collateral tools continue to shape waiver usage. In Q1 2025, Fannie Mae expanded waiver eligibility to purchase loans with 80–90% combined loan-to-value (CLTV). By November, about 9% of those loans used a waiver, up from 2% in February 2025.

I am beyond honored and excited to serve the chapter and all of our members as president in 2026! I want to thank NCAI Chapter leadership, the board, and all of the members for their hard work and dedication during 2025. The chapter had one of its most challenging years, but we met each challenge head-on and came out stronger on the other side. I was truly amazed at how quickly our executive team, committees, and NCPAC, along with Scott Dibiasio with National, and Don Rodgers with the NCAB, came together, and with the help of our lobbyists Jon Hardister and Sebastian King, were able to change pending legislations that would have hindered our goals. Because of you, NCAI continues to be a model and industry leader. I want to thank Linda Nelson, past president of NCPAC, for your valuable contributions. I truly feel the bond between NCAI and our peer organizations is stronger than ever and one of my main goals is to continue nurturing these relationships, which can only benefit all parties involved.

After reflecting on 2025, I am filled with that sense of joy and confidence that every person stepping into my role craves. I am surrounded by a strong support system, comprised of the very people who helped build this chapter into what it is today, which is in my opinion the strongest chapter in the country. I may be a little biased, but the evidence shows it. At this point in time, our chapter has never been stronger financially, personnel-wise, and we are growing membership to add to an already outstanding member base. This has not been an accolade that was achieved overnight or by one person, but the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice, and the honest focus on how we could help our members succeed and excel. 

Originally published by The Appraisal Foundation
Reprinted with permission from AI

The Appraisal Foundation announced today that it is seeking qualified candidates to fill three public interest positions on its Board of Trustees. All terms begin on January 1, 2027 and are four years.

The North Carolina Chapter of the Appraisal Institute would like to congratulate Alex T. Keith for earning the MAI designation. Alex completed the requirements for the MAI designation in December of 2025. 

Alex T. Keith is a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser and Property Manager with his family-owned and run business and real estate valuation firm, Tom Keith & Associates, Inc. As a supervisor and manager of the firm, Alex has been involved in overseeing over 700 appraisals of real estate properties and has been actively managing over 75 properties including hunting land, industrial facilities, and office/retail buildings.

Originally published in the January 13, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

A newly introduced bill in the Illinois General Assembly highlights the increasingly important role of professional real estate appraisers in resolving land use conflicts tied to large-scale data center development. Illinois House Bill 4319 (2025, 2026), the Property Owner Protection from Data Center Impacts Act, was introduced on January 7, 2026, by Rep. Jed Davis (R, 75). The legislation establishes a framework allowing property owners to seek compensation for measurable harm caused by the construction or operation of nearby data centers, with valuation determinations grounded in professional appraisal analysis.

NCAI is pleased to announce the chapter will be hosting our first ever WIN Conference, which will be held on Thursday, March 12th at the Canopy Realtors Building in Charlotte, NC. Save the date and join us for a day filled with network building opportunities and engaging speakers covering real estate from a variety of perspectives, including development, brokerage, appraisal, and investment. Registration is scheduled to open in early February. Continuing education credit is pending. Sponsorship opportunities will also be released in February. Our experts will address current real estate issues, how the use of artificial intelligence can benefit real estate practitioners and how real estate impacts our communities and the world around us. We have a phenomenal speaker line up including:

• Debbie Gallimore, CIPS, CCIM - Principal and Broker-In-Charge of Gallimore Associates, 2022 NC-CCIM of the year and 2026 President of the NC-CCIM Chapter
• Megan Oglesby - Senior Advisor to The Congdon Foundation, Principal Investor of the Carolina Core FC professional men’s soccer team and Founding Board Member and Investor in WPSL Pro, a new Division II women’s professional soccer league
• Kelly Davids - President of The Appraisal Foundation
• Ashley Johnson, MAI, SRA, R/W-AC – President of First Appraisal Group, Inc. and 2026 President Elect of the Appraisal Institute
• Heather Placer Mull, MAI, SRA, ARA, CCIM, ASA – President of Placer Realty Advisors, LLC,  Appraisal Institute national board of directors 2020 – 2024, President of Mid-Atlantic CCIM Chapter 2020, Virginia Real Estate Appraisers Board 2020 - 2024, 2023 Chair for the NAR Commercial Economic Forum and 2025 Vice Chair for the NAR Commercial Leadership Forum
• Claire Aufrance, MAI, SRA – President of Aufrance Valuations, LLC and 2026 Chair of the North Carolina Appraisal Board
• Chandra Mast – President of Red Rose Appraisals, Secretary of the Pennsylvania State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers, and Artificial Intelligence SME and instructor

This year's Nominating Committee will meet soon to nominate qualified chapter members for 2027 elected positions. 

Participation from our designated members, candidates, and practicing affiliates is vital to the Chapter and is critical in advancing our organization and the profession.