The Annual Spring Conference by the Northern California Chapter of the Appraisal Institute is the premiere real estate conference in the Central Valley of California. The conference began with its annual “State of the Profession” session featuring the California State Director of the Office of Real Estate Appraisers and the Appraisal Institute lobbyist in Sacramento, Mike Belote. The day long conference featured eight breakout sessions on various topics, and the keynote speaker during lunch was Michael P. Zagaris, CEO of PMZ, Inc.

This year there were over 125 attendees who enjoyed the informative speakers, visiting with exhibitors, and networking with each other.

Many thanks the 2013 Spring Conference Committee, the Nor-Cal Chapter Executive Director Lisa Estes and Chapter administrative assistant Pat Moore for their hard work over a ten month period leading up to the conference. The chapter would also like to thank our sponsors and exhibitors who helped make the day a success, including Marshall & Swift, LIA Administrators & Insurance Services, Valbridge Property Advisors, ParcelQuest, and the Appraisal Institute itself.

For a transition period, we will be now be known as Valbridge Property Advisors/ Hulberg & Associates, Inc.

Valbridge immediately ranks among the “Top 3″ national commercial real estate valuation and advisory service firms, with 145 MAI’s, 59 office locations, and 600 staff across the U.S.  Each of the 59 Valbridge offices is managed by an appraiser who is a member of the Appraisal Institute.

The principals of Hulberg are, and will continue to be, shareholders in Valbridge.  The local practice leaders of all the Valbridge offices own the new company, which is good for our clients.

Why are we doing this? 

Client demand for a strong, independent, national commercial property valuation services firm has driven us to combine with the best and brightest appraisers across the country to launch Valbridge. We are committed to being the top firm in our market, known for high standards of accuracy and integrity. As Valbridge, we will provide expanded services and an even higher level of service to our local clients, while also serving regional and national clients based outside the area.

As a reminder, our firm values all types of real estate, including:

• Office
• Industrial
• Retail
• Subdivision
• Open Space Lands
• Recreational Lands
• Multi-Family/ Senior Living
• Lodging/ Hospitality
• Special Purpose Properties

Norman C. Hulberg, MAI

President, Hulberg & Associates, Inc./ Board Member, Valbridge Property Advisors

(408) 279-1520, x142

nhulberg@valbridge.com

www.valbridge.com #CRE

For our clients, the main point of the article is: don’t delay, as all the professionals involved (appraiser, attorney, accountant) need time to put this all together.

Hulberg & Associates is experienced in estate planning, and one of our specialties is fractional interest valuation (which allows dramatically discounting the value of the gifted interest).  If you need assistance with estate planning and fractional interest valuation in order to meet the tax exemption deadline, contact us.  Hulberg & Associates has a team of knowledgeable appraisers to assist you.

Norm Hulberg, MAI

In praising Hulberg’s work, prominent Sonoma-Napa County developer Dennis Hunter said “Hulberg’s work was very professional. They are head and shoulders above other appraisal firms”. In a call with Hulberg president Norm Hulberg, Hunter continued, ”this was the most excellent appraisal work I have seen…when I need a real valuation in the future, I will call on you”.

Indeed, this week Hunter hired Hulberg and Associates to represent him in a property tax appeal for one of the properties that was involved in the bankruptcy.

Hulberg Senior Vice President and 2012 Conference Chair John A. Hillas, SRA and Hulberg Senior Appraiser Josh Fronen, MAI will serve as program moderators for several topics, and Hulberg Executive Vice President Walt Carney, MAI will be presenting on the topic of “Project Entitlements: Addressing Profitability & Value Impacts”

The Fall Conference is the “Crown Jewel” of the Northern California Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, and is the largest and most prestigious Real Estate Appraisal event west of the Mississippi.  The conference will feature a series of important real estate, economic, and appraisal-related topics that we think you may find of interest, such as the latest on Estate Tax and Gifting Appraisals, Value Impacts of New Building Technologies, Project Entitlements: Addressing Profitability and Value Impacts, and Valuation of Non-Stabilized Property, just to name a few.  There will also be timely updates on the regional real estate market. The keynote speaker will be Gary C. Zimmerman, Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

For additional details regarding the session topics and all of the presenters,  please refer to the conference brochure.

This conference will feature a series of important real estate, economic, and appraisal-related topics that we think you may find of interest, such as updates to the Central Valley regional residential, agricultural, and commercial markets.   The keynote speaker will be Dr. Jeffrey Michaels, Director of the Business Forecasting Center at the University of the Pacific.

Register for the conference online at the NorCal Chapter of the Appraisal Institute’s website.

Great America Amusement Park: Future Neighbor of the San Francisco 49ers?

Cedar Fair is in contract to sell Great America Amusement Park for $70 Million to JMA Ventures, a group associated with the San Francisco 49ers in its possible plans to relocate the team to Santa Clara, according to a news article in the San Jose Mercury News, dated September 20^th.  Hulberg and Associates consulted with Cedar Fair in the valuation for the sale.

Here’s a link to Andrew’s article.

Walter D. Carney, MAI