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Category Archives: Engineering Due Diligence

Appraisal | Commercial Real Estate Education | Engineering Due Diligence | Legal | Real Estate

Are We in the Zone? What You Need to Know about Zoning for Commercial Real Estate Deals

Posted on by Kelly Javier

Zoning is a major factor in any real estate transaction. It determines how a parcel of land can or can’t be used and allows communities to control property values and ensure safe land use. Zoning rules and regulations are divided into two categories, these being land use requirements and ordinance-based requirements. The intricacies of zoning…

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Commercial Real Estate Education | Compliance | Engineering Due Diligence | Real Estate

Understanding ADA Requirements for Historic Properties

Posted on by Kelly Javier

The passing of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) made access to places of public accommodation a civil right and is applicable to all properties, regardless of age or status as a ‘historic property.’ In other words, all places of public accommodation must remove barriers where feasible with no exclusions or exemptions. However, some historic…

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Building Experts | Commercial Real Estate Education | Construction | Engineering Due Diligence | Environmental Due Diligence

How a Geologic Review Can Avoid Costly Issues during Construction Projects and Transactions

Posted on by Kelly Javier

How can geologic reviews or geotechnical investigations save you money?

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Commercial Real Estate Education | Engineering Due Diligence | Fannie Mae | Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae | HUD | SBA

Why PCAs are a Valuable Tool for Investors and Lenders

Posted on by Kelly Javier

A Property Condition Assessment is used by lenders and investors to help determine the risk associated with an asset.

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Building Experts | Commercial Real Estate Education | Engineering Due Diligence | Real Estate

A closer look at the new ASTM E2018-15 Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments

Posted on by S. Ira Grossman

ASTM has updated it A2018-15 Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments. What were the key changes?

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Construction | Engineering Due Diligence | structural engineering

The Value of Designing to the Budget

Posted on by S. Ira Grossman

Because construction projects can be risky it is difficult to determine the cost upfront, which means that cost estimates frequently exceed budgets.  Changing construction plans to fit within budget can have consequences, but the need for the new or renovated building may be such that the owner understands the risk of cutting corners in the…

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Commercial Real Estate Education | Commercial Real Estate Finance | Conferences and Industry Events | Construction | Energy | Engineering Due Diligence | Environmental Due Diligence | Fannie Mae | Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae | HUD | Multi-Family | Real Estate | SBA | SBA Real Estate Finance

March 2015 Events

Posted on by Kelly Javier

Start            End              Conference                              Location 1 5 ICBA National Convention Orlando, FL 2 4 CLRM Roundtable Phoenix, AZ 3 3 CREJ: Multifamily Owners and Managers Conference and Expo Englewood, CO 3…

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Building Experts | Engineering Due Diligence | Environmental Due Diligence | Real Estate

Assessing the Assessor – What Makes a Quality Phase I ESA?

Posted on by Jason Bates

What are the key pillars of the Phase I ESA process that determine the quality of the report? Jason Bates discusses important things to look out for when selecting your environmental consultant.

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Appraisal | Commercial Real Estate Finance | Engineering Due Diligence | Environmental Due Diligence | Real Estate

How Did Environmental Contamination Become a Factor in the Appraisal World?

Posted on by S. Ira Grossman

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) Handbook on Commercial Real Estate published in 2013 mandates that environmental contamination should be discussed and considered in real estate appraisals.  In the same year the OCC updates were published, the Appraisal Institute released a document providing guidance to appraisers for how environmental contamination should be…

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Building Experts | Construction | Energy | Engineering Due Diligence | Environmental Due Diligence | Real Estate | Site Surveys (ALTA)

A Marriage That Will Last

Posted on by Bob Geiger

The excitement over the corporate marriage between Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. and the former Birdsall Services Group (BSG) seems justified as the idea of the two working in tandem has quickly become a reality. Key Birdsall competencies are intact: Mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP) engineering design, construction services, energy and sustainability services, civil engineering and site survey services,…

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