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Category Archives: Environmental Due Diligence

Freddie Mac Environmental and Engineering Best Practices

On Monday, Freddie Mac released guidance on best practices for engineering and environmental reports.  The guidance notes common report issues, advises methods for selecting the best consultants and evaluating environmental and engineering consultant reports, and notes specific responsibilities. Common errors noted include failure to follow requirements of the Freddie Mac Multifamily Seller/Servicer Guide such as…

Fannie Mae Inspections

A property inspection, also known as a Physical Needs Assessment (PNA), is one of the first steps in an equity or transfer of ownership lending transaction involving Fannie Mae as the insurer of the loan.  Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. specializes in transactions that Fannie Mae consider their “small loans” division. These are loans that are less…

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Risk Decisions (2 Comments)

Entry by JoeDerhake Entry When doing Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, sometime the facts are on the border between a recognized environmental condition and an environmental issue.   This blog is my latest in a series of borderline decisions.   Here is the scenario: the Phase I ESA finds a classic REC on site.  Let’s say we…

Seismic Damageability Reports

Seismic Damageability Reports and Probable Maximum Loss Reports are terms that are used interchangeably in the engineering due diligence field. In both instances, engineers are engaged to quantify the amount of seismic risk associated with a building. Most engineers prepare reports according to ASTM E 2026-2007 guidelines.   While Probable Maximum Loss (PML) is by far the…

Energy Study: California Existing Commercial Buildings

”Up to 80 percent of the energy used by commercial buildings is going up in smoke”… per a new study by Next 10 that examined energy use among California’s existing commerical buildings. Read a news article about the study below: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/14/2888438/california-conservation-group.html#ixzz0uMJM3Z5A Here is a link to the actual Next 10 report: http://www.next10.org/research/research_eeijc.html

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Risk Decisions (1 Comment)

Entry by JoeDerhake Entry When doing Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, sometime the facts are on the border between a recognized environmental condition and an environmental issue.   This blog is my latest in a series of borderline decisions.   Here is the scenario: the Phase I ESA finds a classic REC on site.  Let’s say we…

Property Condition Report, What is Included?

Property Condition Report What is included in a Property Condition Report (PCR)? The short answer is that the Property Condition Report evaluates all improvements.    Most Property Condition Reports done for lenders are done within the scope and limitation of the ASTM Standard E2018.  My firm, Partner Engineering and Science, typically defines the scope as follows: Conduct…

Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment and Erosion Control

One of the many unfortunate effects of the burst in the housing bubble is an overabundance of partially completed subdivisions and erosion control issues due to lack of maintenance.  In many cases, these subdivisions have been graded and have been left void of any vegetation.  In some cases, they have been partially developed with a…

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Risk Decisions

Entry by JoeDerhake Entry When doing Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, sometimes the facts are on the border between a recognized environmental condition and an environmental issue.   This blog is my latest in a series of borderline decisions.   Here is the scenario: the Phase I ESA finds a classic REC on site.  Let’s say we…

No substitute for experience when it comes to HUD Project Capital Needs Assessments

Due to market conditions, the last few years have seen an increase in HUD/FHA loans.  In turn, the need for HUD due diligence reports has increased.  Consultants who have specialized in this area in the past have a backlog of work for several weeks, and in some cases, months.  As the law of supply and…