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Summary of the SBA’s SOP Environmental Policy Revisions in SBA SOP 50 10 5 (C)

The SBA published their latest update their environmental policy in SOP 50 10 5 (C).    The SOP revisions take effect on October 1st, 2010 we should all bone up on a few of the new elements of SOP 5010 5 (C) (pages 199 – 206 & 310 – 317). One now technical, but important point,…

Environmental Due Diligence: Phase I ESAs and Other Options

If you are buying a commercial property, you need to do environmental due diligence.  The gold standard for due diligence is the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment.   The Phase I ESA is basically a research project into the properties current and past use and how these uses could potentially affect the environment.   As a buyer,…

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…