Charlie Johnson breaks down how mortgage pros and buyers use the income approach to value commercial properties.

– Formula: Net Operating Income ÷ Cap Rate

– Example: $2M retail strip earning $150K with a 7.5% cap rate– 2025: Industrial cap rates = stable 6–8%, office = higher, more risk

📌 Mortgage pros: Verify income data—leases, expenses, and realistic rents.

📌 Buyers: Compare cap rates to local market averages to catch inflated prices.

Working with the right AMC or lender makes all the difference. Visit nationwideamc.com to learn more!

Charlie Johnson explains why where your property sits often matters more than what’s inside it.

– Tight 2025 inventory = premium for prime areas

– Same home, different neighborhood = huge value swing– Proximity to jobs, schools, transit can boost value by 10% or more

📌 Buyers: Check school ratings and commute stats before you bid.

📌 Mortgage pros: Keep comps hyper-local—within a quarter mile for urban spots.

Location is the one thing you can’t renovate. Do the homework upfront.

New from the ValuVault!🌟

Charlie Johnson explains why relying on your property tax assessment can cost you—big time.

– Tax assessments are for local revenue, not true appraisals

– Outdated data and old formulas can lag real value by 10–20%

– They ignore upgrades that a real appraiser will include

📌 Buyers: Use comps or hire an appraiser for real market value before you bid.

📌 Mortgage pros: Remind clients to anchor loan amounts to comps, not tax records.

A quick BPO is an easy, affordable step to get it right.

Charlie Johnson shares exactly how to pull the right comparable sales—so you don’t overpay (or under-appraise).

– Keep it close: Within half a mile for urban, up to a mile for rural

– Keep it current: Last 6 months only—older comps can undervalue

– Match features: Square footage, beds/baths, lot size, condition

📌 Buyers: Always review the appraisal report to see which comps were used.

📌 Mortgage pros: Double-check with MLS to validate accuracy.

Run your numbers right—your deal depends on it.

Cap rate = one of the most important metrics in CRE—and Charlie Johnson is breaking it down.

– Formula: Net Operating Income ÷ Purchase Price

– Current average: 6–8% for industrial, nearing 10% for lodging

– What it tells you: Lower cap rate = higher valuation, less risk Higher cap rate = lower value, higher risk

📌 Mortgage pros: Compare to market averages and verify income.

📌 Buyers: Confirm NOI and target stable returns.

Need a BPO or AVM for a commercial property? Head to nationwideamc.com for more info.

New construction is heating up in 2025 🔥—but appraising these homes isn’t easy.

Charlie Johnson explains why:

– Limited comps

– Upgrades that don’t always match appraisal value

– Slower price growth

🏡 Buyers: Ask for builder comps before making an offer.

📋 Mortgage pros: Confirm the appraisal includes recent community sales and upgrades.

Learn more about our new construction team at nationwideamc.com.

New Segment Drop: ValuNation’s Market Update is here!

This week, Charlie Johnson breaks down what’s driving property values right now—and why mortgage pros and buyers need to stay sharp.

🏠 Mortgage rates are steady but still high (6.923%), keeping affordability tough and slowing home price growth.

📉 Valuations are cooling in places like Seattle and Austin.

🏗️ Buyers: Look to new builds for rate buy-downs and credits.

📋 Mortgage pros: Use 2025 comps only—today’s market is shifting fast.

🎯 Whether you're appraising or house hunting, staying informed is key.

📍 Watch now and subscribe to ValuNation to stay ahead of market trends.

Welcome to ValuNation’s Valuation Tip of the Day!

In this episode, Charlie Johnson tackles a common misconception in real estate: the reliability of Zillow’s Zestimate. 🏡💸

Today’s tip: ⚠️ Don’t over-rely on automated valuations like Zestimates. They’re a popular starting point, but they’re not true appraisals. These AVMs (automated valuation models) pull from public data—but they often miss crucial market details like home condition, neighborhood demand, and recent sales trends. In volatile markets, Zestimates can be off by 5–10%, according to Zillow itself. 🔍 Example: A home in Atlanta valued at $400K might show a Zestimate of $420K, completely missing a local price dip.

Takeaways:

✅ Buyers: Use Zestimates as a rough guide—then check comps or get a professional opinion.

✅ Mortgage professionals: Educate your clients. Lenders require accurate appraisals or BPOs (Broker Price Opinions), not algorithmic guesses.

🎧 Subscribe to the ValuNation podcast for more quick, expert-backed insights into U.S. property valuation.

📍 Learn more about BPOs and other valuation solutions at: https://www.nationwideamc.com

In this episode, we sit down with Rida Sharaf, a seasoned real estate professional with deep roots in valuation, mortgage servicing, and portfolio management. From his early days growing up in Dana Point, CA, to navigating the high-stakes world of escrow and mortgage risk, Rida shares his journey and the pivotal moments that led him to USRES & RES.NET.

We explore the evolution of the real estate and mortgage servicing industry, touching on key topics like:

🏡 The infamous $1.2M peekaboo ocean view condo that signaled shifting market conditions

💰 The 2008 financial crisis and how USRES scaled to meet unprecedented demand

🔍 The intersection of valuation, risk management, and default services—and how they shape the mortgage industry

🤝 The power of partnerships, customer-first service, and technology in driving long-term client relationships

🌊 Plus, a little SoCal lifestyle talk—surfing, snowboarding, and even sardines

Now part of the Nationwide family, Rida and his team bring a new dimension to how we serve lenders, servicers, and investors across the mortgage lifecycle. Tune in for a deep dive into the business of real estate, the importance of trust in client relationships, and what’s next for the industry.

Summary: This conversation features a lighthearted exchange between the host Charlie Johnson and Michael Schwartz, touching on various topics including cultural references, personal anecdotes, current events, and audience engagement. The discussion flows naturally from humor to insights on new products and services, while also addressing audience questions and social media trends. The hosts reflect on past experiences and conclude with thoughts on future plans, creating a well-rounded and engaging dialogue.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome Back and Sports Banter

02:37 Baseball Playoffs and Team Dynamics

04:41 Hurricane Discussions and Community Impact

05:30 Disaster Inspections and Real Estate

08:10 Navigating the Mortgage Landscape

11:10 Sponsorship and Industry Events

14:05 Fed Rate Drops and Market Implications

15:47 Housing Inventory and Market Trends

18:34 Professional Guidance in Real Estate

21:17 Upcoming Industry Events and Networking

23:54 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans