FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  1. What is The Appraisers Research Foundation (TARF)?

    The Appraisers Research Foundation is a 501 c 6 not-for-profit foundation. The foundation's purpose is to provide grants for research benefiting all of the disciplines of the appraisal profession.

  2. What is TARF's mission?

    To facilitate the research, testing and report development of new methodologies, techniques or procedures to best serve the publics who use, own or control property interests. The foundation intends to facilitate the activity of this mission statement through grants and loans, for the benefit of the appraisal profession and the public.

  3. What topics are TARF interested in funding?
    • Any valuation issues.
    • Alternative uses of contaminated properties.
    • Valuation of food processing and distribution facilities.
    • Analyzing and appraising mini-warehouses.
    • Supported allocation of value components of properties that include real estate, personalty and business value.
    • Using public record data in appraisal services - approved for research
    • Peculiarities of church valuations, their sales, conversions and the applicable approaches to value.
    • Interpretation of GIS and other technology with most efficient use of Internet research for specific property types.
    • Water rights and their impact on irrigated farmlands.
    • Impact of conservation easements on contiguous and surrounding property.
    • Recognizing false or bogus data - approved for research.
    • Non-market supported sales.
    • Trends in housing designs and demands.
    • Conversion of big box properties.
    • Changing consumer trends and the impact on property use and value.
    • Provenance issues resulting from Internet sales of fine arts.
    • Contemporary issues in business, personal property and real estate valuation.

  4. What is the typical level of grants received from TARF?

    The amount of the grant is dependent upon the amount of research required in the grant request. Grants have ranged from $2,500 to $15,000, however, significantly larger dollar amounts are available for qualifying research.

  5. Who owns my research material?

    The author(s) own their research and associated materials.

  6. What is the benefit to TARF for making grants?

    TARF exists to foster research that benefits the appraisal profession. TARF requires a notation in the published research material that TARF provided part of the funding for the research.

  7. Does TARF publish the research?

    TARF's website (www.appraiserresearch.org) links to the researcher.

  8. Is there a letter of agreement?

    TARF and the researcher will enter into a letter of agreement which identifies the expectations and responsibilities of each party.

  9. When are grant funds distributed?

    Grant funds are distributed as determined by the time frames identified in the grant letter of agreement.

  10. Who is qualified to receive a grant?

    Grants can be provided to individuals, professional organizations, colleges, universities, corporations, etc. The researcher's ability to accomplish the research, provide analysis and communicate it to the appraisal community are among the criteria used to award grants.

  11. Where do you provide grants?

    Grants can be provided anywhere in the world. The following is a list of grants recently funded.

    Manuscript Competition 2000-2002 Union Panamericana De Asociaiones De Valuacion (UPAV)

    Research and seminar development of Critical Factors in Hotel and Restaurant Feasibility by Bill Way, Assistant Professor, Department of Hospitality and Tourism, P.O. Box 790, Menomonee, WI 54751-0790, University of Wisconsin-Stout. 715-232-1276 office.

    Research into the development of a paper that guides appraisers in the identification of mold and the impact of mold on the valuation of residential structures. Contact Rudy R. Robinson, III, MAI, Appraiser/Consultant, Austin Valuation Consultants, Inc. 3811 Bee Cave Road, Suite 210, Austin, Texas. 78746-6459, 512-328-8122; Fax 512-328-6846.

    Co-funded a monograph of "Real Estate Issues and Indigenous Peoples." Research being conducted by the American Real Estate Society (ARES). Contact Cleveland State University, James R. Webb, Professor, Director of the Real Estate Center and Director of Development for the American Real Estate Society, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2214. http://www.aresnet.org, 216-687-4732; Fax 216-687-9331.

    Research into the development of a paper and seminar, which guides appraisers in the Identification of False or Bogus Data, Using Public Record Data in Appraisal Services and the Efficient Use of Internet Data. Contact Donald R. Epley Ph.D., CCIM, MAI, Lyon Distinguished Professor, Real Estate Program, Washington State University-Spokane, 534 Trent Avenue, PO Box 1495, Spokane, WA 99210-1495. 509-358-7775; Fax 509-358-7505

    Research, software development and publication of a booklet entitled "Appraising in the New Millennium, Scope of Work and Due Diligence". Contact David Braun, MAI, SRA, Braun & Associates, Inc., 215 Ellis Avenue, Maryville, TN 37804. 865-977-4404; Fax 865-982-2999.

    Research of Commercial Real Estate and Environmental Contamination. Contact Thomas O. Jackson, Ph.D., MAI, CRE, Real Property Analytics, Inc. 4805 Spearman Drive, College Station, TX 77845-4412. 979-690-1755, Fax 979-690-1750.

  12. What happens to my research?

    The researcher owns the results of the research. TARF expects that the researcher will make the research available to the appraisal community.

  13. What is the meaning of "to benefit the appraisal community?"

    TARF funds research that enables appraisers to be more professional in providing appraisal services.

  14. What does TARF expect as a product of the research?

    TARF expects the researcher to provide a coherent document that allows the reader to understand the concepts, analysis and conclusions of the research. We encourage the researcher to develop a seminar, which provides the results of the research to the appraisal community.

  15. Is the researcher required to present the seminar?

    The seminar material can be presented by others than the researcher.

  16. Do I have to belong to a professional appraisal organization to get a grant?

    Professional appraisal organization membership is not a criterion in the grant analysis process.