Blog 2023 Mass Appraisals of All Major Ethanol Plants in US October 30, 2023 In 2023, Federal Appraisal LLC has achieved another significant milestone in the world of appraisals by completing a comprehensive mass appraisal of every major ethanol plant in the country. This monumental effort has far-reaching implications for not only property tax assessors but also for the ownership and management of these vital energy facilities.  These high-quality, cost-effective appraisals are utilized for income tax and investor management and reporting, property tax management and for asset management, accountants and litigation.  Federal has been preparing mass appraisals on the ethanol industry for several years now.  From here Federal is also providing traditional single-plant, full analysis appraisals. Federal Appraisal LLC is a nationally recognized expert in the appraisal of ethanol, biodiesel, and petroleum refineries. Empowering Ethanol Plant Owners The significance of this type of valuation isn't limited to tax assessors alone. Ethanol plant owners now have access to critical data that can help them make informed decisions about their properties. Whether for refinancing, selling, or strategic planning, having up-to-date and precise appraisals of their assets is invaluable. Yearly Updates for Consistent Valuation Data One of the most useful features of mass appraisals is their ability to be updated on a yearly basis. This means that property valuations remain relevant and reliable, providing a continuous source of data for both tax assessors and plant owners. It's a dynamic tool that keeps pace with market fluctuations and evolving plant conditions. Transparency and Public Data It's worth noting that the valuations provided are based on publicly available data. This ensures transparency and fairness in the appraisal process, as the information used is accessible to all parties involved. The reliance on public data sources also maintains the credibility and objectivity of the valuation process. Accounting for Unseen Variables While Federal’s mass appraisals are comprehensive and thorough, it's important to acknowledge that individual valuations can change with the emergence of information not publicly available during the mass appraisal process. Therefore, it's essential for plant owners and tax assessors to stay vigilant and make use of updated single-plant appraisals when significant differences exist in public and non-public information occur. Real-Time Data Collaboration Federal Appraisal LLC collaborated closely with a vast network of city, county, and state property tax assessors, plant managers, government and university researchers and analysts, leveraging a sophisticated database to provide real-time information about the value of ethanol plants within their respective districts. This real-time data collaboration has revolutionized the way we approach ethanol plant valuations, ensuring that property tax assessments and plant financial management are as accurate as possible. In conclusion, the completion of a mass appraisal of every ethanol plant in the country by Federal Appraisal LLC in 2023 is a significant milestone for the real estate industry. It brings real-time data collaboration, transparency, and a continuous source of valuation data to the forefront of ethanol plant management. Whether you're a property tax assessors or an ethanol plant owner, this groundbreaking service offers invaluable insights and opportunities for informed decision-making. For inquiries about our ethanol plant mass appraisal services or to learn more about how we can assist you with your specific appraisal needs, please contact Federal Appraisal LLC. We're committed to providing accurate, up-to-date, and insightful appraisal solutions. News Press Releases Recent media coverage of Federal Appraisal, newly published articles from Federal Appraisal professionals and newly published market surveys from Federal Appraisal.  You may want to search for topics by keyword. Federal Appraisal LLC wins Summary Judgement against IDFPR  (PDF) Judge voids and nullifies all actions of the IDFPR against Federal (PDF) Business Interruption Caused by COVID-19 and Appraisal Issues See our Presentations and Articles page for presentations, articles, and YouTube content by the Professionals from Federal Appraisal LLC. For other articles and other research materials, go to our Library.

Survey Research Survey Research represents an underutilized analysis technique within real estate and business valuation community.  Nearly everyone within the appraisal community knows about the “three approaches to value”.  Survey Research offers a fourth approach to value, or another analysis technique, in support of the three approaches.  Federal Appraisal LLC offers survey research services based on the deep academic traditions of social and economic survey research. To understand the utility of survey research, it may be helpful to recognize the following: An appraisal is an opinion, and survey research is especially useful in measuring opinions. We are familiar with political polls and other public opinion polls. The same research theories and techniques can be applied to numerous issues within appraisal, in particular the issues of market opinions of value and the elements of value. With its deep academic tradition in the social sciences, survey research offers avenues to research, and foundations for appraisal conclusions that may not exist elsewhere. This is why the appraisal community is perhaps unknowingly already using survey research.  Examples include discount and cap rate surveys, cost manuals, and various Federal Reserve and Bureau of Labor Statistics. View our Survey Research on Approaches for Power Plants. Federal Appraisal LLC offers next generation survey research services to the appraisal, real estate, and economics communities, surrounding real estate, and business valuation.

Governments and Governmental Activities Often, each level of government and each agency has their own appraisal procedures and practices.  Federal Appraisal LLC specializes in appraisals for accounting and legal contexts to the numerous governments and agencies at federal, state, and local levels. Appraisal and appraisal consulting requirements vary significantly from government agency to government agency.  While the variances are often simple, the failure to meet the requirements can lead to a critical non-compliance.  The non-compliance may be non-recoverable and often cost thousands of dollars but in some cases could cost upwards of tens of thousands, to hundreds of thousands, of dollars.  Federal Appraisal offers expert appraisal and appraisal consulting services for many of the major government agencies. IRS The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the courts that hear its cases, prescribes its own appraisal practices and procedures.  While the appraisal theory behind IRS appraisals is mostly the same as other appraisals, failure to comply with IRS specific procedures can result in the disqualification of an appraisal and a loss of essential support for a tax stance. Federal Appraisal LLC provides IRS appraisals for both taxpayers and the IRS. Federal Appraisal LLC provides numerous services to assist property and business owners in managing the various tax and audit issues that impact real and personal property and businesses. See our IRS page, as well as our accountants pages and our attorneys pages. HUD The Federal Housing and Urban Development Agency (HUD) prescribes its own appraisal procedures and its own appraisal formats.  While the appraisal theory behind the HUD appraisals is the same as other appraisals, failure to comply with HUD's own procedures and formats can result in the disqualification of an appraisal.   See our HUD page. Property Tax Assessment and Appeals There are numerous occasions where the value of a property is related to taxes.  Each taxing situation requires special appraisal and consulting considerations.  The considerations might be a specialized appraisal for cost segregation, depreciation, and income tax.  Another might be a explanation and justification for a divergence from the purchase price basis for a transfer or gains tax calculation.  Others pertain to tax position, basis, or feasibility, as with impairments, structured leases, barter agreements, gifts, and estates. Each taxing situation requires appraisal and consulting experience in order to maximize taxing goals.   Federal Appraisal specializes in providing appraisals for tax issues. GSA The General Services Administration of the federal government handles the real estate acquisition and leasing for most of the federal agencies.  They have special biding, contracting, and reporting requirements.  While the requirements are easy enough to meet, the mismanagement of the requirements could add substantial delays to a project. SEC & Investor Relations Federal Appraisal LLC can provide any of the real estate appraisals and valuation reporting support required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  Whether its SEC reporting requirements to compliance with the appropriate accounting, tax, and audit reporting procedures, or it’s a special issue reporting requirement, Federal Appraisal LLC can help.  Mark to Market Federal Appraisal LLC provides “Mark to Market” Appraisal Services as required by the Government Accounting Standards Board (“GASB”) new rule, Statement 52. The rule requires state and local government endowment funds that hold land and other real estate as investments to report the asset or liability at fair value beginning next year. When real estate is marked to market, for accounting purposes it is assigned the value that it would fetch in the open market. Currently, governments report such assets and liabilities at historical cost. See our Mark to Market page. See our Business Appraisal and Valuation and our Property

Expert Testimony and Litigation Support Federal Appraisal, LLC provides expert testimony, litigation, and dispute resolution for complex real estate litigation issues. We provide our clients with both geographical and topical dispute resolution support expertise, regardless of where the assets are located, what type of assets are involved, or what kind of issues are involved. Call for a free services-scoping consultation for your specific dispute. Our services include: expert testimony Property Tax Appeals bankruptcies and reorganizations damages estimates support for the cross examination of experts support for partnership disputes support for landlord/tenant disputes traditional and nontraditional valuation and appraisal services value, income and yield analyses Business Interruptions; damages estimates environment issues Lease Audit & Analysis financial or operations analysis fairness opinions and comfort letters research services, including economic, demographic and GIS statistical analysis services, including regression analysis, options pricing market positioning strategies arbitration and mediation Because valuation issues are often complex, dispute resolution often requires the coordination of multidisciplinary teams. We strongly recommend to our clients that they engage valuation experts as early as possible in the dispute resolution process. We are convinced the great number of lengthy and costly disputes could be avoided or could be resolved more quickly, if the parties involved were in possession of proper valuation services earlier in the process. Unfortunately, all too often, parties in dispute are under the mistaken impression that because of the cost, valuation services should not be obtained until late into the process. There are, in fact, numerous consulting services available to the parties involved in the dispute that are both appropriate for use early in the dispute and are relatively inexpensive. Click Considerations for Valuation and Litigation for an article written by Mark Pomykacz, the Managing Partner of Federal Appraisal, LLC, on the topic of litigation and real estate appraisal expert. Business Interruption Consulting, Damages Estimates Federal Appraisal, LLC provides consulting and appraisal services to individuals and companies suffering from business interruptions and damages from natural and man-made disasters and accidents. If the loss or diminution of the use of your real estate is causing a loss in business income and/or is reducing the utility or value of your real estate, then Federal Appraisal, LLC may be able to help you recoup your damages. Even tenants in damaged or reduced utility space can benefit from our services. The actual or alleged loss or damage might be from contractual breaches, environmental conditions, weather, physical damages, external-to-the-site conditions, or malfeasance or non-feasance. Federal Appraisal, LLC provides appraisals of damages, lost income and stigma for negotiations, and court testimony for or against insurance companies, property owners, and defendants. Management Consulting Issues and Solutions for Attorneys Federal Appraisal provides user-defined scopes of services and agreed upon procedures services relating to attorneys. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Federal Appraisal, LLC provides the real estate appraisals and valuation reporting support required by the SEC. See our SEC page for more information. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Federal Appraisal, LLC provides the real estate appraisals and valuation reporting support required by the IRS. See our IRS page for more information. Federal Appraisal, LLC is not a law firm or an accounting firm. As such it does not offer legal or audit opinions. Federal Appraisal can obtain and/or manage those services for its clients, and Federal Appraisal can offer referral to law firms and/or accounting firms for such services.