Insights

When does a trustee need an appraisal of commercial real estate held in trust? Why an independent valuation protects the trustee and supports trust administration.

IRS Form 709 requires a reported value when commercial real estate is gifted. A qualified appraisal of the interest transferred substantiates the return and supports any discount.

What a retrospective appraisal is and when you need one — establishing defensible commercial property value as of a past date for estate and litigation matters.

What valuing commercial real estate for IRS Form 706 requires — a qualified, date-of-death appraisal that substantiates the estate tax return and protects the estate.

Why the date-of-death valuation drives the step-up in basis on inherited commercial real estate — and how a documented appraisal protects the heirs at sale.

What a date-of-death appraisal is and when an estate needs one — establishing fair market value for estate tax reporting and the heirs’ step-up in basis.

How appraisal review and rebuttal challenge an opposing appraiser’s report — a standards-based evaluation that targets the foundation, not just the number.

What makes a commercial appraisal defensible in court — admissibility, USPAP, documented comps, and a workfile that survives cross-examination.

How to choose a real estate expert witness for a commercial property dispute — credentials, independence, and admissibility under Sargon and FRE 702.