Charlie Cummings, Managing Principal at Innovate Commercial Real Estate, explores owner-operator strategies, lease-to-own paths, and Denver CRE trends.

In this episode of the Crexi Podcast, Shanti Ryle sits down with Josh Wood, Senior Managing Director at Valbridge Property Advisors. The conversation covers Josh's unique journey from philosophy and computer science to becoming an expert in property valuation and law. Josh shares his insights on the fundamentals of real estate appraisal, the impact of artificial intelligence, and the nuances of working as an expert witness and arbitrator in valuation disputes. 

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the etymology of terms like 'value' and 'worth,' the role of appraisers in litigation, and the evolving technology shaping the industry. Josh also offers invaluable advice for newcomers entering the field and an  in-depth look at the complexities of commercial real estate valuation.

• Meet Josh Wood: A Multifaceted Expert
• Josh's Academic and Professional Journey
• The Path to Becoming an Appraiser
• Early Challenges and Learning in Appraisal
• The Intersection of Appraisal and Law
• The Role of Appraisers in Legal Disputes
• Historical Context and Etymology of Value and Worth
• Understanding the Appraisal Process
• The Evolution of Fee Simple Ownership
• Encumbrances and the Value of Real Estate
• The Role of Appraisers in Property Valuation
• Challenges in Appraisal Methodology
• The Future of Appraisal with AI and Technology
• Advice for Aspiring Appraisers
• Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Watch “Decoding Property Valuation: Insights from Appraisal and Law Expert Josh Wood” on YouTube

Josh Wood is a valuation expert whose work sits at the intersection of appraisal theory and the law. His background in both disciplines gives him a distinctive perspective on complex valuation issues, including bilateral monopoly situations, eminent domain matters involving rights of reverter, and the taxation of Low Income Housing Tax Credit properties.

His academic foundation includes economics, computer science, logic, game theory and philosophy, followed by a master’s degree earned during his time in a philosophy PhD program. He entered the appraisal field in 1998 with a firm that later became part of Valbridge Property Advisors, where he has valued nearly every major commercial property type for purposes such as lending, tax appeals, eminent domain, litigation and environmental claims. He became a Valbridge shareholder in 2021.

While working full-time, Josh earned his JD from the University of Arizona in 2007, graduating cum laude. He served on law review, competed in Moot Court and published an award-winning article on servitudes. His legal training strengthened his expert witness practice, and he has testified in courts in Arizona and Texas and served as an arbitrator through the American Arbitration Association, joining its Panel of Neutrals at a notably young age in 2008.

Josh also teaches and develops education for the Appraisal Institute and the International Right of Way Association. He contributed to the 15th edition of The Appraisal of Real Estate and reviewed the 7th edition of The Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal. He regularly presents to professional and government audiences.

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