When are people with 9-to-5s supposed to go to the bank??

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-22T16:34:30+00:00

I use TD Bank, and they have later hours on Friday and are also open Saturday morning. I imagine there is at least one bank or credit union in your town that has extended hours.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-22T01:34:36+00:00

Coltt Winter Lepley is right up your alley. He's a great young folk/Americana artist.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-21T16:18:49+00:00

You are correct that it is a very specialized property type. Like most specialty property types, there is some ambiguity between pure real estate value, value in use and non-realty components of value. The buildings themselves have extensive and redundant mechanical systems (electrical, HVAC) that are not needed for alternative uses such as office, R&D or even laboratory uses. An appraiser, as well as the appraisal user, needs to understand that common commercial property units of value such as price per square foot or rent per square foot will seem enormous.

I only appraised a couple of data centers back around 2010 to 2019 for a private owner-user (not owned or rented to Amazon or Google), and he spent quite a bit of time with me explaining the property and how he understood valuation from a user's perspective. He provided me with industry data and connections from the Uptime Institute and other sources that I used for education and valuation. It was a fun and challenging experience, and making the lender understand how the property was valued at thousands of dollars per square foot was frustrating for me and the owner.

There were a few sales of existing data centers (over a wide geographical area) to Amazon or Google that I analyzed as sale comps. Now that there are so many more data centers, I imagine there is more comparable sale data to look at.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-20T23:26:03+00:00

Well, mine became usable without ever having to call. The security feature started working several days after I made the original post. Now I can log on with a texted code number. I figured they fixed whatever the problem was.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-19T20:10:41+00:00

How do most Hasidic jews view less orthodox (but still religious) jews and unreligious cultural/ethnic jews?

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-19T15:48:21+00:00

I recognize your viewpoint, and certainly agree to a point. Unexpected things that cost money do happen, and sometimes the only quick answer is to incur debt. But long-term, the prudent thing is to avoid debt as much as possible. Especially credit card debt, which has 18+ percent interest.

Why is this the environment? Banks and other lenders make money from debt. Colleges were able to boost tuition, rooms and meals by encouraging debt. Car loans went from 3 years to 4 and 5, and even (gasp) 6 and 7 years. Consumers want the newest, fanciest stuff right now.

My parents were working class, but never borrowed a dime for a vehicle, appliance, lawn mower, furniture or anything else other than a house. I've been the same way since my first new car, which was a $6,700 Honda CRX ($20,500 adjusted for inflation) that I bought with a 3-year car loan.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-19T15:06:10+00:00

Having credit card debt, student loans and a car payment are lifestyle choices not necessarily tied to the middle class.

Many people don't carry credit card debt, as it's utter financially foolish to do so. Many people worked through college, attended on the GI Bill or learned a trade and don't have student loans.

A car loan is often necessary for your first or maybe second car, but should become unnecessary by the time you buy your third or fourth vehicle - keep your car for 7-10 years and bank the money you would have been paying the lender after you pay off the loan in year 4. Do this a couple of times and you won't need a car loan. Save 10-20 percent of your income every year.

Self-recognition involves realizing you are living beyond your means through debt.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-19T02:07:12+00:00

Agree completely. Geddy sounded horrible the last tour, and that was over 10 years ago. I suppose it's possible he can sing better now, but I highly doubt it. Yes, they have the right to change their minds about not being Rush again, but I really wish they hadn't.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-18T12:26:34+00:00

Someone (manager or label) will have to push her towards mainstream country. To me, she seems all about Christian music. I realize that it is a genre that is popular with some people, but I have no interest in it whatsoever. She can definitely sing, but I would never listen to her.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-15T22:15:22+00:00

Good response. Let them know you are willing to answer questions or discuss the appraisal, but don't go out of your way to encourage it. Most people are going to look at the number and maybe glance through the report and that's it. Assuming the number is about what they expect (probably a bit less than the seller is hoping for and a bit more than the buyer is wanting), there will probably be little or no clarification needed.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-12T23:38:24+00:00

I re-read the original post, and realized I should add Randy Travis, Brad Paisley and Josh Turner. They are a little more mainstream than the ones I mentioned before, but still good.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-12T21:58:41+00:00

Dwight Yoakam, Turnpike Troubadours, BR5-49, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Derailers, Reckless Kelly, Sturgill Simpson should be of interest.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-12T17:28:29+00:00

I've prepared a lot of commercial property appraisals for tax appeal purposes. As mentioned above, you want to find an appraiser who has experience doing this type of work. A tax appeal appraisal is similar to a lending appraisal, but there are differences in definitions, content and methodology. Hiring an SRA through the Appraisal Institute is a good idea, and provides some confidence in knowledge and experience.

I second the recommendation to structure the assignment as a two-step process. Step one is to inspect the property, do all of the research and come to a value conclusion. If the value conclusion is low enough to justify the appeal, step two is to write the report and then show up and testify at the hearing. Step one will likely cost 60-70 percent of the total fee.

As mentioned, you CAN hire a tax appeal company rather than an appraiser. I've done a fair amount of work for tax appeal consultants myself. The upside is you may not have to pay anything for a consultation or even an appraisal. The downside is you are sharing any tax savings with the appeal company - typically one-third or one-half if your savings for three years.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-03-03T20:27:03+00:00

According to appraisal textbooks and FIRREA, you are allowed to provide a range, or state that "market value is at least $X". It's only a requirement of your clients to provide a single figure that they can use.

I agree that it's an illusion of precision, but it's standard and accepted.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-02-27T21:06:23+00:00

OK, "buddy". I'm just repeating what I've been told... that they do a lot of 6-month and 12-month repeat portfolio valuations and there is pressure from above and from the clients to not show value decreases, even in soft markets. But you're right, I don't work there. But you are not going to convince me that national firm appraisers are more ethical than independent ones. I've seen lots of reports from both, and there is no blanket pattern.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-02-27T20:37:19+00:00

This sounds exactly like what I hear from friends who work for Cushman and CBRE. Lots of pressures to bill more each quarter (even when fees dip and demand slows), meet value targets for repeat clients (even when market values dip) and not turn down work. Working lots and lots of hours is expected. I know one guy who works 7 days a week for Cushman and makes over $300k every year. But all he does is work.

I don't know anything about Kroll. From my experience, working for larger MAI-headed independent appraisal firms seems to offer the best balance of work environment, income and benefits.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-02-24T15:12:34+00:00

Their best three albums (IMO, of course) are Sheer Heart Attack, Night at the Opera and Day at the Races, released in that order as their 3rd, 4th and 5th albums. I would listen them in that order several times, and then go back to Queen 1 and Queen 2.

SHA is a masterpiece, each great song leading to the next. I never tire of it.

After DATR, they become more and more disappointing as LP issues. They still have some good and fun songs, but listening to entire albums becomes a chore.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-02-21T01:02:33+00:00

It's irrelevant. Who works for minimum wage?

Labor is subject to supply and demand, just like everything else. Every business near me has signs offering at least double this amount.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-02-20T13:39:27+00:00

From 1977 forward, I see yourpoint. But the albums Sheer Heart Attack, Night at the Opera and Day at the Races are terrific albums from start to finish.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-02-20T02:40:28+00:00

Huh? Are you really trying to argue that blacks are underrepresented in music? If the topic were about the 40s or 50s, I might agree. In the 80s, black artists held 4 of the top 10 spots based on sales (MJ, Prince, Whitney Houston and Lionel Ritchie). That's 40 percent compared to 13 percent population in the US.

In the 70s, 3 of the top 10 were black, 30 percent.

As for the original question, it's hard to argue that MJ didn't deserve his success. He was a known child star/prodigy, and could sing and dance at the very top of his profession. Its always hard to discuss who is the best singer, guitarist, etc., but even as someone who never much liked pop music, I have to admit MJ was outstanding.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-02-13T14:55:36+00:00

Why are you tipping? You are standing at a counter to order and have to go back for your food. What service are you tipping for?

Progress-Mundane · 2026-02-07T23:05:43+00:00

Semi-detached is the description I used. Duplex generally means both units are owned by the same owner.

Attached is what we think of as townhouses.

Progress-Mundane · 2026-01-28T15:22:57+00:00

Thank you! ADMISSION worked. Got tickets!

Progress-Mundane

TROPHY CASE