O'Connor Appraisal Sarafin 7-12-21
Real Estate Appraisals - Consultation - Market Analysis
July 12, 2021
Ms. Kristin DeBoer
Executive Director
Kestrel Land Trust
P.O. Box 1016
Amherst, MA 01004
RE: Sarafin Property – Chesterfield Road – Northampton and Westhampton, MA
File No. 6538
Dear Ms. DeBoer:
In accordance with our agreement, I have conducted an appraisal of the above captioned
property owned by Joan C. Sarafin located on the north side of Chesterfield Road in
Northampton and Westhampton, MA. It is comprised of several parcels identified in the
Northampton and Westhampton municipal records as follows:
The appraised parcel contains 221 acres +/- according to municipal records which excludes
a small parcel along Chesterfield Road including an older barn which will be transferred
to an abutter.
The purpose of this appraisal is to provide an opinion of market value for the property as
of June 30, 2021. The client for whom the appraisal was prepared is Kestrel Land Trust
who is also the intended user. The interest appraised includes all rights, title, and interest
in and on the property held by the owner as encumbered in the outstanding deeds and as
noted herein. It is considered equivalent to the fee simple interest. The property was
inspected in detail on June 28, 2021 in the company of Mr. David Murphy of The Murphys
Realtors in Northampton, MA representing the owner and again on June 30, 2021.
Town Assessors Map Reference Land Area
Northampton Map 14‐2‐1 4.57 Ac
Map 14‐1‐7 12.04 Ac
Map 14‐1‐8 26.02 Ac
Westhampton Map 12‐18 179.62 Ac
Total 221.63 Ac
48 Franklin Street ◊ P.O. Box 1211 ◊ Westfield, MA 01086-1211 ◊ Telephone (413) 562-5096
O'Connor Real Estate Associates, Inc.
O'CONNOR REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES, INC.
Ms. Kristin DeBoer -2- July 12, 2021
It is understood that this letter is intended to be used by the client as the basis for possible
acquisition of the property and is not intended for any other use. This letter constitutes an
appraisal report and has been prepared in accordance with the Uniform Standards of
Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
Summary of Facts and Conclusions
Appraisal Prepared For (Client) Kestrel Land Trust
Intended User Kestrel Land Trust
Property Location N/S Chesterfield Road
Northampton and Westhampton, MA
Land Area 221 Acres +/-
Name and Address of Owner Joan C. Sarafin
50 Village Hill, Apt #307
Northampton, MA 01060
Appraisal Prepared By Robert J. O’Connor, MAI
O’Connor Real Estate Associates, Inc.
48 Franklin Street
P.O. Box 1211
Westfield, MA 01086
Interest Appraised All rights, title and interest held by the owner which
is considered equivalent to the fee simple interest
Highest and Best Use Continued residential use of existing dwelling and
residential development of remaining land into
home sites utilizing existing road frontage
Date of Report July 12, 2021
Effective Date of Appraisal June 30, 2021
Hypothetical Conditions None
Extraordinary Assumptions No evidence of any soil contamination or hazardous
waste materials was noted at the time of inspection.
However, the appraiser is not qualified to make that
O'CONNOR REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES, INC.
Ms. Kristin DeBoer -3- July 12, 2021
termination and if such contamination is found to
exist, the value estimates contained herein are
subject to change
Purpose and Intended Use of the Appraisal
The purpose of this appraisal is to provide an opinion of market value 1 for the property as
of June 30, 2021. This definition assumes a reasonable exposure time in the open market.
Reasonable exposure time is defined as "the length of time that the property interest being
appraised would have been offered on the market prior to the hypothetical consummation
of a sale at market value on the effective date of the appraisal".2 Reasonable exposure time
is estimated at approximately 1-3 months.
Intended User(s)
Kestrel Land Trust
Intended Use
It is understood that this letter is intended to be used by Kestrel Land Trust as the basis for
possible acquisition of the property. It is not intended for any other use.
Scope of Work
The scope of work related to this project included the following:
• A detailed field inspection of the subject parcels was conducted on June 28, 2021 in the
company of Mr. David Murphy representing the owner and again on June 30, 2021.
Items noted during the inspection included access, vegetation, topography, land use, and
apparent wetland areas.
• Research was undertaken at the Northampton and Westhampton municipal offices
regarding the assessment in effect, legal reference for the property, and real estate
transfers occurring during the past several years.
• A field visit was made at various dates in 2021 to each of the comparable sale properties
utilized herein. Copies of deeds for all of these sale properties were obtained, and
mapping was assembled using Assessor’s maps, recorded survey plans, and USGS
topographical maps. The terms of the sales cited in the report were verified with at least
one party directly involved in the transaction.
1 The Appraisal of Real Estate, 15th Edition, Page 48
2 USPAP 2020-2021 Edition, The Appraisal Foundation, Page 4
O'CONNOR REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES, INC.
Ms. Kristin DeBoer -4- July 12, 2021
• In estimating the highest and best use of the property an analysis was made of data
complied including information regarding soils obtained from the Natural Resources
Conservation Service as well as zoning regulations, environmental constraints, and
market factors
• The value of the property is estimated based upon a comparison with sales of similar
properties which were analyzed using the Sales Comparison Approach. The Income and
Cost Approaches are not considered usable since the parcels are vacant.
Identification of Property
Property Owner Joan C. Sarafin
Property Location N/S Chesterfield Road
Northampton and Westhampton, MA
Deed Reference(s) Book 2568, Page 132
Book 2910, Page 99
Zoning – Northampton
Rural Residence and Water Supply Protection overlay district
Zoning – Westhampton
Agricultural-Residential District
Highest and Best Use
Continued residential use of existing dwelling and residential development of remaining
land into home sites utilizing existing road frontage
Valuation Analysis
In estimating the value of the property, the Sales Comparison Approach has been utilized.
Sales of comparable dwellings, and home sites have been analyzed in estimating the value
of the 4.5 acre +/- portion of the property in Northampton containing the existing dwelling.
Sales of acreage home sites have been analyzed in estimating the value of the remaining
land, the highest and best use of which is concluded to be for use as a single acreage home
site. The comparable sale properties are located mainly in Northampton and Westhampton
with a few of them in abutting towns. After considering these sales, along with the
O'CONNOR REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES, INC.
Ms. Kristin DeBoer -5- July 12, 2021
information previously noted, value estimates for the property have been developed and
are summarized as follows:
Dwelling and 4.1 Acres +/-, Northampton $525,000
(Excludes .5 Ac+/- with barn)
Remaining Land - 217 Ac +/- $390,000
Total $915,000
Certification
I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief:
- the statements of fact contained in this report are true and correct.
- the reported analyses, opinions, and conclusions are limited only by the reported
assumptions and limiting conditions, and are my personal, impartial, and unbiased
professional analyses, opinions, and conclusions.
- I have no present or prospective interest in the property that is the subject of this report,
and no personal interest with respect to the parties involved.
- I have performed no services, as an appraiser or in any other capacity, regarding the
property that is the subject of this report within the three year period immediately
preceding the agreement to perform this assignment.
- I have no bias with respect to the property that is the subject of this report or to the parties
involved with this assignment.
- my engagement in this assignment was not contingent upon developing or reporting
predetermined results.
- my compensation for completing this assignment is not contingent upon the development
or reporting of a predetermined value or direction in value that favors the cause of the
client, the amount of the value estimate, the attainment of a stipulated result, or the
occurrence of a subsequent event directly related to the intended use of this appraisal.
- my analyses, opinions, and conclusions were developed, and this report has been
prepared, in conformity with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
- I have made a personal inspection of the property that is the subject of this report.
- no one provided significant real property appraisal assistance to the person signing this
certification.
- the reported analyses, opinions, and conclusions were developed, and this report has been
prepared, in conformity with the Code of Professional Ethics and Standards of
Professional Appraisal Practice of the Appraisal Institute.
- the use of this report is subject to the requirements of the Appraisal Institute relating to
review by its duly authorized representatives.
- as of the date of this report I have completed the continuing education program for
Designated members of the Appraisal Institute.
O'CONNOR REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES, INC.
Ms. Kristin DeBoer -6- July 12, 2021
- this appraisal was not based on a requested minimum valuation or the approval of a loan.
- I am competent and qualified to undertake this appraisal assignment as a result of
previous experience in similar assignments, specialized training and examination,
professional recognition of this training and experience, and research conducted in
preparation for addressing issues inherent in this assignment.
O’CONNOR REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATES, INC.
Date____________________ __________________________________________
Robert J. O’Connor, MAI
Massachusetts License No. 333
Certified General Real Estate Appraiser
7/12/2021
QUALIFICATIONS OF APPRAISER
PERSONAL RESUME AND QUALIFICATIONS
Robert J. O'Connor, MAI
President
O'Connor Real Estate Associates, Inc.
48 Franklin Street, P.O. Box 1211
Westfield, MA 01086
Certified General Real Estate Appraiser
Commonwealth of Massachusetts-License No. 333
EDUCATION: General - Westfield State College, B.S., Business Administration/Economics - 1981-1983
Holyoke Community College, Business Administration - 1979-1981
Real Estate - Successfully completed the following appraisal courses and passed examination
administered by the Society of Real Estate Appraisers/Appraisal Institute
Course 202 - Applied Income Property Valuation - 1986
Course 201 - Principles of Income Property Appraising - 1986
Course 102 - Applied Residential Property Valuation - 1988
Course 101 - Introduction to Appraising Real Property - 1986
USPAP - Part A and Part B - 1992; Part C - 2002
REAL ESTATE
EXPERIENCE: Employed as full-time staff real estate appraiser at O'Connor Real Estate Associates, Inc. from 1983-
1990, as Vice President from 1991-1998, and as President since 1999.
Responsibilities include preparation of fully-documented narrative appraisal reports and review
appraisal reports, as well as consulting assignments over a wide geographical area.
Typical clients served include individuals, attorneys, corporations, lending institutions, and
municipalities, as well as state and federal government agencies including the Department of
Conservation and Recreation, Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Fisheries, Wildlife,
and Environmental Law Enforcement, Division of Capital Asset Management, Metropolitan District
Commission, Department of Revenue, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Division of
Fisheries, and Wildlife, and U.S. Department of Agriculture
Ownership interests appraised include fee simple, leased fee and leasehold estates, life estates,
condominiums, and partial interests including conservation restrictions, agricultural preservation
restrictions, avigation, scenic, and protective easements, right-of-way easements, and utility easements.
Conducted numerous Baseline Monitoring Reports for several state agencies covering properties
encumbered by Conservation Restrictions and Agricultural Preservation Restrictions
QUALIFIED
WITNESS: Superior Court, Hampden County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Superior Court, Berkshire County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Superior Court, Hampshire County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
PROFESSIONAL
MEMBERSHIPS: Appraisal Institute - Massachusetts Chapter
MAI Designation - Member No. 10083
OFFICES HELD: 1987-1990 Chairman, By-Laws Committee
Society of Real Estate Appraisers - Western Massachusetts Chapter #104 1988-1990 Board of Directors
Society of Real Estate Appraisers - Western Massachusetts Chapter #104 1991-1993 Board of Directors
Appraisal Institute - Western Massachusetts Chapter 1994-2000 Treasurer
Appraisal Institute - Western Massachusetts Chapter
APPRAISAL SEMINARS:
American Society of Appraisers
Uniform Standards of Professional Practice - 1991
Appraisal Institute
Annual Conference - Seattle, WA – 1991
Fair Value/What is it and How to Estimate it
Subdivision Analysis
Feasibility and Highest and Best Use
Real Estate Law For Real Estate Appraisers
Landfills and Their Effect Upon Value
Annual Conference - Boston, MA – 1992
Economic Forecast: Insights into National and
Regional Markets
Appraising Conventional Properties
Annual Conference - Reno, NV - 1993
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
Whitmer Seminars
The Comprehensive Appraisal Workshop - 1993
Appraisal Institute
Understanding Limited Appraisals and Reporting
Options-General-1994
Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture
Narrative Appraisal Report Requirements and Farm
Land Valuation Methodology-1994
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.
Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation-1994
Appraisal Institute
Title 5 Seminar-1995
Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Appraisers
Commercial Review Appraising Seminar-1996
Massachusetts Land Trust Conference-1996
Tax Advantages of Conservation Giving
Conservation Restriction Monitoring and Enforcement
Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Appraisers
Attacking and Defending an Appraisal in Litigation-1997
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.
Eminent Domain in Massachusetts-1998
Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Appraisers
Appraisers Use of the Internet - 1998
Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Appraisers
Appraising Complex Residential Properties - 1999
New England Appraisers Expo - 1999
Real Estate Valuation for the Millennium
Untapped Appraisal Resources: Real Estate and
the Internet
Valuation 2000 Annual Conference-2000
The Effect of Wetlands and Other Factors on Rural
Land Values
Determination of Value - What is Fair?
New England Appraisers Expo - 2000
Technology and Valuation
Valuation Trends and Issues in Residential Real Estate
Appraisal Institute
Case Studies in Highest and Best Use Commercial–2000
Appraisal Institute
Partial Interest Valuation - Divided - 2001
Appraisal Institute
Course 11430 - Standards of Professional Practice - 2002
Appraisal Institute
Land Value-Focusing on Open Space and
Conservation - 2003
Reviewing the Reviewer - 2003
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Protecting Land With Conservation Easements -
2003
Appraisal Institute
Uniform Appraisal Standards For Federal Land
Acquisition - 2004
Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Appraisers
USPAP Update Seminar - 2004
Appraisal Institute
National USPAP Update Course - 2005
Vermont Housing and Conservation Board
Appraisals for NRCS Program - 2006
American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers
Appraisal Review Under USPAP (Course A-370) - 2007
Appraisal Review Under Uniform Appraisal Standards for
Federal Land Acquisitions (Course A-380) - 2007
Appraisal Institute
National USPAP Update Course - 2008
Business Practices and Ethics - 2008
Appraisal Institute
National USPAP Update Course – 2009
Appraisal Institute
Valuation for Financial Reporting – 2009
Appraisal Institute
Data Verification Methods – 2011
Appraisal Institute
Business Practices and Ethics - 2011
Appraisal Institute
National USPAP Update Course – 2012
Appraisal Institute
Federal Agencies and Appraisal Program Updates – 2012
Appraisal Institute
National USPAP (2014-2015) Update Course – 2013
Appraisal Institute
Introduction to Green Buildings: Principles & Concepts –
2013
Appraisal Institute
Appraisal Curriculum Overview – General – 2013
Appraisal Institute
Valuation of Conservation Easements-Professional
Development Program – 2015
National USPAP update Seminar – 2016-2017
Appraisal Institute
Business Practices and Ethics – 2017
Appraisal Institute
Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land
Acquisitions – 2017
Appraisal Institute
Appraisal USPAP Update Course – 2017-2018
Appraisal Institute
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Appraisal Practice in
Massachusetts – 2018
Appraisal Institute
Raise Your Appraiser IQ – 2019
Appraisal Institute
Appraisal USPAP Update Course – 2020-2021