Three Qualifications to Look For in a Real Estate Expert Witness

Real estate feuds are all too common in the US. They may arise due to poor planning, breach of contract, and often need to be resolved in court. For this, you may need an expert real estate witness.
What are a few things to look out for when hiring an expert witness for your case? Let’s take a look.

Knowledge of the local market

Each neighborhood can have its own set of zoning laws and regulations covering residential and commercial properties. When hiring an expert witness for your case, you need to make sure that they are knowledgeable about the local rules and regulations relevant to your case.

Let’s say that the expert witness you’re interested in lives and worksin Dallas. Your matter, however, is based in Chicago, and you need appraisal expert services in your city. In this case, it’s imperative that your expert witness is knowledgeable of the Chicago, Illinoismarket
Unless the expert witness has competency in the subject’s market, they will be opening themselves up to criticism or even removed from the case as an expert. For their testimony to be credible, they should be competent in the subject’s market.

Experience in Real Estate

Experience is yet another quality you should look out for. The more experienced an expert witness is, the more credible their testimonywill be. An appraised with years of experience should have a greater knowledge of industry trends and standards. Consequently, they’d be able to present a more credible opinion.

Experience doesn’t only include the number of years an expert witness has under their belt, however. It encompasses the number of years they’ve spent working in a specialized field. In this case, it refers to the experience they have working in real estate. 

Ability to Provide Relevant Documentation & Statistical Support

Finally, a real estate expert witness should be able to back up their conclusions and opinions with a credible report. A qualified expert witness will have no trouble presenting documentation that supports their claims, and may even be able to obtain information that you may not have access to. Their insights and explanations will be based on these documents.

They must also possess the ability to read and analyze complex texts presented in court by the opposing party. Property valuations, appraisal reviews, and investment analyses are just a few things an expert witness should be able to decipher and discuss.
Need a real estate expert witness for your case in West Virginia? Contact Jason D Koontz today for his independent expert witness consulting services.  If you need a USPAP compliance review, he offers those services across the nation, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia! Also, as a former banker, he can offer banking expert witness services.