RE Workshop - Paper - Akram&Shaddad

Real Estate Appraisal in Sudan: Challenges and Potentials
Akram Elkhalifa1 and Dr. Mohamed Yagoub Shaddad2

1
B.Sc. (Arch), M.Sc. in Real Estate Management (Sweden)
Ph.D Candidate, University of Camerino, Italy akram.elkhalifa@unicam.it & akrelk@uofk.edu
2
Bs.c (Arch.), Dip., M.Sc. (Mang & Building Economics-London), Ph.D (Organization & Mang. of Construction-Manchester)
Dean, Faculty of Architecture, University of Khartoum myshaddad@uofk.edu
Abstract
Nowadays, investment in real estate is a unique investment for a diversity of reasons. The RE investment is characterized
by high risk associated with the relatively high returns. Investment in the sector of real state is more risky in developing
countries, Sudan in not an exception despite the general perception of being safe. Substantial fund is required for investing
in real estate; therefore most of the developing countries find it difficult to establish organized markets for real estate.
Politicians and planners in these countries face difficulties in the allocation and reallocation of funds available for
development required for different sectors in the economy. More attention is drawn to the sector of real estate as tool for
sustainable .development.
Appraisal/valuation has recently been christened as an ‘Emerging Global Profession’. The assessment of real properties
value is crucial to eliminate risks and uncertainties in real estate investment. The political and economical stability, in
addition to the availability, accuracy, and reliability of information are considered key stone in the efficiency of real estate
markets. Most of the developing countries, Sudan is not an exception, face severe problems in getting accurate and
reliable information; if any is available. The absence information sources and knowledge sharing concept makes it
difficult for investors to participate in the real estate market making the real estate appraisal more difficult. Moreover, the
absence of professional institutions and codes of conduct set a barrier in providing a professional appraisal services.
This paper reviews the real estate investment in Sudan and its environment. A special focus is drawn to the practice of real
estate appraisal in Sudan. The Authors provide clear definitions to terms related to the Real Estate Appraisal Process and
the objectives behind Appraisal Process and the most common methods of valuation. The study highlights the challenges
and limitations with which the appraisal practice in Sudan is faced. A general review of the appraisal practice in the global
context help setting guidelines for a more professional practice of real estate appraisal. The study draws some conclusions
and recommendations for the development of the real estate appraisal as a profession.
Keywords: Real Estate Appraisal, Appraiser, Professional Real Estate Appraisal, Real Estate Market
1 Real Estate Investment in Sudan: Potentials and Performance

1.1 Overview
Investment in real estate is characterized by the high risk associated with the relatively high returns. The sector of real state
is more risky in developing countries than it is in other countries in the world. Substantial fund is required for investing in
real estate; therefore most of the developing countries find it difficult to establish organized markets for real estate.
Politicians and planners in these countries face difficulties in the allocation and reallocation of funds available for
development required for in different sectors in the economy. Accordingly, politicians and planners draw more attention for
the sector of real estate. Moreover, real estate investments are long term investments. This fact calls for stability in the
economy, to persuade investors be exposed to the risk associated with investing in real estate. When an economy experience
instability, investors will shift to sector with short term investments. Economy instability contributes to the unattractivty of
investing in real estate.
Availability, accuracy, and reliability of information are considered key stone in the efficiency of real estate markets. Most
of the developing countries face severe problems in getting accurate and reliable information; if any is available. The
absence of accessed and trustful information database makes it difficult for investors to participate in the real state market.
Investments in developing countries are mainly sponsored by the private sector and foreign investor. Availability of
information is crucial for foreign investors to enter any market; therefore, they rarely invest in real estate. Transparency in
getting information facilitates the task of actors in the real estate market in decision making. Transparency is missed in
developing countries, even from governmental authorities; therefore entering the real estate market becomes less attractive.
Planners in developing countries try to solve problems of fund availability by establishing financial firms specialized in
offering fund for real estate. These specialized firms make credible attempts to attract the private sector to invest in real
estate. The private sector, therefore, participate in the real estate market by investing indirectly in it. The firms attract private
sectors capital in exchange to its shares; returns of investing in real estate come in form of dividends to share holders. The
policy of establishing such kind of firms contributes to the attractivety of real estate markets in developing countries.
1.2 Real Estate Market in Sudan

Sudan as one of developing countries experiences the absence of organized real estate market. Many of the above mentioned
reasons are responsible of the absence of organized markets for real estate. The government didn’t show any kind of
encouragement for the private sector to launch the market of real estate. The Sudanese Real Estate Bank (SREB), which was
established in year1967 according to a parliament decision, was the only bank having the right to invest in Real Estate. Some
of the policies and plans might have contributes indirectly to attract private sector to make substantial investment. It’s not till
the beginning of 2000s when private sector invests in this sector. Before that, governmental authorities, firms, and banks
Workshop on Real Estate Appraisal in Sudan, 28-29 June 2009 International Center for Human Capacity Building
where the only actors in the real estate market. Many factors stand behind the entry of private sector into the market, some of
which are:
a. Demand
The increasing demand for real estate from private sector, specially foreign companies and investors, made it more attractive
to enter the market. The performance in the building and construction and its contribution to the GDP represents the general
trend in demand for space. Despite the growth that the construction sector enjoyed during the 1995-2007 (fig-2), the share of
this sector to GDP shows a decreasing pattern (fig-3). The contribution of other growing sectors to GDP was greater than the
construction sector did. The oil sector share to GDP was relatively high resulting in the reduction of other sectors shares. The
increase in the amount spent on construction was caused by oil production; setting the infrastructure for oil production.
ConstructionSector Shares in Amount in GDP Construction Sector (%)Shares In GDP(Year

In Prices(1981-1982)as base year 1981-1982Prices as base year)
1000 6.0%
800 5.0%
Percentage Shares
4.0%
600
Amount
3.0%
400
2.0%
200 1.0%
0 0.0%
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Years
Years
Fig (2): Construction Sector Shares in Amount in Fig (3): Construction Sector (%) Shares in GDP
GDP during 1995-2007(source:CBOS) during 1995-2007(source:CBOS)
Until the near past, most of the buildings, especially residential buildings, were single storey buildings. Costs associate with
horizontal expansion (i.e. infrastructure) calls for vertical expansion in buildings and cities profile. Therefore the demand for
multi storey buildings increased significantly in the last 10 years. Many new projects are under construction, and some are
subject to the approval of the governmental authorities
b. Polices made by the Central Bank of Sudan (CBOS)

It wasn’t allowed for banks other than the Sudanese Real Estate Bank (SREB) to finance real estate investments or
construction projects. Since 2001 CBOS has make it possible for all banks to invest, finance, and trade in real estate
c. Economy Performance
The economy stability that Sudan experienced during the last 7 years made investing in real estate less risky. For instance,
Inflation rates dropped from 121% in 1991 to 8.1% in 2007. The exchange rates tend to be stable on average resulting in a
more attractive environment for investment.
d. Oil Production
Oil started to be produced in large scale since 1997, the government started to build modern oil infrastructure according to
the international standards, this construction movement resulted in higher demand. Many foreign companies invested in oil
production. The need of these companies to build, buy, and rent created new demand in real estate market for residential and
offices space. Private sector was encouraged to enter the market because of high demand and feasibility of investing in real
estate. The real growth that the construction sector experienced in Sudan was negative till the mid 1990s, it became positive
in 1997. The shift from negative to positive growth was a result of the national development projects those were going on
that time such as national roads, bridges housing projects and redeveloping of some projects and infrastructure. After 2000
the amount spent on construction continues to increase because of the entry of foreign companies and investors.
Khartoum, as the biggest city and the capital of Sudan, is witnessing an undeniable boom in its urban context in comparison
to other cities in the Sudan. The majority of construction activities and investment are concentrated in the state of Khartoum
due to the increasing demand for space. It becomes a favorite market for real estate for both local and international investors.
As a part of the Sudanese Real Estate market, the RE Market in Khartoum severely suffers from the lack of accurate,
reliable, and up-to-date information. The residential sector becomes the more favorite sector for investors in real estate, in
means of developing, buying, selling, and renting. The demand for office space has increased, as well, especially after the
mass production of oil in Sudan. The entry of foreign investors acts as a driving force for increasing demand for office and
residential buildings. The demand for other buildings increased as well (i.e., Hotels, multi-purpose halls, restaurants,
shopping centers, etc). The following submarkets represent the most active and growing ones in the RE market in Khartoum;
Residential Real Estate Market

Lately, the real estate market for residential buildings experiences an increasing demand in a way that affects both the
quantity and quality of space. Most of the new construction, to satisfy the demand needs, was carried out in Khartoum
and Khartoum North. All the investments in the residential sectors made targeted mostly the high income groups. The
supply of residential space takes different forms in Khartoum;
2
Real Estate Appraisal in Sudan: Potentials and challenges Akram Elkhalifa & Mohamed Y. Shaddad
• Un-Organized Residential Real Estate; in forms of properties developed/owned by individuals or small investors
put into the market for sale or rent.
• Organized Residential Real Estate; properties developed/owned by specialized investors in the real estate with
substantial investments in forms of big complexes with different types of residential buildings including
Apartments (ownership/rent), Villas, Vacant Land (developed with all basic services)
Real Estate Market for Office and retail

Beside the existing properties in the market, many office and retail complexes are developed recently; some are still
under-construction and expected to enter the market in the near future (i.e, Wahat Al Khartoum,Alsunut Proect, Hamza
Plaza,Burj Al Khartoum, Burj Alitsalat). These projects will shorten the gap between demand and supply if demand is
maintained in same level. Investors are reluctant to enter the market for office building due to the driving forces in the
market that determine the demand. Demand is subject to many factors such as; economical performance, political
stability, investment policies, etc. Most of the demand for office space is concentrated in the city of Khartoum with very
little demand in Khartoum North and Omdurman.
Hotels
Similar to other type of properties, hotels sector experienced and increasing demand recently. The economical
performance and entry of foreign capital is a main force driving demand to increase. Some Hotels enjoy an average
occupancy rate that reaches 100%. The supply of this submarket varies from 5 star hotels to 2 star hotels.
2 Real Estate Appraisal Process in Theory

2.1 Definitions
For the purpose of clearly understanding the appraisal process and its requirement, definitions are required. The
following part provides the key definitions in the profession of real estate practice.
2.1.1 The Real Estate Appraisal

The appraisal is often said to be “an art not a science, but this relates to the techniques employed to calculate value not to the
underlying concept itself (N. French 2007). Appraisal (Valuation) is defined as
“A written justification of the most probable selling price of a property, or a land primarily based on an appraisal
analysis according to the valuation approaches (comparable sales of similar properties or lands near by, Income
capitalization approach, and Cost Approach). To develop an opinion of a certain type of value including;”
• Market value • Taxable Value
• Value-in-use • Investment value
• Insurable value • Business Value
Similar to any process, the process of developing an opinion of value can have the same broad definition of process. It is a
model that can be adapted to a wide variety of questions related to value. According to the Dictionary of Real Estate
Appraisal, Third Edition, 1993, the definition of an Appraisal Process is:
“An analysis, opinion, or conclusion relating to the nature, quality, value, or utility of specified interests in, or aspects
of, identified real estate. (Code of Professional Ethics of the Appraisal Institute). In this usage, appraisals cover a
variety of assignments, including valuation, consulting, and review.”
“The act or process of developing an opinion of value; an estimate of value.”1
The appraisal process begins when the appraiser agrees to get an assignment and ends when the conclusions of the appraisal
are reported to the client. The most common appraisal assignment is performed to render an opinion of market value. The
valuation process contains all steps appropriate to this type of assignments and provides the framework for developing an
opinion of other defined values. The valuation process is accomplished through specific steps. The number of steps followed
depends on the nature of the appraisal assignment and the availability of data. As suggested by the Appraisal of Real Estate
12th edition, the general steps in a valuation process are shown in Fig (1).
2.1.2 Appraiser
An individual or a group qualified by education, training, and experience to estimate the value of real properties and personal
properties. The role of the appraiser is to provide objective, impartial, and unbiased opinions about the value of real
property—providing assistance to those who own, manage, sell, invest in, and/or lend money on the security of real estate.
2.1.3 Appraised value

An opinion of a property's fair market value, based on an appraiser's knowledge, experience, and analysis of the property
1
ASB (USPAP), 2008-2009 edition
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D e f in itio n o f t h e p r o b l e m
I d e n tific a tio n In te n d e d P u rpo se o f D a te o f Id e n tific a tio n o f E x tra o r d in a r y Id e n tific a tio n
of U se o f a p p r a is a l o p in io n c h a ra c te r is tic s o f a s s u m p tio n s of
C lie n t/I n te n d e A p p r a is a l (I n c lu d in g of p ro p e r ty (in c lu d in g C lie n t/In te n d e
d U s e rs d e fin itio n o f v a lu e lo c a tio n & p ro p e rty d U s e rs
v a lu e ) r ig h ts to b e v a lu e d
S co p e o f W ork
D a te C o l le c tio n & P ro p e r ty D e s c ri p t io n
M a rk et A re a D ate S u b je c t P r o p e r t y D a t e C o m p a r a b le P r o p e r t y D a t e
G e n e r a l c h a ra c te ris tic s o f S p e c ific c h a ra c te r is tic s o f la n d & S a le s , lis tin g s , o ffe r in g s , v a c a n c ie s ,
r e g io n , c ity & im p ro v e m e n ts , p e r s o n p ro p e rty , c o s t & d e p r e c ia tio n , in c o m e &
n e ig h b o rh o o d b u s in e s s a s s e ts , ..e tc e x p e n s e s , c a p ita liz a tio n r a te s , … e tc
D a ta A n a l y s is
M a r k e t A n a ly s is H ig h e s t & B e s t U s e A n a ly s is
D e m a n d s tu d ie s S ite a s th o u g h v a c a n t
S u p p ly s tu d ie s Id e a l im p r o v e m e n t
M a rk e ta b ility s tu d ie s P ro p e r ty a s im p ro v e d
L a n d V a lu e O p in i o n
A p p li c a ti o n o f th e A p p r o a c h e s to V a lu e
C ost S a le s C o m p a r is o n Inco m e
C a p it a liz a tio n
R e c o n c i li a ti o n o f V a l u e In d ic a t io n & F in a l O p in io n o f V a lu e
R e p o r t o f D e f in e d V a l u e
Fig (1): The Valuation Process
2.2 Purpose of Appraisal

For any valuation assignment, the appraisal of a property must state clearly the purposes of the valuation, which might be
one of the following:
• Financing • Business mergers or dissolutions
• Mortgage lending purposes • Splitting up the property
• Negotiation between buyers and sellers • Salvage Value Assessment
• Insurance • Liquidation
• Tax assessments and appeals of assessments • Lease negotiations
• Government acquisition of private property for
public use
2.3 Appraisal Approaches

To make an appraisal, is to solve a problem. First, an appraiser must articulate the problem clearly. Next, the facts relevant to
the problem must be assembled and analyzed, and the irrelevancies discarded. Finally, an appraiser must deduce from the
analysis the solution to the problem. One of the synthesis results from the data analysis is the selection of the most reliable
valuation methods to apply on the appraisal of a property. Generally, the purpose of the valuation is paramount to the
selection of the appropriate method to apply. The purpose of the valuation or the requirements of the intended users may call
for a special method to be used. The literature recommends three methods to be employed for the purpose of valuation.
These methods differ significantly in terms of concept and approach; however, all the three methods might draw similar
conclusions. The three approaches to value are; the cost approach, the sales comparison approach, and the income approach,
The next part briefly describes the concept of each appraisal method and its conditions of use and applications.
2.3.1 Cost Approach

One of the 3 major approaches to value estimation. The basic premise of the cost method is that a property will sell at a price
relative to a newly constructed version of itself. Generally people will not pay more for a property than it would otherwise
cost to buy a similar site and build a similar addition upon it. Therefore, under stable market conditions, this approach tends
to set an upper limit to value. Nonetheless, applying this approach is more difficult on some special purpose properties types
such as historic properties; this is a result of many reasons such as:
• The reproduction cost estimate for old buildings is difficult because the constructions methods and materials of old
buildings are no longer available.
• History and extraordinary craftsmanship cannot be built into a replica.
4
• Time distorts the relation between development cost and market value as building technology changes.
• Site value premised on highest and best use is not valid when historic buildings cannot be demolished.
The core idea for this approach is that the value of a property will equal the land value plus cost new after deducting the
depreciation. The Value will be according to the following formula
Vs = L s + C s - D t
Where;
Vs: Property Value; Cs: Cost New of the subject; and
Ls: Land Value of the subject; Dt: Total Depreciation.
2.3.1.1 Land value

Estimating land value is the starting point in the application of the cost approach. When land is improved with a property, it
can be valued as though vacant and the value will be based on the highest and best use analysis conclusions. Similar to the
valuation of any site, the appraiser must take note of any adverse influences and any externalities that affects the value of the
subject facility site depending on the use of the property.
Adverse influences including;
• Poor accessibility to a busy arterial; • Flood hazard areas;
• Heavy industry; • Lack of residence in the area;
• Pollution; • Areas of population decline; and
• Inconsistent land uses; • Areas with use/legal restrictions
Positive attributes including;
• Proximity to traffic patterns (easy entry and exit or light-controlled access to nominally busy streets);
• Recognizable address (easy to find);
• Topography that allows easy construction; and
• Aesthetically pleasing environment.
2.3.1.2 Cost new

A distinction between the two terms of cost new is to be made; reproduction (replication) cost new versus replacement cost.
Reproduction cost new is defined as “The estimated cost of constructing an exact duplicate of the existing improvements at
today’s costs”2. Replacement cost is defined as “The estimated cost of constructing, at current prices, a building with
equivalent utility”3. Using one of these two approaches in estimating cost new depends on the property characteristics and its
age. Using reproduction cost may be misleading for old properties that are built in excessive building standards or with
unusual materials because building standards may have changed and labor and/or materials are simply not available to
reproduce the facility. For newer facilities such a distinction may not be required where reproduction cost and replacement
cost are often the same. The purpose of the appraisal may determine which of the cost new approaches to be used. As the
appraisal for insurance purposes might specially request reproduction or replacement cost.
The first step in the cost approach to be taken in the estimation of the cost new is a careful inspection of the subject property.
There are many sources of cost new; the most common sources are actual cost and cost comparables which are described
below;
a. Actual cost
Actual cost is considered as the best indication of the total cost or cost new of a facility assuming that the construction is
relatively new and that no donated labor or materials were available during the construction. When using this approach, it is
important to determine that all the cost components taken into consideration. Different estimating techniques are used to
estimate the cost of new building (J. Demkin, 2002); each one of the estimating techniques has its advantages and
disadvantages; such a fact adds to the risks and uncertainties of the appraisal these techniques include;
• Single unit rate method includes,

- Cost per place (Accommodation Units Method); i.e., Cost/bed (hospitals), cost/seat (theatres)
- Cost per space (Area and Volume Method) including;
Square Meter (Foot) Method
Cubic Meter (Foot) Method
- Functional (Used) Area Method; i.e., Cost/ office sq meter (foot), Cost/corridor sq meter (foot)
- Surface (Storey) enclosure Method; i.e., Cost/ external wall sq meter (foot), Cost/roof sq meter (foot)
• Quantity survey method-Master-format
This method involves detailed calculation of all the components necessary to construct a building, followed by the
price of each component.
• Elemental (Assemblies and subsystems method) Method
An approach that falls between the single unit method and details quantity survey method involves measuring basic
building systems or elements.
When applying this method it is important to ensure that the costs provided are of the same date, otherwise adjustments are
required for old prices and costs depending on cost and price indices which show how are costs and prices changed during a
given period of time. The best providers of actual cost new are contractors and architects.
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The Appraisal of Religious Facilities
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The Appraisal of Religious Facilities
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b. Cost comparables
Similar to the concept of the sales comparison approach, the cost comparables method indicates that the cost new of a
facility will be derived from the cost new of similar facilities. This method is used also as an excellent check on the
reasonableness of other methods of developing cost new. Applying this approach implies that a careful analysis is needed to
identify the facilities that are similar to the subject; otherwise the whole valuation will be misleading. The appraiser task is to
pick the most similar facilities to the subject and carefully analyze the data provided for each of the comparables such as
items included in the cost, additional features, and whether it is built by donated labor or materials. Relying on cost
comparables is conditional to:
• Confirmation and reliability of comparables costs • Similarities in sites characteristics
• Similarity of comparables • Similarity in construction time for comparables
According to this method the cost of a subject religious property (When using cost/area as a unit of comparison) will be
according to the following formulas:
C s = Cc a * A s
Where;
Cs: Cost new of subject property; Cca: Average cost of comparables per square meter; and
As: Area of subject property.
2.3.1.3 Depreciation
After estimating the land value and cost new for a subject property, the next step in the valuation process is to estimate the
depreciation. Depreciation (deviation from the ideal) is defined as “A loss in property value from any cause; the difference
between reproduction or replacement cost of an improvement on the effective date of the appraisal and the market value of
the improvement on the same date”4. Depreciation may be curable (where the value gained is greater than or equal to the
cost to repair) or incurable (where the cost to repair exceeds the value gained). There are three forms of depreciation are:
• Physical deterioration (deviation from a new condition);
• Functional obsolescence (deviation from ideal design); and
• External obsolescence (a determent to the property from external influence)
The formula for depreciation is as follow:
Dt = Dp + Df + De
Where;
Dt: Total estimated depreciation; Df: Estimated depreciation due to functional obsolescence; and
Dp: Estimated physical depreciation; De: Estimated depreciation due to external influences
Consequently, the formula of a subject property value becomes as follow:
Vs = L s + C s - D p - D f - D e
2.3.2 The Sales Comparison Approach

The second approach to value that can be applied in the appraisal of a property is the sales comparison approach. The main
concept behind this approach is that the value of the subject property is derived from properties similar to the subject that are
sold in the market. This concept is based on the definition of market value “The most probable price, as of specified date, or
in terms equivalent to cash, or in other precisely revealed terms, for which a specified property rights should sell after
reasonable exposure in a competitive market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale, with the buyer and seller each
acting prudently, knowledgeably, and for self interest, and assuming that neither is under undue duress”5.
Data about the subject property and comparable sales is to be available, valid, and reliable to reach a reliable opinion of
value. The appraiser needs to know the characteristics of both the subject and the comparables. Usually, this is neglected
because it is time consuming. In addition to the typical information gathered in the sales comparison approach for any type
of properties (i.e., date of sale, buyer/seller, conditions of the sale, land area, built area, total area zoning …etc), it is
recommended that the land value to be extracted from each of the sales in order to be able to compare the contributory to
value of the improvements. By doing so, most locational adjustments are eliminated by assuming that land value accounts
for the quality of the location and land-to-building ratios are accounted for, as are variances in sites and value.
2.3.2.1 Units of comparison

To organize the data, an appraiser selects common denominator or units of comparison, that apply to the appraised property
and comparables and which will allow these properties to be compared. The most common unit of comparison that is used
for most property types is the price per square meter. For some of the special properties where the areas of the comparables
may differ significantly, other units of comparison may be used.
2.3.2.2 Adjustments
After collecting all the required data about the subject and its comparables, the following step is to analyze the sales and
adjust their prices for any differences between the subject and its comparables. To account for vastly different physical
facilities, amenities, quality, and location, it is necessary for the appraiser to take a broader view of the comparability of the
sales. Adjustments are to be done for the conditions of the sale, financing terms, market conditions, size, quality, building
condition, and location.
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The appraisal of Real Estate 12th Edition
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The appraisal of Real Estate 12th Edition
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a. Conditions of the sale

Conditions of the sale tend to be unique for some facilities; often when a buyer, that needs to expand or contract its facility,
finds “exactly what he needs”, he will be willing to pay significantly more than anyone in the market. This condition of the
sale is difficult to determine and typically shows up as an aberrated sale price. The sale price should be adjusted by taking
out the additional amount a buyer paid in excess of its land and depreciated value.
b. Financing
Comparable sale should be adjusted for any differences in terms of financing. These terms include insufficient down
payments, a below market interest rate, and any specific terms for the loan to buy the facility. The appraiser needs to
investigate how each of the comparable sales was financed and analyze the terms and the conditions of the loan to calculate
cash equivalency adjustments.
c. Market Conditions (time)

Usually, it is difficult to find comparable sales over a reasonable period of time. According to this fact and due to the change
in the market conditions from time to time, adjustments for a sale price is required. The sale prices should be adjusted for
any changes in the market conditions from the sale date to the valuation date.
d. Location
Improvements in a superior location often contribute more than a similar facility in an undesirable location. By eliminating
the land value from the sale, location is typically accounted for in most cases. Adjustments for any differences in locational
attributes are required when the value is not eliminated from the sale price.
e. Size
A typical rule of thumb is that larger facilities generally sell for less per square meter than equally similar smaller facilities.
Therefore, size adjustments for different facilities are required when difference in size among these facilities exist.
f. Quality
An appraiser should make adjustments in the sale price for any differences in the quality of construction between the subject
and its comparables.
g. Age/ Condition (Total depreciation)

When selecting comparable sales for the subject property, it is important to pick the most similar ones to the subject in terms
of the building condition. Adjustments are needed for any differences in the conditions of the comparables. All physical
depreciation, functional obsolescence, and external obsolescence would be included. Therefore, this adjustment compares
the contributory to value of improvements of the sales to that of the subject.
2.3.2.3 Applying the Method Using the Area

After adjusting the sale prices to any dissimilarity between the subject and its comparables and selecting a unit of
comparison, the appraiser will be able to reach an opinion of value for the subject facility based on the sales prices of its
comparables. The most common method that is used in the appraisal of different properties within the sales comparison
approach is the area method. This method implies that the market value of the subject facility will be according to the
following formula indicating that the value of the subject property will be the area of subject multiplied by the average price
from the comparable sale;
N
Pi / Ai
Vs = As * ∑
i =1 N
Where;
Vs: Estimated value of the subject facility. Ai: Area of comparable sale “i”.
As: Area of the subject facility. N: Number of comparables.
Pi: Price of comparable sale “i”.
2.3.3 Income Capitalization Method (Income Approach)

One of the 3 major approaches to value estimation. It is based on the idea that a property’s ability to generate net income
creates value. That is, a future net income stream commands a price in the market place for which there are buyers and
sellers. This relationship can be expressed as follows:
I
Vs =
R
Where:
Vs = value of the property or investment
I = net income generated over a given time period, usually per year
R = rate of return, capitalization rate, usually per year
So, in order to estimate value by way of the Income Approach, two components need to be established: annual net income
and rate of return. Of course, since it is a simple equation, as long as any two components are known, the third can be
calculated. Despite its simplicity, the application of the income approach is quiet difficult in practice; the method is based on
future projections for income, costs, and rates of return which seems not to be an easy task.
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3 The Practice of Real Estate Appraisal in Sudan

3.1 Appraisal Practice Potentials
The six basic types of real estate, residential, retail, office, industrial, land, and special purpose properties (J. Creedy & N. F.
Wall 1979), form the submarkets of RE market in the Sudan. The absence of organized RE market makes each one of these
submarkets performs solely. No professional or common institutions bring the actors in the RE market and its submarket
together. Knowledge and information sharing is an absent concept that dominates the investment environment in the Sudan.
No doubt, the establishment of organized and a healthy market for real estate depends on information availability, accuracy
and reliability. Investors and actors in the RE market in Sudan are reluctant to share information.
Appraisal is, usually, carried out, by architects and engineers through engineering companies or engineering departments in
banks, companies, organization, etc. Most those who are responsible for the appraisal of RE in Sudan rely on the cost
approach as a method of valuation. Moreover, the area method is the only method employed for the cost approach to develop
an opinion of value in, almost, all the appraisal tasks. Each property type has its unique characteristics that differentiate it
from other types of real estate; consequently, different methods of appraisal should be applied for different types of real
estate. For instance, the income approach is more suitable for income generating properties than other approaches to value.
The sales comparison approach is more convenient for properties that are frequently sold in the market. Appraisers might
employ more than one approach to develop an opinion of value for a property; other methods serve as a check for the main
method employed.
The absence of organized RE market and lack of reliable and accurate information contributes significantly to the limitation
of professional use of the three approaches to value. For instance, without accurate and reliable information about rents and
rates of return the application of the income approach becomes impossible. Brokers, buyers, and sellers are reluctant to
reveal the information they obtain about sale prices and conditions to other parties, therefore, the sales comparison approach
won’t be reliable if used. Following are the recommended appraisal method to be applied for each type of properties.
Property Type Recommended method of valuation

Land Sales Comparison
Residential Income Approach, Sales Comparison
Retail Income Approach, Cost Approach
Industrial Income Approach, Cost Approach
Special Purpose Properties* Cost Approach
*Special purpose properties includes; Educational Facilities, Health Care Facilities, Recreational Facilities, and Social
Facilities (i.e., clubs, museums, mosques, churches, libraries etc). For this kind of properties which are rarely sold in the
market and are not classified as income generators, the cost approach is the most appropriate, although applied with some
difficulty. Additional values may be added to the property value such as historical traditional, cultural and religious values.
Usually the cost method is employed in the appraisal process in Sudan. Market information about construction cost is
paramount to the process since it provides the cost of developing similar properties; Appraiser used to gets this information’s
from the actors in the construction market (architectures, contractors, constructors’ managers, etc). Appraisers use the Final
opinion of value for the property subject to valuation as the basis of appraisal fees estimation. Different factors influence the
value of developed properties, the most important factors that Appraisers put into consideration when appraising a property
are:
• Type of ownership • Building Condition
• Location • Landscaping
• Plot Area • Property Specific Amenities
• Built Area • Services (Electricity, Water Supply, Sanitary…etc)
• Quality of Construction
3.2 Limitations, Challenges, Risks and Uncertainties
The environment surrounding real estate investment and valuation practice as discussed before gives rise to particular
limitations and challenges that appraiser faces when applying conventional valuation methods in accordance to the
international standards and provisions. Many factors stand as barriers in the professional practice of real estate appraisal;
these factors add more risks and uncertainties to the appraisal process and its conclusions. Hereafter are some of the factors
that add to risks and uncertainties in the appraisal of real estate;
a. Market Identity
The real estate market in Sudan is fragmented and unorganized, no organizations or institutes gather the actors in the
market. This fact hampers any attempts to develop the sector of real estate despite its importance to the nation’s
development. Transferred knowledge from other countries experience will be beneficiary as a first step towards a
professional practice.
b. Absence of Professional Institutes

Due to the absence of organizations or institutes that govern the professional practice of appraisers, it is quiet difficult
to improve or develop the performance of the profession. It’s high-time to establish a professional body that cover all
the actors in the real estate industry with other bodies based on specialization. Such Institutes will set the guide lines for
the professional practice and its standards; it will specify the minimum requirements to qualify as an appraiser.
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c. Information
Without up-to-date, accurate, and reliable information pool all the efforts to develop the profession will be in vain. The
lack of data is the first barrier in carrying out a professional appraisal task in Sudan. Absence of transparency,
information providers, studies, and research in the field of appraisal and related fields justify the lack of information.
Brokers are considered a main source of information, however in Sudan, a perception about not trusting information
provided by brokers dominates. The absence of professional or trained brokers justifies such a perception. Generally
speaking, brokerage in Sudan is a job for a person who doesn’t have one.
d. Type and Assurance of Ownership

It is quiet common that valuation tasks are carried out and final opinions of value are developed according to
information provided by clients. A client may provide the appraiser with false information or fraud certificates.
Appraisers have limited accessibility to information that proves the ownership of a property to a prospect client.
Moreover, a client might provide valid certificates regarding the ownership of the subject property, however, orients the
appraiser to a different property during the inspection visit. Provision of invalid and misleading information put the
appraisal under questioning and adds more risks and uncertainties to the appraisal process
e. Legislations and professional practice rules and codes of conduct

Legislations, rules, and codes of conduct that controls the appraisal profession are completely absent in Sudan. Beside
the establishment of professional institutes, legislations that organize the profession should be developed, maintained
and revised regularly. Binding acts and rules are required to specify the role of the appraiser and his/her performance.
f. Education and Training

Most of the appraisal tasks are carried out by architects and/or engineers who gain the knowledge through experience
solely. Not a single university or institute provides any special academic programs regarding the real estate appraisal or
even has such a specialization in its organizational structure. Without an academic knowledge or specialization, the
accuracy and reliability of appraisals will be questionable. It doesn’t matter who carries out the appraisal task once
he/she has the basic knowledge, education, and training to perform such a task.
g. Research and Studies

Similar to other professions, research and studies are keystones in the development of the appraisal profession.
Research on real estate market performance, economy, policies, and appraisal practice are crucial to the development
and sustainability of the appraisal profession which lack such activities.
h. Political and Economical Instability

Political stability and economical performance are driving forces for the best performance in any market; real estate
market is not an exception. Stability in the economy performance judges on the reliability of the appraisal since some
appraisal methods relies on projections of the economical performance and market trends. The more stable the
economical performance, the easier becomes the task of an appraiser.
i. Planning
The lack of strategic planning and continuous change of planning decisions and regulations is an avoidable risk that
face the real estate market in general and the profession in specific. Usually, the appraiser bases his analysis to draw an
opinion of value considering the planning laws, regulations, and proposed growth and extensions. Changing of plans in
an unpredictable manner adds significantly to risks and certainties of the appraisal.
j. Corruption
Corruption fell into many principal categories; i.e., embezzlement of public funds, and investment in the mercantile
sphere. The most common ways of embezzling public funds are; acquiring liquid assets from banks or government
agencies, selling the state's assets, selling state land, and smuggling. Overestimation of property value for the purpose of
getting bank loans form the most common way of corruption, furthermore bank loans might be made to businessmen
whose business is fictitious. Selling real estate in at below the market price is another form of corruption.
k. Quality of Property Structure

When an appraiser inspects a property for appraisal, he/she observes the general condition of the property; some unseen
elements aren’t count for. Highly reputative structural firm, having special interest in repair and maintenance, reported
that about 90% of the building projects reviewed by the firm were critically defective. Such a fact adds more risks and
uncertainties to the appraisal task and thus the final opinion of value reached.
l. Methods of appraisal
Most the appraisers rely extensively on the cost approach as a method of appraisal. To reach a reliable market value of a
property using such an approach, a huge amount of data is required to be collected and analyzed. The absence of
transparency and the lack of information put the conclusions that an appraiser draws to questioning. Moreover, the cost
approach method might not be viable for all the property types. For income generating properties, for instance, income
approach might be more suitable to be employed. Limitations in and challenges of the professional application of the
three methods in Sudan are shown below;
9
Method of Valuation Limitations of application in Sudan

Sales Comparison • Sales data aren’t available and/ or reliable
• No formal source or channels of data collection
• Buyer, sellers, and brokers are reluctant to reveal information about prices, sales conditions, … etc
• Sales prices tend to be irrational
• Brokers intestinally tend to overestimate a property when selling and underestimate a property
when buying
• Difficulties in selecting comparable properties
• No common criteria to agree upon for selecting comparables
Income Approach • Market data aren’t available and/ or reliable (i.e., rents, rates of return, maintenance and operating
costs…etc)
• Investors used to provide false information about income and costs
• Investors are reluctant to reveal and/or share their income information
• Owners are reluctant to reveal and/or share their information about leases and their conditions
• Difficulties in developing future predictions and projections due to the instability of the RE
market, continuing changing policies, and the unclear, (if any) strategic plans
Cost Approach • Unavailability of up- to-data (costs of construction)

• Contractors are reluctant to provide information about actual costs of construction
• Owners of similar properties are reluctant to reveal information about actual costs of construction.
• Difficulties in estimating depreciation
3.3 The needs of Appraisal profession in Sudan given its Potentials
For the purpose of improving the performance of the appraisal practice and the real estate market in Sudan, organizing
the profession is the first step towards perfection and the highest efficiency.
• Establishment of Professional Institutes

Establishment of professional institutes which take responsibility of;
- Setting the standards of the profession
- Specifying the role and responsibilities of appraisers
- Setting the rules and professional codes of conduct
- Provision of academic knowledge, educational programs, and training to the prospect appraisers
- Enhancement of the research and scientific studies in the field of real estate investment, finance and appraisal to
open the way for the field to be more attractive..
- Held workshops, conferences and seminars to develop and improve the profession
-
• Establishment of Information Pool
Building information database will make it possible for appraisers to apply all the professional scientific
techniques in appraisal process, because all the tasks in real estate field such as real estate finance analysis, real
estate investment analysis, real estate market analysis and appraisal depend mainly on the availability, accuracy of
the information and the transparency of the real estate sector. Through an information pool, the appraiser can get
use of some or all the information that is available in this database and come out with a market value of the subject
property within a short period of time. Such a data base could be updated regularly. The sales information could be
collected through different channels (i.e., government authorities, buyers, seller, brokers, investors …etc). New
regulations regarding the registration and authentication of properties ownership certificates will be an effective
tool for collecting data about sales in the RE Market. The information pool might include data on
General Data including;
• Macro-Economic indicators statistics • Capital market indicators
• Demographic statistics • Prices of shares and bonds
• The general trends in the Sudanese markets • Legislations
Real Estate Specific Data including;

• The Urban growth • Market Preference
• Demand and supply statistics • Prices of recently and old (if possible) sold
• Trends in the RE Market properties (vacant land/ improved)
Sales Data: detailed description of the recently sold properties in the market including;
• Price • Type of construction
• Location • Date of construction
• Area • Rehabilitations
• Building to area ratio • Conditions of the sale
• Type of the property • The purpose of the sale
• Quality of construction • The date of the sale
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• Inter and Intra-Industry Relationships

Encourage appraisers and appraisal companies to build strong relationship with active actors in real estate market,
both locally and internationally, such as real estate companies and real estate agencies to co-operate with to
improve the real estate sector in Sudan in general and real estate appraisal specifically.
• Appraisal Firms Information Systems

Encourage appraisal firms to build their own information systems to provide all needed information concerning
real estate in Sudan to add more transparency to the Sudanese real estate market which is missed in the current
situation and very important to improve this sector. The creation of a professional data base for real estate market
in Sudan will help appraisers performing their tasks more properly and professionally. Moreover appraisal firms
might have the right to use this database for business purposes; to sell this information in the real estate market to
companies, real estate agencies and clients.
• Knowledge and Technology Transfer

Learn the lessons from the experience of the real estate sectors in developed countries and their systems to transfer
these experiences in building real estate information systems and organized real estate market regulations,
appraisal process guidelines and all what is related to the real estate sector
• Total Quality Management: Performance Analysis for Development:

It’s highly required to encourage appraisal firms to employ total quality management system for the sake of the
profession and firms. Appraisal firms might employ process modeling tools for the purpose of analyzing the
process of RE Appraisal. IDEF06 models, for instance, clearly describe how a system of a RE Appraisal company
works. The authors (2004) developed a model for the theoretical appraisal process, another model for the appraisal
process at a Swedish Company was developed as well. The theoretical appraisal process could act as a benchmark
for companies that seek development and improvement of performance. A. Abdelmagid (2006) employed the
theoretical model developed by (A. Elkhalifa 2004) to propose a similar one for the SREB. Such models show
what a system does right and what it does wrong. The models developed by the authors (2004) are attached in the
Appendix.
4 Real Estate Appraisal in a Global Context

Valuation/appraisal has recently been christened as an ‘Emerging Global Profession’. This suggests that there is an
upcoming process of world-wide integration of professional valuation and appraisal practice. A huge potential of benefits to
those in the valuation and appraisal profession would be offered by this development. The professionals stand to gain from
new markets opened by cross-border practice (K. Ndungu et al 2002).
The social and economic environment in which real estate appraisal is performing is undergoing major changes, including
real estate securitization, and increasing cross-border transaction. It is generally recognized in developed countries that the
uniformity of real estate appraisal standards is very important in terms of the infrastructure supporting real estate markets, a
lesson that has been learned through severe market cycles including bubbles and subsequent bursts (T. Watanabe 2008).
The following part identifies the characteristics of the existing laws, appraisal standards, guidance notes, and guidelines
which underline the appraisal system in a global context.
4.1 UK- RICS

In the UK, real estate appraisal is known as property valuation and a real estate appraiser is a land valuer or property valuer
(usually a qualified chartered surveyor who specializes in property valuation). Property valuation in the UK is regulated by
the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS, founded in 1881), a professional body encompassing all of the building
and property-related professions. The RICS professional guidelines for valuers are published in the RICS Appraisal and
Valuation Standards, commonly known as the Red Book. While based in the UK, RICS is a global organization and has
become very active in the US in recent years.
4.2 Japan- JARA

The Japanese Association of Real Estate Appraisal, established in 1965, is the only certified association and is regulated by
the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism. The Real Estate Appraisal Act of 1963 established a legal
and administrative framework for appraisal, which plays an important role in contributing to appropriate pricing in the real
estate market by providing the market with information about property values by authorized professionals such as Licensed
Real Estate Appraisers (LREAs). In addition, various standards were unified in the Japanese Real Estate Appraisal
Standards of 1964. In Japan, only appraisals performed by an LREA in accordance with the Japanese Real Estate Appraisal
Standards are permitted.
6
Integration Definition for Function Modeling (IDEF0): a method that is designed to model the decisions, actions, and activities of an
organization or system
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4.3 Malaysia
The Valuers are governed by The Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents under provision of Valuers, Appraisers
and Estate Agents Act 1981. Its primary function is to regulate the Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents practicing in
Malaysia.
4.4 Real Estate Appraisal Practice– USA Experience

4.4.1 The Appraisal Foundation
Appraisal practice in the US is regulated by the various states; all the states are demanded to develop systems for licensing
and certifying real estate appraisers. The Appraisal Foundation, a private nonprofit corporation, was established under the
Federal Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) of 1989. It is composed of eight major appraisal
organizations including the Appraisal Institute (founded 1930). Other leading appraisal organizations include the American
Society of Appraisers, National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers, and the National Association of Master
Appraisers, Massachusetts Board of Real Estate Appraisers (MBREA, founded in 1934). The Appraisal Foundation, through
the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB), has developed and administered uniform appraisal standards called the Uniform
Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and Advisory Opinions (USPAP). These standards apply to appraisal services
to be performed with professionalism, independence, fairness, and objectivity on the part of appraisers. The standards gain
legal force when they are invoked in federal and state legislation and administrative matters, and in private appraisal
contracts. The USPAP include the following standards;
STD 1: Real Property Appraisal, Development STD 6: Mass Appraisal, Development and Reporting
STD 2: Real Property Appraisal, Reporting STD 7: Personal Property Appraisal, Development
STD 3: Appraisal Review, Development, and Reporting STD 8: Personal Property Appraisal, Reporting
STD4: Real Property Appraisal Consulting, Development STD 9: Business Appraisal, Development
STD 5: Real Property Appraisal, Consulting, Reporting STD 10: Business Appraisal, Reporting
In addition to Statements on Appraisal Standards, the ASB also issues Advisory Opinions. This type of communication by
the ASB does not establish new standards or interpret existing standards. Advisory Opinions do not constitute legal opinions
of the ASB. Advisory Opinions are issued to illustrate the applicability of appraisal standards in specific situations and to
offer advice from the ASB for the resolution of appraisal issues and problems. Each Advisory Opinion is labeled to its
applicability to the various appraisal disciplines. The abbreviations are
• Real Property- RP • Intangible Property-IP (includes Business Interests)
• Personal Property- PP • All Disciplines-ALL
To date the ASB has approved 32 Advisory Opinions for general distribution as shown below7;
AO-1. Sales History (RP)
AO-2. Inspection of Subject Propert Real Estate (RP, PP)
AO-3. Update of a Prior Appraisal (ALL)
AO-4. Standards Rule 1-5 (b) (RP)
AO-5. Assistance in the Preparation of an Appraisal- Retired
AO-6. The Appraisal Review Function- Retired
AO-7. Marketing Time Opinions (RP, PP)
AO-8. Market Value vs Fair Value in RP Appraisal- Retired
AO-9. The Appraisal of RP that may be impacted by environment contamination (RP)
AO-10. The appraiser- Client Relationship
AO-11. Content of the Appraisal Report Options of Standard Rule (RP, PP)
AO-12. Use of the Appraisal Reort Options of Standard Rules
AO-13. Performing Evaluations of RP Collateral to conform with USPAP (RP)
AO-14. Appraisal for Subsidized Housing (RP)
AO-15. Using the Departure Rule in developing a limited appraisal
AO-16. Fair Housing Laws and Appraisal with Proposed Improvements (RP)
AO-17. Appraisals of RP with proposed improvements (RP)
AO-18. Use of an Automated Valuation Model (AVM) (ALL)
AO-19. Unacceptable Assignment Conditions in RP Appraisal Assignment (RP)
AO-20. An Appraisal Review Assignment that includes the Reviewr’s own opinion of value (ALL)
AO-21. USPAP Compliance (ALL)
AO-22. Scope of Work in Market Value Appraisal Assignment (RP)
AO-23. Identifying the relevant characteristics of the subject property of RP Appraisal Assignment (RP)
AO-24. Normal Course of Business (RP, PP)
AO-25. Clarification of the client in a federally related transaction (RP)
AO-26. Readdressing (transferring) a report to another Party (ALL)
AO-27. Appraising the same property for a new Client (ALL)
AO-28. Scope of Work Decision, Performance, and Disclosure (ALL)
AO-29. An Acceptable Scope of Work (ALL)
AO-30. Appraisals for use by a federally regulated Financial Institution (RP)
AO-31. Assignments involving more than one Appraiser (ALL)
AO-32. Property Tax Appraisal and Mass Assignments (RP, PP)
7
ASB (USPAP), 2008-2009 edition
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4.4.2 Required Qualifications of Appraisers

All states require appraisers to be state licensed or certified in order to provide appraisals to federally regulated lenders.
Some states require appraisers to be licensed or certified to provide appraisals for other parties as well. To become licensed
or certified, the appraiser must pass an examination that is administered by the state's appraisal board.
Appraisers who become designated members of the Appraisal Institute have gone beyond these requirements. They have
fulfilled rigorous education and experience requirements and must adhere to strict standards and a code of professional
ethics.
4.4.3 Categories of Real Estate (Real Property) Appraisers

The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) of The Appraisal Foundation is authorized by Congress to establish the
minimum requirements for Certified General Real Property Appraiser and Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser
classifications, and the AQB provides recommended minimum requirements for the Licensed Real Property Appraiser and
Trainee classifications. Descriptions for the four categories can be found below;
Appraiser Trainee:
Someone who is qualified to appraise those properties, which the supervising certified appraiser is qualified to
appraise.*
Licensed Real Property Appraiser

Someone who is qualified to appraise non-complex one to four units having a transaction value less than
$1,000,000 and complex one to four residential units having a transaction value less than $250,000. This
classification does not include the appraisal of subdivisions.*
Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser

Someone who is qualified to appraise one to four residential units without regard to value or complexity. This
classification does not include the appraisal of subdivisions. To be a state certified residential appraiser qualified to
do appraisals for federally related transactions, a state must have requirements that meet or exceed this minimum
standard.
Certified General Real Property Appraiser

Someone who is qualified to appraise all types of real property. To be a state certified general appraiser qualified
to do appraisals for federally related transactions, a state must have requirements that meet or exceed this
minimum standard.
4.4.4 Education- How to become an appraiser

The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) set minimum education criteria that became effective in all states. The criterion
includes an increase in the minimum number of hours required to become licensed or certified, and specifies specific topic
areas to be covered by these courses. Also, the criterion includes more in-depth topic coverage and increase in hours. There
is uniform state licensing/certification examination, and a college degree requirement for the certified levels. The Appraisal
Institute has created several Education Packages to help prospect appraisers meet their state requirements. The number of
hours mentioned bellow (table 1) are minimum criteria; states have the option requiring more hours than listed.
Level Hours
Appraiser Trainee 75
Licensed Residential Real Property Appraiser 150
Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser 200
Certified General Real Property Appraiser 300
Table (1): minimum number of hours required for different appraisers categories
Source: Appraisal Institute, USA
4.4.5 Experience
The AQB has set the following minimum criteria (table 2) for experience for different certified levels:
Level Hours of Experience Required

Trainee Subject to direct supervision by a supervising
appraiser who is certified in good standing
Licensed Residential 2,000 hours (effective 1/1/08, these hours must be
obtained in no fewer than 12 months)
Certified Residential 2,500 hours in no fewer than 24 months
Certified General 3,000 hours in no fewer than 30 months
Table (2): criteria for required for different appraisers categories
Source: Appraisal Institute, USA
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4.5 An Example from abroad: The Swedish Experience

For the purpose of introducing an experience from abroad, the authors provide an example from a Swedish company. This
example has been reviewed by the authors in a previous study (see A. Elkhalifa 2004). The main purpose of providing this
example is to try to get some lessons on how to carry out an appraisal task professional. Such an example might be adaptable
to the appraisal profession in Sudan. The folowing part will show how appraisers at Svefa AB now known as (NAI Svefa), a
Swedish company specialized in real estate, do their work; it give a general introduction to Svefa Ab, then a description of
how the work is carried out by the company.
4.5.1 Introduction to Svefa AB

Svefa AB is one of the largest property consultancy companies in Sweden with approximately 70 consultants based in just
over 20 offices across the company8. Svefa was established on July 1st 1995. Appraisal is the main field with which Svefa
works and most of the appraisers at Svefa are authorized appraisers. Svefa also carry out some special services within
Property Law, Real Estate Economics, and Brokerage concerning any types of properties. Svefa is a well-known company
that works with the appraisal of special purpose properties and it is considered as a reference for many companies. Svefa
carry out appraisal assignments for large buildings, small houses, land, forests, and agricultural land. Svefa appraisals
include apartments, commercial and industrial properties as well as development rights. It appraise property holdings for real
estate companies for annual accounting purposes, and as a due diligence for Swedish and international investors. It also
appraises apartment buildings on the behalf of tenants-owners’ associations or property owners in connection with
conversation to ownership rights. Svefa also provides investment analysis services to help investors taking the right
decisions. Svefa takes an ideal position to provide impartial legal and financial advice regarding property issues including
investment consultancy. This includes the determination of compensation for noise or other environmental disturbances,
valuation in connection with road construction or establishing nature reserves. This may also apply when seeking a
correction if the tax assessment of a client’s property that does not reflect the market value.
Svefa appraises individual area of forests facing encroachment, or complete real estate holding which may involve farmland
with fields and meadows or buildings and forestland that need to be appraised to change in a family ownership for example.
Svefa conducts negotiations on the behalf of various parties, (i.e. to reach an agreement between the state and any forest land
owners affected by the establishment of a nature reserve). Svefa is one of the promoters of the Swedish Internet site
www.fastighetspris.nu, where prices information on sold properties can be found. Svefa is also providing market information
regarding open market rents on profit requirements. It works with property agents who can help clients buying and selling
properties. In addition, Svefa provides access to surveys and measurements of indoor and outdoor environment.
4.5.2 The Appraisal System in Svefa

At Svefa, several automatic appraisal systems are developed. These systems reduce costs and increase the quality of the
appraisals. The appraisal system makes it easier to obtain a simple and quick appraisal of the properties used as collateral for
loans grants. The FPwin property pricing system is an expert system used by Svefa for the appraisal and analysis of the
property market. The system incorporates information about property sold all over Sweden and includes all types of property
(large buildings, land and forest, special properties, and single family houses) sold since 1986. Lantmäteriverke t provides
the main data about comparable sales that the appraisers at Svefa employ in the application of the valuations methods. The
data that Svefa includes about the sales in its system includes;
• Property Name • Office Area

• Municipality • Commercial Area
• County • Production area (for industrial properties)
• Address • Storage Area (for industrial properties)
• Sale Date • Offices Area (for industrial properties)
• Buyer • Year of construction
• Seller • Type Code according to the taxation codes
• Price • Code for the number of transactions
• Price/Area • Type of transaction
• Price/Base Value Ratio • A statement telling whether the community took the right to buy the
• Value Year property first; in Sweden the community has the priority to buy a
• Total Area property when the owner wants to sell it out.
• Site Area • The parish to which a religious facility belongs (when the sale is for a
• Residential Area religious facility)
The appraisers at Svefa mainly employ the sales comparison and income approach in the appraisal assignments. For the
income approach, Svefa has its own software that enables the appraisers to estimate a value of a property in a short period of
time. Infrequently used, the cost approach is only employed as a check for the value estimate concluded by the two other
approaches to value.
8
For further information about Svefa look at www.svefa.se
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4.5.3 The Appraisal Process at Svefa

Usually, Svefa gets appraisal assignments through direct contacts; often through phone calls, fax, and e-mails are the
mechanisms of getting the task. Some appraisal assignments may be got through bidding with other companies. After getting
the task, a registration number is assigned for the task for administrative purpose such as payments. This number is written
in the valuation report and considered as a reference number for the task in the future when it is needed. Determining who
will do the job depends on many factors such as:
• Appraiser’s skills; • Number of properties to be appraised;

• Appraiser’s experience; • Location; and
• Property to be appraised; • The work-load on each appraiser
The first step in the process after identifying the task is the data collection. The appraisers in general and in Svefa in specific
consider this stage as the most difficult stage in the process. It may be a difficult task to get the accurate and reliable data for
special properties that are infrequently sold in the market. For some types of properties there may be no enough comparable
sales to be used for the valuation. The main sources that the appraisers at Svefa get the information from are; information
systems, means of communications, direct contacts with colleagues and friends, news, articles, and from actors in the
market. The informal information systems9 are not incorporated in the theoretic process model. It is the appraiser task to
ensure the accuracy and reliability of data that he/she employs in the appraisal. Following the stage of data collection, the
appraiser makes a property inspection.
The appraisers at Svefa mainly employ the sales comparison and/or income approach in the appraisal assignments. Usually
they start with the sales comparison approach and then apply the income approach. Which method to be used, mainly
depends on the property type, the nature of the task, and the availability of data. Normally the appraisal of common types of
properties takes about 12-15 hours, while the appraisal of special purpose properties may take 15-50 hours. Most of the time
is devoted for the data analysis stage. The longer the time an assignment takes, the higher the fees will be. In some cases the
client may call for a task without a written report. The quality of the written report depends on the purpose of the appraisal,
the fees, and the client requirements. The report includes all the data that the appraiser collects about the property and its
comparables. Sometimes the client may require that no photos should be put in the report. Svefa may terminate a task when
it discovers that the client tries to provide wrong information (i.e. when the client gives false information about the contracts
and actual rents). A feedback from the client may call for a revision or recollection of data. After the report submission, it is
the economic department responsibility to send the bills and collect the fees.
5 Conclusions
The appraisal process can be defined in many ways; all definitions revolve about deriving an opinion of value of a real
property. Three approaches to value, the cost approach, the sales comparison approach, and the income approach, are usually
applied for the purpose of valuation. The purpose of appraisal and the type of property are the main determinant of which
method to employ. In the Sudan, appraisers rely extensively on the cost approach in their practice. Most appraisers in the
globe rely on the sales comparison approach and the income approach, the cost approach is use a check of the two other
methods. The applicability of the three approaches to value in the Sudan is limited due to lack of education and availability,
accuracy, and reliability of relevant information. The absence of professional institution and the codes of conduct set a
barrier against the improvement and development of the profession in general. No doubt, the provision of educational and
training programs is highly needed for the sake of a more proper professional practice. Research and studies that enhance the
development of the appraisal practice are crucial as well. Information pools are needed to be established inorder to make the
conclusions that an appraiser draws more reliable.
The authors review some of the experiences of appraisal practice in the globe, most of the countries set standards and rules
for the practice of appraisal profession. National and international institutions and committees are responsible for the quality
of appraisers and their work; these institutes provide the profession with educational and training programs to keep the
profession and their members more efficient. The study reviewed the institutional system responsible for the performance
and development of the real estate appraisal in the USA. It shows the minimum requirements set by the state for practicing
the profession and the experience requirement. Moreover, the authors provide a practical example form a Swedish company,
Svefa Ab. These international examples provide a good criteria for the development of the RE appraisal profession in the
Sudan. The performance of such international institutions and companies might be a Benchmark for the development of
profession and improvement of performance. Process modeling could be the trigger for the performance improvement on
companies’ level.
9
Informal information systems such as information the appraiser get from friends and informal meetings with colleagues
15
6 References
A. Abdelmagid (2006), Appraisal Process Modeling Using IDEF0 Method :Case Study of Sudanese Real Estate Bank,
M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Building & Real Estate Economics, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm.
A. Elkhalifa and A. Abdelmagid (2006), Real Estate Appraisal Process Modeling using IDEF0 Method, CIB W89 BEAR
Conference, Hong Kong, 10- 13 April,
A. Elkhalifa and M. Y. Shaddad (2008) , The Building Materials Industry and Housing Sector in Sudan, Architects’ Third
Scientific Conference on Urban Housing in Sudan, Khartoum, 28-30 April
A. Elkhalifa (2004), Guides for the Appraisal of Religious Facilities and Real Estate Appraisal Process Modeling, M.Sc.
Thesis, Department of Building & Real Estate Economics, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm.
Appraisal Standards Board (ASB), (2008-2009), Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and Advisory
Opinions (USPAP), Appraisal Foundation, Washington, D.C.
B. Y. Zainalabdeen(2000),"Evaluation of Sudanese Real Estate Bank Role in Financing Residential Projects'' M.Sc Thesis,
Dept of Banking and Finance, Sudan University of Technological Science, Khartoum.
Central Bank of Sudan (CBOS) Annual Reports (1994-2007), Khartoum.
Joseph A. Demkin (2002), The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice13th ed., American Institute of Architects,
New York
J. Creedy, N. F. Wall (1979), Real Estate Investment by Objective, McGraw-Hill, New York
J. Diaz (1990). “How Appraisers Do Their Work: A Test of the Appraisal Process and the Development of a Descriptive
Model.” Journal of Real Estate Research, Vol. 5, No.1,
K. Ndungu, M. Makathimo and M. Kaaria, Kenya (2002), The Challenges in Globalization of Valuation Profession -
Lessons from Nairobi, Kenya, FIG XXII International Congress, Washington, D.C. USA, 19-26 April.
M. E. Geraci (2001), “The Appraisal of Real Estate, 12th Edition.”, Appraisal Institute, Chicago, USA.
M. H. Aaron, John H. Wright (1997). “The Appraisal of Religious Facilities.” AppraisalInstitute, USA.
Ministry of Finance & National Economy (MoF) Annual reports (2000-2007), Khartoum
Sudanese Real Estate Bank (2002), SREB Annual Report, Khartoum
N. French (2007), Valuation Uncertainty: Common Professional Standards and Methods, 13th Paifcc –Rim Real Estate
Society Conference, Fremantle, Australia, 21-24 January
SREB (2005), Process Guide of Real Estate Appraisal, Khartoum
T. Watanabe (2008), Japan Real Estate Appraisal in a Global Context, The 24th Pan Pacific Congress of Real Estate
Appraisers, valuers, and counselors, Seoul, 22-25 September
16
Appendix A: Proposed IDEF0 Model for the Theoretic Appraisal Process

According to the IDEF0 Method criterion, most of the model is interpreted through the diagrams, text is employed only
when needed. As the rules of the IDEF0 Method state, the proposed model for the appraisal process doesn’t show the
sequence, it shows the main steps of the valuation instead and how they can be broken down for the purpose of
understanding the process. Therefore, the model only shows the steps and tasks incorporated in the appraisal process but not
sequentially. For simplicity, the model doesn’t include the cost associated with each phase of the process. The model is
named “Estimate a market value of a property”, fig (5) shows the top-level diagram, which is decomposed into six main
steps. Fig (4) shows the breakdown of the top-level diagram into the six steps. Similar to other IDEF0 Models, the model
consists of input, control, output, and mechanism arrows that stand for any factor that is incorporated in the appraisal
process. Fig (5) shows all the inputs, controls, outputs and mechanisms employed by the model. Hereafter is a highlighting
of the inputs, controls, outputs, and mechanisms incorporated into the proposed IDEF0 Model for the theoretic appraisal
process.
Fig (4): The decomposition of the top level IDEF0 diagram into six steps
Figures (5) to (11) shows the IDEF0 model, which the study suggests, for the theoretic appraisal process, it is based on what
the literature and the international valuations associations recommend (i.e., Appraisal Institute). The valuation process that is
recommended by the appraisal institute (fig. 1) was the reference for building the model. The titles of the step may look
different to comply with the IDEF0 Model rules. Some of the steps are included with others steps and broken down, since
the number of the models activities shouldn’t exceed six boxes.
17
USED AT: AUTHOR: A.Elkhalif a & A. Abdelmagid DATE: 3/ 21/ 2005 WOR KI NG READER DATE CON TEXT:
PROJECT: The Theoretic Appraisal Model REV: 9/ 22/ 2005 DRAFT
RECOMMENDED
TOP
NOTES: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 PUBLIC ATION
Limiting Client Prof essional

Conditions Requirement Standards
Client I nf ormat ion
Final Opinion of Value

Valuer I nf romat ion
Estimat e a Market Value of a Property

Market I nf ormation
Valuation Report
Propert y Dat a
Surv ey ing & Information Sy st ems Company Facilit ies

Inspecting tools
NOD E: TI TLE: NUMBER:

Estimate a Market Value of a Property
A-0 1
Fig (5): IDEF0 Diagram A-0 “Estimate a Market Value of a Property”
US ED A T: AUTHOR: A .Elkhalifa & A. Abdelmagid DA TE: 3/21/2005 WORKING RE ADE R DATE CONT EXT :
PROJECT: The T heoretic Appraisal Model RE V: 9/22/2005 DRAFT
RECOMMENDED
NOTES: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 PUBLICA TION A-0
Client Requirement Professional Standards

Limiting Conditions
Client
Information Defined T ask
Identify the
Scope of
Valuation T ask
Property Data Work
1 Appraisal
Plan the Steps and
Valuer Appraisal Task Scheduling
Infromation 2
Possible Alternative Uses
Collect the Data

Information provided by Market
the client Information
3
Incorrect Data Analyzed
Analyze Data
Collected Data
the Data
Data to be reanalyzed
4
Final Opinion of
Surveying & Value
Inspecting tools Apply the
Valuation Methods
Property Collected Data
Information 5
Systems Inconsistant results
valuer portflio Valuation
Assignment Write the
Data to be written directly Report
information Basic Information Report
6
Company Facilities
NODE : TIT LE: NUMBER:
Estimate a Market Value of a Property
A0 2
Fig (6): IDEF0 Diagram A0 “Estimate a Market Value of a Property”
18
USED AT: AUT HOR: A.Elkhalifa & A. Abdelmagid DAT E: 3/21/2005 WORKING READER DAT E CONTEXT:
PROJECT: The Theoretic Appraisal Model REV: 9/22/2005 DRAFT
RECOM MENDED
NOTES: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 PUBLICATION A0
Client Requirement
Identify the
Client Information
client/users Defined client/ users
of the valuaion
1 Setted value
clear purpose & definition by the
Information about Intended use of the client Client Assumptions
client needs Identify the Purpose, valuation
intended use and
users of the valuatiion
Limiting Conditions
2
Defined Task
Define the value category

& valuation date
4 Value definition &
valuation date
Scope of Work
Set the scope
of work
Identify the general 6
M ain Property Data
Property Data characteristics of the property
3
Defined Extraordinary
Identify the extra ordinary assumptions Assum ptions &
& hypothetical conditions Hypothetical Conditions
5
NODE: TITLE : NUMBER:

Identify the Valuation Task
A1 3
Fig (7): IDEF0 Diagram A1 “Identify the Valuation Task”
USE D AT: AUT HOR: A.Elkhalifa & A. Abdelmagid DAT E: 3/21/2005 WORKING REA DER DAT E CONTEX T:
PROJECT: The Theoretic A ppraisal Model REV : 9/22/2005 DRA FT
RECOMMENDED
NOTES: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 PUB LICATION A0
Scope of Client Requirement

Work Professional Standards
Dead-line
Appraisal Steps and
Determine the Required Steps Recomm ended Methods Scheduling
Assignment inform ation
Defined
Steps
1
Timetable
Staff Experience Create a Time Table for the Process
2
Named members
for the task
Valuer Infrom ation Select the staff members to achieve the task
Available staff information and
Capabilities
NODE: TITLE : NUM BER:

Plan the Appraisal Task
A2 4
Fig (8): IDEF0 Diagram A2 “Plan the Appraisal Task”
19
USE D AT: AUT HOR: A.Elkhalifa & A. Abdelmagid DAT E: 3/21/2005 WORKING REA DER DAT E CONTEX T:
PROJECT: The Theoretic A ppraisal Model REV : 9/22/2005 DRA FT
RECOMMENDED
NOTES: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 PUB LICATION A0
Appraisal Steps and Scheduling
Professional Standards
Information
provided by the
Property economical data Collected
client
Data
Incorrect
Collect S ubject
Data Scope of
Property Data
Work
Property Data
1
General Economic
Collect General Data Data
General market data 3
Property & Rental Market

Collect Market Data Data
M arket Information
2
Collect Comparables
Comparables Data Data
4
Information about m arket sales
Surveying & Inspecting tools Possible A lternative

Market Information about other uses Collect the Data About
Uses
Alternative Uses
5
Com pany Facilities

Inform ation
System s
NODE: TITLE : NUM BER:
Collect the Data
A3 5
Fig (9): IDEF0 Diagram A3 “Collect the Data”

USE D AT: AUT HOR: Akram DAT E: 3/21/2005 WORKING REA DER DAT E CONTEX T:
PROJECT: The Theoretic A ppraisal Model REV : 9/24/2005 DRAFT
RECOMMENDED
Appraisal Steps and

Scheduling
Professional Standards
Possible
Data to be Alternative Uses
reanalyzed Highest and Best
Highest & Best Use Analysis Conclusion
Use A nalysis
1
Highest and best use
Collected General Economic Data

Market Analysis Analyzed Data
Data Property & Rental Market Data
Market Analysis
2 Conclusions
Comparables Data
Select the
Best Comparables
Selected Com parables
3
NODE: TITLE : NUMB ER:

Analyze the Data
A4 6
Fig (10): IDEF0 Diagram A4 “Analyze the Data”
20
USED AT: AUT HOR: A.Elkhalifa & A. Abdelmagid DAT E: 3/21/2005 WORKING REA DER DAT E CONTEXT:
PROJECT: The Theoretic Appraisal M odel REV: 9/22/2005 DRAFT
RECOMMENDED
Defined Appraisal Steps and Scheduling

Task Professional Standards
Select the Appropriate

Recomm ended Methods to be used
Valuation methods
to apply
1
Data Reliability
Reliable and
Property Characteristics and Features data
Available Data
Apply the Cost Approach Value Indication-1
Market Data Costs and Depreciation data
Analyzed 2
Data Reconcile Final Opinion
Value Indications of Value
Selcted Comparables data Apply the Sales
Value Indication-2 in a final one
Comparison Approach
3 5
Main Property
Data
Property & Rental Market Data Value Indication-3
Apply the Income Approach
Property Collected Property Economic data and Contracts Information 4

Data
NODE: TITLE: NUM BER:

Apply the Valuation Methods
A5 7
Fig (11): IDEF0 Diagram A5 “Apply the Valuation Methods”
21

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Real Estate Appraisal in Sudan: Challenges and Potentials

Akram Elkhalifa1 and Dr. Mohamed Yagoub Shaddad2

1 Real Estate Investment in Sudan: Potentials and Performance

1.2 Real Estate Market in Sudan

ConstructionSector Shares in Amount in GDP Construction Sector (%)Shares In GDP(Year

b. Polices made by the Central Bank of Sudan (CBOS)

Residential Real Estate Market

Real Estate Market for Office and retail

2 Real Estate Appraisal Process in Theory

2.1.1 The Real Estate Appraisal

2.1.3 Appraised value

Fig (1): The Valuation Process

2.2 Purpose of Appraisal

2.3 Appraisal Approaches

2.3.1 Cost Approach

2.3.1.1 Land value

2.3.1.2 Cost new

• Single unit rate method includes,

2.3.2 The Sales Comparison Approach

2.3.2.1 Units of comparison

a. Conditions of the sale

c. Market Conditions (time)

g. Age/ Condition (Total depreciation)

2.3.2.3 Applying the Method Using the Area

2.3.3 Income Capitalization Method (Income Approach)

3 The Practice of Real Estate Appraisal in Sudan

Property Type Recommended method of valuation

3.2 Limitations, Challenges, Risks and Uncertainties

b. Absence of Professional Institutes

d. Type and Assurance of Ownership

e. Legislations and professional practice rules and codes of conduct

f. Education and Training

g. Research and Studies

h. Political and Economical Instability

k. Quality of Property Structure

Method of Valuation Limitations of application in Sudan

Cost Approach • Unavailability of up- to-data (costs of construction)

3.3 The needs of Appraisal profession in Sudan given its Potentials

• Establishment of Professional Institutes

Real Estate Specific Data including;

• Inter and Intra-Industry Relationships

• Appraisal Firms Information Systems

• Knowledge and Technology Transfer

• Total Quality Management: Performance Analysis for Development:

4 Real Estate Appraisal in a Global Context

4.1 UK- RICS

4.2 Japan- JARA

4.4 Real Estate Appraisal Practice– USA Experience

4.4.2 Required Qualifications of Appraisers

4.4.3 Categories of Real Estate (Real Property) Appraisers

Licensed Real Property Appraiser

Certified Residential Real Property Appraiser

Certified General Real Property Appraiser

4.4.4 Education- How to become an appraiser

Level Hours of Experience Required

4.5 An Example from abroad: The Swedish Experience

4.5.1 Introduction to Svefa AB

4.5.2 The Appraisal System in Svefa

• Property Name • Office Area