Environmental Management Plans: Maintaining Property Values

These rules and programs have offered a solution to existing property concerns, as well as a method to prevent future concerns. They can help maintain a property’s value by keeping environmental conditions from deteriorating, and by safely containing potential contaminants.   Read More...

Determining the Actual Value of Impacted Properties

Initially, impacted properties do have reduced value—but sometimes, that is exactly what can make them strong investment opportunities. Because if the environmental impact can be quantified, the value of the property (including the impact) can be appraised. Decisions regarding the purchase price, loan amount, loan to value, resale potential, and overall credit decisions can all… Read More...

Lender Liability and the Financing of Impacted Properties

In 1986, Congress passed an amendment to Superfund known as the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA).  This amendment incorporated a very commonly used phrase: “all appropriate inquiry consistent with good commercial practice”—a phrase sometimes referenced simply by the acronym “AAI.” The concept of AAI is based on the ancient principle of caveat emptor (“buyer… Read More...