Credentials
MAI appraiser in Connecticut
The MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute is the most widely recognized credential in commercial real estate valuation. Michael L. Baldi, Jr., MAI, AI-GRS, founder and managing partner of Baldi Valuation, holds it.
Michael L. Baldi, Jr., MAI, AI-GRS
Founder and Managing Partner. Certified General Real Estate Appraiser in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts.
What the MAI designation is
The Appraisal Institute awards the MAI designation to appraisers who value all types of real property and advise clients on real estate decisions. It is the credential lenders, attorneys and courts most often look for on commercial, industrial and investment property.
Michael Baldi is an MAI appraiser in Connecticut. He is also one of relatively few appraisers who hold both the MAI and the AI-GRS review designation.
What it takes to earn
The MAI is a multi-year process on top of a state license. A candidate must:
- Hold a Certified General appraiser license, or meet the equivalent
- Pass advanced courses and exams, including Advanced Income Capitalization, Advanced Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use, Advanced Concepts and Case Studies, and Quantitative Analysis
- Pass a four-module General Comprehensive Examination
- Complete the General Demonstration of Knowledge
- Earn credit for 4,500 hours of specialized appraisal experience, with the work reviewed by the Appraisal Institute
- Agree to the Appraisal Institute's Code of Professional Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice
The full requirements are on the Appraisal Institute website.
Why it matters for your assignment
An MAI-led appraisal is built to be relied on. That matters most when someone else will scrutinize the number: a bank's underwriter, the IRS, a probate court, opposing counsel or a Board of Assessment Appeals.
- Lending and SBA appraisals that meet bank and FIRREA requirements
- Estate and date-of-death appraisals for executors, attorneys and families
- Litigation support and expert testimony
- Tax appeal appraisals and partnership and divorce valuations
As a commercial real estate appraiser in Connecticut since 2014, Baldi Valuation works throughout the state and in western and central Massachusetts.
Common questions about the MAI designation
How is an MAI different from a state-certified appraiser?
A Certified General license is the state's minimum requirement to appraise commercial property. The MAI is a professional designation from the Appraisal Institute that goes well beyond it, with advanced coursework, a comprehensive exam, a demonstration of knowledge and a review of the appraiser's actual work.
Do I need an MAI appraiser?
Not every assignment requires one, but many lenders, attorneys, courts and government agencies prefer or require an MAI for complex, high-value or contested assignments. If the value will be relied on by a bank, the IRS or a court, the designation adds weight.
Does the MAI designation have ongoing requirements?
Yes. Designated members must complete continuing education and follow the Appraisal Institute's Code of Professional Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice to keep the designation.
Who will appraise my property?
A partner of the firm inspects every property and signs every report. The firm is led by Michael Baldi, MAI, AI-GRS.
Need a commercial appraisal?
Tell us about the property and what the appraisal is for. We will respond with a fee and a delivery date, usually within one business day.
