Overview
Conservation easements are a growing land conservation practice in Oregon. COLT and its members recognize the challenge of finding publicly available comparable sales. Many conservation easement sales are not recorded in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) database where most comparable sales are found, as they often don't include a realtor or public listing. This deficit of information is particularly hard for new appraisers joining the easement appraising field, who don't have relationships or knowledge of past sales.
About the Comparable
Sales Database
In an effort to make better data available to appraisers using the comparable sales method, we have created a comparable sales database for conservation easements (request form) - held by COLT for COLT members. This database can be used as a resource for appraisers working on a COLT member conservation easement project, to help fill the gap in information that appraisers are faced with in providing the appraisals that land trusts rely on.
Database Highlights
Includes basic information about conservation easement transactions
Will only be shared with COLT members or appraisers hired to do a COLT member's appraisal
Provides a lead for appraisers to access relevant comparable sales and the contact information of easement holders for follow-up
What information is provided in the database?
For each conservation easement project, the database includes:
- County
- Acreage
- Brief Property Description
- Purchase Type
- Sale Date
- The Easement Holder’s Contact Information For Follow-Up
This information is meant to provide appraisers with leads to seek out the more detailed information they need to complete an appraisal using the comparable sales approach.
How to Access the Database
Once you have started working to appraise a COLT member organization conservation easement project fill out the Comparable Sales Database Request Form. We will then reach out and provide you with the link to sign our Use Agreement. Once the signed agreement is returned, COLT will release the database information.
Please note:
Any appraiser who is provided this database by COLT or its members for its use in appraising herein agrees that the database provided is confidential, and that it will not share the database or the information therein without the explicit permission of COLT.
Who are COLT member organizations?
For a list of COLT member organizations, please visit our Coalition Members page.
