Insights
Appraisal Guides & Insights
Expert appraisal guidance — what drives value, when you need a USPAP-compliant appraisal, and how the process works.
Latest posts
How the 2025 Louisiana Boat Sales Tax Cap Changes What Gulf Coast Buyers Owe
Louisiana now caps combined state and local sales tax on a registered boat at $20,000, but the math only helps buyers above a certain price point. Here is how the cap actually works for a New Orleans or Lake Pontchartrain purchase, and what documentation you need to claim it.
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When Does a Louisiana Boat Loan Require an SBA-Compliant Appraisal?
Louisiana shrimpers and charter operators financing a vessel through an SBA 7(a) or bank loan need to know when the lender will require an independent marine appraisal rather than a desktop review. This guide walks through the dollar thresholds, value definitions, and inspection standards that determine when an appraisal becomes mandatory.
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How Louisiana Succession Law Treats Boats and Other Movable Property
Louisiana's civil law succession system handles boats differently than probate in other states, and getting the value wrong on the sworn descriptive list can slow down a family's inheritance. Here's how succession representatives identify, list, and value a boat for a Louisiana estate.
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Louisiana Community Property and Boats: How Divorce Courts Value and Split a Vessel
In a Louisiana community property divorce, a boat bought during the marriage is presumed marital property no matter whose name is on the title, and state law values it as of trial, not the day you filed. This guide explains how classification, timing, and a neutral fair market value appraisal determine what each spouse actually walks away with.
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Louisiana Boat Insurance Claims for Hurricane Damage: How Appraisers Prove Pre-Loss Value
A Louisiana boat insurance claim for hurricane damage lives or dies on pre-loss value evidence. Here's how agreed value and actual cash value policies pay out differently, what documentation an appraiser needs, and how Louisiana's proof-of-loss deadline works.
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Louisiana's New Boat Sales Tax Cap Under Act 11: What Owners Must Know
Louisiana's new boat sales tax cap limits combined state and local tax on a registered vessel to $20,000, but only if you pay within 90 days and meet a handful of conditions under Act 11. Here is how the cap works, what Form R-1331 requires, and why a documented appraisal matters for boats brought in from out of state.
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Boat Appraisal Louisiana: How to Get Your Marine Vessel Professionally Valued
Louisiana boat owners need a formal appraisal for insurance claims, hurricane casualty losses, charitable donations, and succession or divorce matters, and that process is entirely separate from LDWF titling and registration. Here's when you need one, what it costs, and exactly how to get it done.
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Commercial Vessel Appraisal in Louisiana: What OSV, Tug, and Barge Owners Need
A commercial vessel appraisal in Louisiana values offshore supply vessels, tugs, barges, trawlers, and crew boats as income-producing assets, not pleasure craft. This guide explains when Gulf Coast operators need one, which valuation approach applies, and how USCG documentation shapes the appraiser's scope of work.
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