Robert Partin, Author at Partin Appraisal

By Robert Partin - March 27, 2023

Partin Foundation Updates

Howdy! My name is Robert Partin with the Partin Foundation. Many of y’all know me through the work I do for Land Tejas as Director of the “Adopt a School” Program. Throughout the last 20 years the Foundation has provided classroom grants and assistance to children in the Cy Fair ISD in Canyon Gate Communities. During this time, we have provided more than $2.0 million to the Program. This Program has now expanded to 5 other school districts surrounding Canyon Gate communities.

In 2015, I established the Partin Foundation to honor my late friend, Deputy Darren H. Goforth of Harris County Sheriff’s Office, who was killed in the line of duty. The underlying philosophy is “Today’s Investment is a Reward in our Future”. Over the last 7 years, the Partin Foundation has awarded over $25,000 in college and high school classroom assistance to Cy Fair ISD students. To date, the Partin Foundation has awarded scholarships on an annual basis in the name of honored individuals who have lived their lives in such a way that they serve as role models for the Americans of tomorrow.

2020 brought about a new era for The Partin Foundation when Cameron Dickey, the President & CEO of Cy-Fair Credit Union joined forces with me to provide more exposure to the opportunities my foundation offers. I look forward to this continued relationship because of the conservative Christian values we share.

Deputy Darren H. Goforth Memorial Scholarship – (2016)

Tragically, on August 28, 2015, Deputy Darren Goforth of Harris County Sheriff’s Office was assassinated in the line of duty. Deputy Goforth faced many challenges in his life like all who walk the Thin Blue Line. The price of this meant that Deputy Goforth was killed for the very uniform that he wore as a Peace Officer. Deputy Goforth was an outstanding law enforcement officer who exemplified what it means to have courage in the face of adversity. Because of the personal and professional relationship I shared with Deputy Goforth, I was inspired to create this very foundation. Students are awarded this scholarship if they demonstrate an understanding of what it means to be courageous and to describe how they have responded to – or overcome – adversity at some point in their lives.

Bob Partin Integrity Scholarship – (2020)

Without the life-lessons I learned from my father, I would never have achieved my level of success as one of the top real estate appraisers in the industry. Bob Partin prepared me for the challenges of the world and instilled my morals and values that I hold most dear. My father mentored me in business and in all aspects of my life. The most important thing I learned along the way was that if you do not possess integrity, then nothing else you do matters. It is for this reason that the Bob Partin Integrity Scholarship was established in 2020. This scholarship is awarded based upon students’ submissions of what integrity means to them and to discuss a person they admire because of the integrity they possess.

Corporal Charles “Chuck” E. Galloway Memorial Scholarship – (2022)

On January 23, 2022, while attempting to stop a vehicle he suspected was a drunk driver, Corporal Charles Galloway of Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 5 was shot and killed in the line of duty. Corporal Galloway – or “Chuck” as his friends knew him – was a mentor to any and all deputies who were fortunate enough to make his acquaintance. It is said by those who knew him the best that it did not matter if you knew Chuck for a day or for a decade because he made them feel like they were his best friend. After his death, numerous people came forward and revealed many acts of kindness that Corporal Galloway had done for them. Chuck would – and often did give the shirt off of his back to help someone else. Ultimately, his selfless nature culminated in him giving up the ultimate sacrifice. Corporal Galloway died while trying to protect others from what he thought was an intoxicated driver. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” ~ John 15:13. This scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate a deep understanding of what it means to be truly selfless and to sacrifice for the benefit of others.

Paulette Partin Entrepreneurial Spirit Scholarship – (2023)

The Partin Foundation, created by Robert Partin in 2015, is pleased to announce the establishment of the Paulette Partin Entrepreneurial Spirit Scholarship. Named in honor of Mr. Partin’s mother, Paulette Partin, this scholarship is intended to serve as encouragement to young women who strive to fulfill their dreams as independent business owners.

Paulette Partin is known for her Christian faith, her successful marriage of 62+ years to her high school sweetheart, Bob Partin, her children Terri and Robert, and her role as one of the leading female Real Estate Brokers in the Greater Houston Area. Her drive and passion for excellence led her to create Paulette Partin Realty in the 1970’s, which became one of the most successful real estate firms in the region.

The Paulette Partin Entrepreneurial Spirit Scholarship is designed to honor Mrs. Partin’s legacy by supporting young women who possess the same goal-oriented drive and compassion for excellence that she demonstrated throughout her career. The scholarship will be awarded to a female student who demonstrates exceptional potential as an independent business owner and possesses an entrepreneurial spirit.

By Robert Partin - March 25, 2023

Stonegate HOA Board Removes Dedicated Flagpole to Slain Police Officer in Northwest Houston

On August 28, 2015, Deputy Darren H. Goforth of Harris County Sheriff’s Office, was murdered in the line of duty. This brutal act took place in our own community of Cypress, Texas. Many people came to know Deputy Goforth during his time of service to our community, and his sacrifice deserved to be remembered. In memory of Deputy Goforth’s sacrifice, as well as the sacrifice of every peace officer who has died in the line of duty in the United States, an American flag was erected in honor of the blood shed by our heroes at the entrance to our Switchback community.

Originally, the Switchback flagpole was part of a much larger memorial design which was dedicated in September of 2015. It was determined by the board that Mr. Robert Partin would assume responsibility (on a voluntary basis) of maintaining the flagpoles with minor costs incurred by the HOA. While there was some dissent from some of the criminal element who lived within Stone Gate, the American flag was still raised to honor all first responders. The larger planned memorial was erected and completed in July of 2016 at its new location, just west of the intersection of Red Rugosa and Tuckerton. This larger memorial was dedicated to all fallen law enforcement and still stands today. The black memorial flagpole in Switchback remained and was dedicated specifically to Deputy Darren Goforth for his service and sacrifice.

This flagpole memorial was loved by the community and its symbolism was known further than people realized. Police organizations across the nation were so touched by this memorial that it even appeared in a memorial tribute video which has been widely shared across numerous police departments across the country. It was widely known that the community of Cypress would never forget the sacrifices made by Darren Goforth and by police officers everywhere. However, after standing proudly and honoring American heroes for over 6 years, anti-American wokeists reared their ugly heads.

Without any public notice and without even consulting the community, the Stone Gate HOA showed their true colors – and these colors stand against the red, white, and blue. Yes, the Stars and Stripes that countless millions have died for is an eye-sore for the America-hating HOA of Stone Gate. The American flag was torn down and the flagpole unceremoniously uprooted so there would never be a sign it was even there. Just like that, the sacrifice of our heroes was kicked to the side like dirt in the street.

To better understand the chain of events that led to this, here they are in chronological order:

Early September 2022: Robert Partin was notified by PMG (Principal Management Group), (a division of Associa) that if he did not stop handling the flags, he was going to be presented with a cease-and-desist order legally. Up to this point in time, neither flagpole was vandalized – not once.

October 9, 2022: Per PMG, the flagpole at Switchback was vandalized at approximately 3:30AM with video evidence coming from gate cameras – however, the camera which is outside the gate is approximately 220 feet from the flagpole. After contacting the vendor who installed the cameras, it was discovered that these cameras have a maximum visual line of sight at approximately 50-75 feet at best.

Late October 2022: The removal of the flagpole was discussed at the board meeting. There was no mention of repairs vs removal. The current HOA Board members at the time this decision was made was:

Stephanie Wade (Stephanie.stonegate@gmail.com)
Wendy Ray (wendy.stonegate@gmail.com)
Tu Anh Connelly (tuanh.stonegate@gmail.com)

They voted to remove the Goforth dedicated flagpole.

Present board members Barry Mayers (barry.mayers@gmail.com) and Lawrence Connelly (Lawrence.stonegate@gmail.com) abstained from voting.

Robert Partin inquired what they were doing to fix the issue, but the HOA tore out the dedicated American flagpole within a week of Veterans Day 2022. It was reported to Mr. Partin by Krystal Vigil (k.salazar@pmghouston.com) with PMG after the pole was torn down that it cost more to repair the flag than to tear it down.

Mid November 2022: Partin then requested the bids to see the cost and he contacted Elite flag poles, who stated that the cost to bring a cherry picker and replace the rope was less than $700.00. Multiple homeowners stated that they would have been more than happy to contribute to this cost to save the flagpole.

The HOA attempted to claim that the reason the flagpole was torn down because it was “too expensive to repair” after it was vandalized. However, evidence suggests that there was no research done to find the cost of repairing the flagpole.

Fortunately, Mr. Partin, the volunteer who maintained the flagpole memorials for the duration of their existence, did reach out to the company (Elite Flagpoles) that had installed the poles. Mr. Partin disproved the absurd claim by the HOA and found that the estimated cost at repairing the flagpole was $668.00. It was later discovered that the HOA paid significantly higher to remove the flagpole.

It is truly disheartening to see the flag being disrespected in such a manner. The actions of the Stone Gate HOA not only disregard the sacrifices made by our heroes but also disrespect the values and principles that the flag represents. This is a time where we should come together to show support for our law enforcement and honor their sacrifices, not tear down symbols that represent their sacrifice. We must remember that the flag is a symbol of the unity and resilience of the American people, and it should be treated with the utmost respect. We should not let the bullying tactics by a few un-American criminal sympathizers diminish the sacrifices of those who have given their lives to protect our community and country. We must continue to honor their memory and never forget their sacrifice.

By Robert Partin - May 28, 2020

Partin Foundation Scholarships for 2020

My name is Robert Partin of the Partin Foundation. Many of you may know me through my work with Land Tejas as Director of the “Adopt-a-School” program. Over 17 years, the program has provided classroom grants and assistance to Cy-Fair ISD children in the Stone Gate Homeowners Association Communities. During this same time period, we have provided over $1.5 Million to this program. As of the present day, the program has expanded to four other school districts throughout the surrounding Canyon Gate Communities.

The Partin Foundation is proud to announce 2 scholarships being awarded at this time:

The motto of the Partin Foundation is “Today’s Investment is a Reward in our Future.” Over the last five years, the Partin Foundation has awarded over $20,000 in college tuition and high school classroom assistance for the students of Cy-Fair ISD. This would not have been possible without the generosity of Land Tejas matching the funding of the Foundation in the spirit of working together as a community to make the program a reality.

The Partin Foundation was established in 2015 in honor of the late Deputy Darren H. Goforth (Harris County Sheriff’s Office) who was killed in the line of duty in August of the same year. Deputy Goforth was assigned to a neighborhood in the same Stone Gate Community that I call home, and he could be commonly found providing aid and protection to the citizens who call Stone Gate home.

First, the 2020 Deputy Darren H. Goforth Memorial Scholarship is being awarded to:

Ms. Camryn Sorrells of Cy-Falls High School.

Congratulations, Ms. Sorrells, and we wish you all the best in your future endeavors!

One of the most important principles which the Partin Foundation is based upon is that of Integrity. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Integrity is defined as “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.” In ethics, integrity is regarded as “the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one’s actions.” In my opinion, Integrity is not something that one is born with, rather it is something learned from the mentors in our lives. A great mentor of our time recently passed away. He was the longtime Coach of Houston’s Reagan High School and HISD Athletic Director, Joe Tusa. Coach Tusa accomplished much in his life, not the least of which was imparting his wisdom to young people coming of age. The life lessons taught by Coach Tusa passed down to my first football coach – my father, Bob Partin. Without the lessons I have learned from my father, I would never have achieved the success I have experienced as one of the top Real Estate Appraisers in the industry. To that end, a new scholarship will now be established.

In honor of my father, I am proud to announce the establishment of the Bob Partin Integrity Scholarship.

The first recipient of the 2020 Bob Partin Integrity Scholarship will be:

Ms. Rylee Waldon of Cy-Falls High School.

Congratulations, Ms. Waldon, and good luck at San Diego State University this fall!

By Robert Partin - January 6, 2020

It’s a New Beginning

Hi, I’m Diana Jacob. Many of you know me from “ABC” — The Appraiser’s Business Companion,” where I answered questions about appraisal practice. Specifically, I often answered questions about difficult assignments and wrote “The Tip of the Week.” It was with a heavy heart for many of us, including me, when it was decided the service of ABC would no longer be available. Over the past six months, Partin Appraisal Service approached me with a new opportunity in a similar capacity. They understood the value of the Questions and Answers as well as the current topics of the day for Real Property Appraisers. Thinking about the value of that service and wanting it to continue, I said, “YES”.

This is an exciting year for Partin Appraisal Service as they expand their services to include a new website. They now also have a place for commentary newsletter about current events in the Real Property Appraisal profession and a place for Questions and Answers, where appraisers can go and have their specific questions addressed. The information for an interim, will be at no charge. Later, subsequent charges for questions and answers will be made known in the future as a membership benefit to the source and access becomes better defined. Becoming familiar with this opportunity you should know the newsletter is currently planned to be offered bi-monthly on this website. The benefit will be for not only appraisers but also users of appraisal services, i.e. lenders and real estate agents. Gather your thoughts, ask your questions, your inquiries now have a new home. I’ll go first, “How do I identify the boundaries of a neighborhood?

For mortgage lending, since 2005, the residential appraiser has been directed to identify the boundaries of the neighborhood, by its direction, North, South, East and West. The forms just state boundaries but the secondary markets who underwrite the loans are a bit more specific, “The appraiser should provide an outline of the neighborhood boundaries, which should be clearly delineated using “North, “South”, “East”, and “West”. These boundaries may include, but are not limited to streets, legally recognized neighborhood boundaries, waterways, or other natural boundaries that define the separation of one neighborhood from another. Appraisers should not reference a map or other addendum as the only example of the neighborhood boundaries.”

I think a lot about words. Words such as “should”, not must, “The appraiser “should” provide an outline of the neighborhood boundaries…..”, I think are critical when it comes to regulatory compliance. The clear delineation using the direction of north, south, east and west are to define the separation of one neighborhood from another. I get it, but I must ask first, what if it’s a rural market? Secondly, do the users of my appraisal report understand that there are more than houses in that description? Living in more than one rural town in my lifetime, I understand why one town is different from another but the whole area, known as the community or town of is very often considered by the occupant, the neighborhood. How do I define that area by a boundary? How do I communicate factually the boundaries of greatest influence on the marketability?

Location of a market area and a neighborhood are often used interchangeably despite the fact there have distinctly different meanings. Confusion arises because the method of delineation follows the same four basic principles. Physical Boundaries can be man-made or natural whereas intangible boundaries are social as well as political. It’s the market area that formally defines the geographic delineation for a specific category of real estate. You will have boundaries in a neighborhood where the subject property is located but it will in most cases have non-residential properties as well. Its for this reason that land uses are defined in the neighborhood. Its possible that both the neighborhood and market area will have the same boundaries, but in many cases that market area will contain several neighborhoods or portions of different neighborhoods. Market areas are defined by the type of property, its where the competition exist. There will be a homogeneity of properties within the boundaries of a market area. Neighborhoods tend to define the primary market area for most non-complex residential properties attracting similar minded buyers. A market area can include neighborhoods, districts or a combination of both. The delineation of a precise market area boundary can be challenging as there may be an overlap.

Reading Valuation Advisory #4 (published by The Appraisal Foundation under the work completed by the Appraisal Practice Board), the question of differences or same characteristics between market areas and neighborhoods is explained and is advised to be read for complete understanding. Delineating for the purpose of valuation, a market area has two main parts, the analysis of the user of the market area which includes owners, occupants and the competition as opposed to the analysis for the buyer/seller market. The “user” market is the first step in the identification process of the location. It is done before the buy/sell market is determined because it is the user market that sets the basis of the highest and the best use. Once that market has been determined the appraiser can then go to the next step which is to define the parameters of the substituting properties where comparable transactions are identified, i.e. the buy/sell market.

Take the time to explain to your user, how you defined the neighborhood boundary and market area as well as separating out the market trends that defines the interaction of the subject’s competition. When a neighborhood is defined, there should be a clear understanding of how those boundaries were determined and why.

Thank you for investing the time to be a better you as an appraiser and spending time in DJ’s Corner. Don’t forget, the 2020-2021 is the current edition of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), you should be operating. If you’ve not yet obtained your copy, go to The Appraisal Foundation website (www.appraisalfoundation.org ), and download a copy. Until the next time, keep up the good work.