Duncan Ennis is the president of Ennis & Mullen, a real estate appraisal firm on the Westside.
WHAT DOES HE DO?
He owns the company and does appraisals on commercial, industrial, residential and special purpose properties.
WHERE are the APPRAISALS done?
Ninety-five percent in Duval, St. Johns, Clay and Nassau counties.
WHAT IS YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN DOWNTOWN PROJECTS?
“We do appraise properties downtown, but we haven’t been involved in any projects where the City acquired property for redevelopment.” Property they have appraised downtown includes the Alexander Brest property, which is 20 acres on the river near Alltel Stadium, the former Ford Motor company land under the Mathews Bridge, the land and building for the property appraiser’s office on Forsyth Street, part of the Marks Gray Law firm property in Brooklyn and the old Roosevelt Hotel.
WHY DO PEOPLE GET APPRAISALS?
“The biggest reasons are financing and estate planning. When people are financing a home or a company is buying real estate, they need an appraisal to obtain a loan. The banks typically require an appraisal for loans. Sometimes people are getting ready to sell property and they don’t know what to ask for it or they are getting ready to buy property and they don’t know what to offer. Also, if there is a divorce and the two parties need to split the assets, the value is needed to divide the property.”
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE LOOKING FOR AN APPRAISER?
“The first thing is that they have to verify that the appraiser is State certified. They should also work with an appraiser who has a designation awarded by the Appraisal Institute. The two designations are the Senior Residential Appraiser [SRA] and the Member of Appraisal Institute [MAI].”
WHAT DID HE DO BEFORE
THIS COMPANY?
He worked for another firm in Jacksonville, Florida Appraisal Company, which no longer exists. His company has been open since the mid-1980s.
COLLEGE
He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in real estate from the University of Florida.
HOW DID YOU BECOME A REAL ESTATE APPRAISER?
“I had majored in real estate and before I got out I started to look for work in a real estate firm. I got my first job with Florida Appraisal Company and liked it, so I stuck with it.”
ARE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AND LAND PRICES RISING IN JACKSONVILLE?
“Steadily upward. Most types of real estate have continued to increase even during this most recent recession.”
WHAT UPGRADES HAVE YOU SEEN IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS?
“One of the biggest changes is in regard to Americans Disabilities Act. Buildings today have to be built in compliance with the standards of the ADA, including wheelchair ramps, wider doors and bathroom layouts to accommodate people with disabilities. That has been the biggest change. New buildings are also built with more thought given to technology. Internet access is key now with new buildings.”
BIRTHPLACE
Jacksonville.
HIGH SCHOOL
Episcopal.
DESIGNATIONS
MAI, SRA and the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). He is also a Real Estate Broker and a REALTOR.
HOBBIES
He plays guitar and sings at church and coaches teenage soccer teams at the Westside Soccer Club.
FAMILY
He has been married to Rosanne for 22 years. They have three children, Duncan Jr., 18, Scott, 16, and Katherine, 10.
RESIDES
Ortega.
CIVIC
He is on the Adult Rehabilitation Council of Salvation Army and is a member and past president of the Riverside Rotary of Jacksonville.
CHURCH
St. Mark’s Episcopal.
FAVORITES
He lists “Terminator II” as his favorite movie and the “Left Behind” series as books he would recommend. When watching television, you will usually find him tuning into “Fox News” — “I am a news junkie.” When dining out, he prefers Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and when traveling, he enjoys visiting Fernandina Beach.
WEBSITE
www. ennisappraisal.com.
— by Michele Newbern Gillis