GAR ASSOCIATES, INC. has been performing real estate appraisals and consulting services for over 35 years. We have successfully proven to our clients that we maximize technology allowing us to grow, change and adapt. Our focus has been and will continue to be to listen to our client’s needs and work together to meet the challenges we face in the real estate profession.

The company began in 1965 when Larry Grant began Western New York Appraisal Company. Within a few months, the company was renamed to Grant Appraisal & Research. Major sources of work during this period include projects from the City of Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency and the New York State Department of Transportation.

In 1970, the corporation performed a revaluation for the Town of Amherst. This revaluation work led to the formation of KVS, an entity later sold-off in the mid-1980’s. Also in 1970, through Erie County Savings Bank’s internal innovations and efficient residential appraisals, GAR successfully captured nearly 100% of the residential work.

During the 70′s and 80′s, the company grew through bank clients, attorneys, developers, and accounting firms, as did its reputation for quality appraisal services. During the 1980′s, the company became know as GAR Associates, Inc. (short for Grant Appraisal and Research Corp).

During the 1990′s, the commercial department as we know it today began to take shape. Several new commercial appraisers joined GAR in the early 1990′s, including four commercial appraisers that are still on staff today. GAR moved into its current location on Sweet Home Road in 1995.

The core of our business today still centers on the real estate valuation profession, but our work efforts continue to shift towards a wide variety of real estate consulting. We have expanded our efforts in specific areas such as:

•  Preparation of market studies for housing projects. Our reports are accepted by HUD, NYS DHCR and other market participants, and we are members of The National Council of Affordable Housing Market Analysts.
• Our government team is prepared to provide a wide array of services above and beyond the needs associated with a full re-valuation or annual update. This includes assistance with specific valuation issues, public relations, or office administration.
• For commercial data, we are in the process of creating a link to our sales database. Clients or other interested parties will be able to access some of our informational resources that we use on a day-to-day basis.

We continue to look for new and advanced approaches to provide our clients the most accurate and supporting real estate information. The markets that we serve include:

Our residential clients include mortgage bankers, banks, home equity companies, realtors and attorneys. Our territories include most of Western New York and the Greater Buffalo region.

Our commercial clients include banks and private lenders, investors, municipalities and government agencies, developers and property owners, accounting firms, attorneys and realtors. Our clients are national in scope, but our work effort is primarily concentrated throughout Upstate New York. We have the experience and the capability to service other northeastern and national territories.

Our government markets are concentrated in Western New York and other Upstate New York markets to include municipalities, county and state agencies.

Our consulting markets include a variety of residential, commercial, and government clients who use real estate valuation and administrative services. Market analysis for housing projects is prepared in conjunction with tax credit (NYS DHCR) and HUD guidelines; clients include state agencies, developers, lenders and investors.