Monthly Archive: October 2018

Deal Falls Through & Everyone Blames the Appraiser - AppraisersBlogs 17

Blaming Appraisers

…deal falls through and everyone involved is convinced the appraiser ruined everything… We hear all about low appraisals, but we never seem to hear about homes that are flat-out over priced, often by an agent who wants to prove they are smarter than everyone else and will take advantage of any unusual feature or circumstance to push the value beyond any other homes in the local market. For example: A buyer finds a house in need of some updating. Medium sized market and things are selling between 90-120 days on average. The neighborhood is good and the house has a...

Clarification for the Term assists Regarding Hybrid Appraisals 10

Who ‘assists’ in Hybrid Appraisals

the appraiser shall identify any person who "assists" in the appraisal process… NCREAA recently submitted a letter to the North Carolina Appraisal Board regarding hybrid / desktop appraisal products. As a result of this letter, which highlights concerns raised by NC Appraisers, NCAB is forming an ad hoc committee to clarify, define and provide guidance on these hybrid / desktop products with respect to current North Carolina Appraisal Laws. Read the letter below: The North Carolina Real Estate Appraiser Association (NCREAA) has recently received requests/inquiries from our members regarding guidance on assignments for “hybrid/interior desktop” appraisals requests they have recently...

CoreLogic’s a la mode is Pulling a Facebook Privacy Play 21

a la mode Pulling a Facebook Privacy Play

One of the tactics of Facebook has long been to “cross the line and apologize” rather than “ask permission.” Now that “A la mode has been acquired, by CoreLogic” the company with a 50% market share of the industry seems to be employing this tactic. We have been A La Mode users for a decade. Heck, I even appeared on their homepage and in their marketing materials to attest to our firm’s belief in the product. But that was before Dave Biggers sold the company and our belief in the product was replaced with suspicion. Rightly so. In a routine update to...

Valuing Properties in 5 to 15 minutes Using Photos...Lightspeed Appraisals 22

Fast, Faster and Really Fast…

Appraiser must be comfortable valuing a property in 5-15 minutes using pictures… Fast, Faster and Really Fast… Take a look at the ad for an in-house appraiser in the Atlanta area. How many of your are good enough to apply for this job? Job description We are looking for Real Estate Appraisers (licensed in GA) to work remotely on an independent contractor basis.. Appraiser will primarily be responsible for valuing properties which are on foreclosure list. Appraiser must be comfortable valuing a property in 5-15 minutes using pictures from field report. The ideal candidate will have experience with valuing distressed...

Congratulations AppraisersBlogs - On Behalf of All the Crew at AGA! 7

Congratulations AppraisersBlogs

I just received a phone call that demonstrates AppraisersBlogs has international readership and influence. About an hour ago, I received a call from an Israeli appraisal software developer asking questions about features that appraisers like and dislike in appraisal software. Obviously, he got my views – though I tried to be reasonably objective and if he follows up with email as planned, we may all be able to offer input. My main point though, is to let the Administrators of AppraisersBlogs (AB) know just how far their influence travels. This caller follows AB because it is one of the very...

Appraiser Loft like Scam on Appraisers - AMC Owes Appraisers $750K 7

AMC Owes Appraisers $750K

Have Appraiser Loft executives screwed over appraisers again? VaCAP has been tipped off that the investors at Clarocity have uncovered some truly unbelievable facts within Clarocity Corporation. VaCAP was aware many of the Appraiser Loft Executives had landed at Clarocity and had previously shared this information with advise to be careful. According to comments on the Investor Bull Board, Clarocity has pulled off an Appraiser Loft like scam on appraisers and investors. Take a look for yourself here. By the way yesterday, Columbus Day 2018 was the 7 year anniversary of the Appraiser Loft heist! See the HousingWire article here. Clarocity is...

AI Damaging Appraisers' Livelihood - Shame on All AI National Leadership 57

AI Damaging the Livelihoods of Appraisers

Congrats AI National, you got a win and hope you can sleep at night… The Appraisal Institute succeeded pushing SB-70 into CA law without informing their own membership. Their long-term goal for all their anonymous lobbying to dismantle all appraisal licensing is to revert to a previous time before FIRREA when membership in trade groups mattered a lot more. Unfortunately, they are heavily damaging the livelihoods of appraisers in the process. Be sure to shake hands with Scott DiBiasio, Bill Garber, Jim Amorin and the rest of AI executive leadership at your next AI meeting. The background on this insanely...

AMC Financial Trouble, The AMC Model Does Not Work 6

AMCs Financial Trouble

The AMC model does not work & these companies are in serious financial trouble… Stand Your Ground: A few weeks ago VaCAP reminded everyone to pay attention to the financial and economic side of your business. The article was titled “Stand Your Ground”. Since that time, we have learned of the following: A VaCAP member shared a retro desktop appraisal request in a rural area. The AMC was paying $75. An appraiser posted on AppraisersBlogs’ repost of our article about being owed thousands of dollars by the same company. See the comment here. Also take a look at the stock...

Cap on Fees & Appraiser Politics - Appraisers Blogs 32

Appraiser Politics

I doubt that appraisers would be as excited if a cap were placed on appraisers… Recently, I noticed many appraisers were excited about a new bill that was introduced in Virginia. This bill initially sounded favorable to me, but as I examined it more closely, I quickly became concerned with the excitement that was building up around it in the appraiser community. Laws in general are typically difficult to understand, and they can look better at first glance than they actually are. It is important for us to analyze new laws carefully before we advocate for them. Senate Bill 655...

Do You Have Two Appraiser Brains? Which Brain Wins? 12

Do You Have Two Appraiser Brains?

So, do you have two brains? One appraiser brain says you must be “independent, impartial, and objective.” (USPAP) It wants to be good. It wants integrity and to sleep peacefully at night. But there’s another brain. It’s primal and wants to survive. It has other responsibilities: meet the bills, feed the family, pay the mortgage, and pay government taxes/fees. And recorded in this brain is that part of the standards which say: Do what your clients expect; do what everyone else does. As paraphrased, the sole guides to an acceptable scope of work. The two brains may not talk to each other. Each...

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