Category: AI

Appraisal Institute Continues to Support Separation of Fees 1

AI Continues to Support Separation of Fees

The Appraisal Institute and the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers reiterated their support of separating appraisal and appraisal management company fees on mortgage disclosure forms June 20 in Congressional testimony. The organizations originally voiced support when drafts of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposed Consumer Disclosure Form were released in February. AI and ASFMRA again expressed their support in written testimony on “Mortgage Disclosures: How Do We Cut Red Tape for Consumers and Small Businesses” before the House Committee on Financial Services’ Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity. The organizations expressed support of clear disclosure of...

NAIHP call to action 1

NAIHP Urgent Call to Action

NAIHP: “Congressional Subcommittee REFUSES Small Business Brokers and Appraisers a Seat at the Table” For the second time in a week, the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity, Chaired by Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Illinois), refused small business housing professionals the right to be represented during Congressional testimony. On June 20th, the Subcommittee held a hearing entitled: “Mortgage Disclosures: How Do We Cut Red Tape for Consumers and Small Businesses?” Although, Banks were represented three times on the panel, Brokers were intentionally excluded. NAIHP argued to represent the industry, but was refused because the panel was full. On June 28th,...

Appraisal Oversight Hearing 0

Hearing on Appraisal Oversight: Impact on Consumers

“Appraisal Oversight: The Regulatory Impact on Consumers and Businesses” Hearing Frank Gregoire, a a state-certified residential appraiser in Florida, will testify on behalf of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) before the House Financial Services Committee’s Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee on Thursday, June 28th. The hearing will focus on the appraisal industry and regulations impacting consumers and businesses. Mr. Gregoire holds the RAA Designation, is a two-time Chair of NAR’s Appraisal Committee, and has been active in NAR’s public policy committees since the early 1990s. Mr. Gregoire is on Panel II of the hearing. WITNESS LIST Panel I...

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Appraisal Strategy Altered in Unstable Canadian Market

Several Canadian banks have reconsidered their appraisal strategies due to increased concern about the accuracy of property values in a market with the potential to overheat, the Globe and Mail reported June 13. Canadian lenders currently use such valuation methods as full appraisals, drive-by appraisals and databases to determine market value. Banks are emphasizing on-site visits, particularly for properties over a certain price threshold or in rural areas, the Globe and Mail reported. They also are more carefully evaluating who performs appraisals. The banks hope that increased diligence will result in more accurate values in light of concerns about an...

USPAP violations 3

AppraiserLoft Fined for Failure to Pay Appraisers

AppraiserLoft Fined $855,000 for Failing to Pay Arizona Appraisers A Phoenix judge fined the defunct appraisal management company AppraiserLoft $855,000 for failing to pay Arizona appraisers at least 171 times within the past 18 months, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported June 12. The San Diego-based AppraiserLoft has been the subject of numerous non-payment and late-payment claims from appraisers, former employees, advertisers and other parties before shutting its doors in October. The AMC allegedly owes more than $3 million in property valuation invoices. In the Arizona case, administrative law judge Diane Mihalsky found that the AMC failed to pay Arizona appraisers...

Analyzing market trends 0

AI Helps Appraisers Analyze Real Estate Market Trends

Analyzing of market trends The nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers published guidance June 4 to help appraisers analyze market trends. The Appraisal Institute’s “Guide Note 12: Analyzing Market Trends” addresses to what extent appraisers are responsible for recognizing changes in market conditions, and what steps appraisers must take to ensure due diligence is done regarding the analysis of market trends. The Guide Note states, “Analyzing current and anticipated market conditions is more complicated – and more critical – when a market is rapidly changing, either upward or downward.” Adequate market analysis must be completed before highest and...

Appraisal Institute members in Capitol Hill 2

Members of AI Urge Congressional Action on 3 Bills

Nearly one hundred members of the Appraisal Institute went to Capitol Hill May 23 to urge Congress to act on three bills that could significantly impact the valuation profession. Attendees of AI’s annual Leadership Development and Advisory Council, held May 22-24 in Washington, D.C., lobbied lawmakers and their staffs on S. 3047, the Expanding Homeowners Refinancing Act; H.B. 3461/S. 2160, the Financial Institutions Examination Fairness and Reform Act; and S. 3085, the Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act of 2012. S. 3047 builds on President Obama’s proposal — announced during his 2012 State of the Union address — that home loans not...

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TAF Response RE Gag Rule

TAF Response to Columbia Institute eVIP Appraisal News April 6, 2012, Mr. George Harrison, The Columbia Institute Dear Mr. Harrison: This is regarding an item that appeared in the “Ask George” column in the April 2 edition of eVIP Appraisal News. The question and answer relates to Appraisal Sponsors of The Appraisal Foundation apparently being under some type of constraint regarding freedom of expression. You have made a similar claim in a previous column and we thought that it was time to correct the record. You state that “The Appraisal Foundation has a restriction clause – gag rule – in its...

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Power Line Impact on Sales

Article in The Appraisal Journal Says Power Line Impact on Sales Depends on Property Transmission lines are more likely to have a negative impact on sales when a property has a residential use or small lot size, or when similar properties without transmission lines are available in the market, according to an article published in the current edition of The Appraisal Journal. The Appraisal Journal is the quarterly technical and academic publication of the Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers. The materials presented in the publication represent the opinions and views of the authors and...

Proposed Amendments to the Sentencing Guidelines in Mortgage Fraud Cases 1

Sentencing Guidelines Proposal

Proposed Amendments to the Sentencing Guidelines Speaking at a March 14 hearing in Washington, D.C., the Appraisal Institute urged a federal judicial agency to require the use of real estate appraisals when calculating loss in mortgage fraud cases. In prepared written testimony, Appraisal Institute President Sara W. Stephens, MAI, told the U.S. Sentencing Commission, “We believe the Commission should adopt a special rule for determining the fair market value of real property if the mortgaged property has not been disposed of by the time of the sentencing. However, this rule should require use of real estate appraisals prepared by qualified...

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