Category: Appraisal News

We work together and support each others initiatives 1

Let’s Work Together

We work together and support each others initiatives… Like VaCAP, other appraiser organizations are working towards the betterment of the appraisal industry and public trust. VaCAP works independently, as well as with a network of other state coalitions and other professional organizations in our industry. Many of the initiatives VaCAP supports are the same initiatives other organizations support. Although we may have different ideas on solutions, we work together and support each others initiatives as the appraisal industry and the consumer benefits. The American Society of Appraisers was represented by John Russell, Director of Government Relations, at the Customary and...

Appraiser Shortage Myth Used to Raise De Minimis Value 43

Appraiser Shortage Myth Used to Raise De Minimis Value

Appraisers, I know everyone is busy right now, but this cannot wait. This may be the most important blog post affecting appraisers this year. I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say that if something is not done, it really COULD lead to the end of ALL residential appraisers for federally regulated transactions under $500,001. FFIEC under the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act (EGRPRA), is considering raising the de minimis lending level from $250,000 to $500,000, because the local community banks are complaining that they cannot find enough appraisers in rural America to handle the volume! If...

We Need More Appraiser Drivers! 9

We Need More Appraiser Drivers!

Powerful ‘uncles’ gave us the vehicles, but we need more drivers! Stand up for yourself and oppose those things that are wrong in our own profession and the related lending industry. Oregon: Teach THEIR Board USPAP! Seriously. They were trying to fine people for not meeting turn times, as a USPAP violation! TWENTY FOUR PER CENT of the AARO (Government Regulatory Officials) members they contacted for advice ALSO thought the same way! …New Jersey, Minnesota, Illinois and how many others: Ongoing reports, and evidence, of punitive mindsets rather than protective of the public views. They are using fines to balance budgets…

An Opportunity for More Work? 15

An Opportunity for More Work…

Work opportunity for $25… Opportunity? A member of VaCAP forwarded this email from an AMC. VaCAP wanted to share. “We have a new product which is a review of a BPO. You’ll need to log onto a site and complete a checklist. The pay is $25 per report with a 24-48 hour turn time. Most can be done in about 10-20 minutes. All work can be done from your desktop. Training will be provided. Please let us know if you are interested. At this time, we are reaching out to garner interest. We’ll let you know the next steps as...

Comments Continue to be Invited - Appraisers Call to Action 6

Should the Government Accept Appraisers’ Complaints?

If you believe the government should be accepting complaints from appraisers regarding Appraiser Independence Issues, then please send your comments Please respond to the call to action below! The IACF was developed for use by those who wish to file a formal, written complaint that an entity subject to the jurisdiction of one or more Agencies, the Board, or the NCUA has failed to comply with the appraisal independence standards or USPAP. The IACF is designed to collect information necessary for one or both of the Agencies, the Board, or the NCUA to take further action on a complaint from...

An Appraisal Profession Tsunami is Coming 16

An Appraisal Profession Tsunami is Coming

TSUNAMI! Before the Internet and YouTube, most of us read about or saw a few pictures of Tsunami’s in books. Reading about a tsunami though, will never be the same as actually being in a tsunami, or seeing a video of a tsunami. A YouTube video of the Japanese tsunami of 2011 truly captures what a tsunami is, and how destructive it can be. If you have never seen that video, take a look at it below. People die in tsunamis. Tsunami death pictures can be found all over the internet. But who were those people and why did they...

Fee schedule - Raise your fees 17

Ask & You Shall Receive – VaCAP

Smoke & Mirrors? Could it be as easy as updating your fee schedule? I got an email from an appraiser today. The only thing the email said was “Call Me 804-XXX-XXXX”. The email had a read receipt attached to it . My first thought, “What did I do now?”. With hesitation, I called the number. The appraiser said, I have to share something with you, but you have to promise not to mention my name or the AMC. I agreed. The appraiser received an order request from an AMC for a fee that was low, but not nearly the lowest...

Desirable - banned Fannie Mae words 10

Desirable, Rite or Rong?

Desirable, banned or permitted? I was caught up in a minor ‘dispute’ last week when a review appraiser wacked my knuckles when I described a ‘neighborhood’ as being “Desirable.” My original message was re-distributed on various forums and I’ve tried to read all comments to see how I might learn from this episode. Lots of appraisers offered their input. Some supportive and positive, some cautionary, and some who believe much of what we have to deal with is pretty trivial. “Banned words” were originally identified in the Fair Housing Act law many years ago (not the EEOC law as I...

commercial aprpaisal world 39

Commercial Fees Taking a Hit, Revision Requests & C&R Fees

Fee for commercial appraisals cut in half Metro West is an AMC entering the Virginia Commercial world. They are coming on strong as they have viable operations in other states. I heard that in the states they are presently in, the fee for a commercial appraisal has been cut in half. Like I said before, it’s only a matter of time. Will Virginia establish a C&R fee for a commercial report? Customary & Reasonable Fee Since Virginia enacted the C&R fee rule, I have gotten a lot of emails from appraisers asking when can they charge more. “When can I...

Unacceptable sentence 27

What’s Wrong With this Sentence?

AMC says sentence was unacceptable based on one word in that sentence Beware appraisers, big brother is watching what you write. This is the sentence in question. See if you can figure out what is considered to be ‘wrong’ about it: “Skagit County is centrally located between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, and is considered a desirable residential area with good appeal and has had continued stable growth for years.” Okay…now re-read that sentence again. Then, read this, which is from the FNMA Seller’s Guide, pg 567 in the Feb. 2016 edition: Unacceptable Appraisal Practices The following are examples of unacceptable...

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