While some appraisers can say “NO” to value pressure… many cannot and did not due to intense financial pressure. As a result, loan officers will never again be permitted to have a direct relationship with real estate appraisers. Ironically, lenders controlling the process internally suffer from the same illness that loan officers were suffering from. They drive up profits by closing loans that depend on values. The natural conflict of interest is totally unsolvable and value pressures have and will continue under those lenders who are controlling their appraisal process.

Some third parties have proven themselves to be incompetent… however; incompetence exists within companies at every industry position. This is why we believe that when loan officers are once again tasked with ordering appraisals from the licensed and regulated 3rd party of their liking… they will choose the company that offers the most competency and best practices. This will force 3rd parties to increasingly raise the quality of their services in order to compete for businesses that will make them earn it day in and day out.

The cause was just for the underground railroad… so to say that people who believe in and fight for a just cause should always expose their identities is simply untrue. Appraisers who have families to provide for and must rely on the income that is currently available can’t totally destroy their remaining income in order to promote their just cause. We believe this is the reason that no other group with the needed solutions have surfaced in the middle of this giant mess. And… it is a giant mess. Read all of the comments posted below the Declaration of Appraisal Independence on the petition site from the link above. Yes, it is a mess.

Another reason the oppressive state of the industry remains is because any time an effort is put together to bring some change… many appraisers attack it because they think it is not a perfect solution. Appraisers must unite behind simple solutions to turn the tide back in their favor. Absent of that, the wasteland will continue to waste away. The time for appraisers to fight back is now. Solutions that will truly bring positive changes are on the table. Federal Advocates, Inc. is on the warpath to fight for the Appraiser Prosperity Coalition… positive change is coming. The more people join with them, the faster it will come. Don’t sit on the sideline, get involved and make a difference!

I’m a big boy now. I learned how to say “NO” to lenders, and brokers a long time ago.

I would prefer that lenders take back the appraisal functions “in house” and hire professional appraisal staff to order and service them. The so called independent third parties have only proven themselves to be so incompetent and uninformed about the whole process, as to render it nearly meaningless.

When independence is a virtual guarantee of incompetence, we need to take another look at the so called ‘independents’ administering it.