Appraisers Freed from DEI Propaganda
With a few swift strokes of the pen, President Trump has dismantled the divisive and misguided diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) apparatus that had taken root across the federal government. On just his second day in office, Trump ordered the closure of all federal DEI offices, placing their employees on paid leave and signaling a decisive end to the era of government-sanctioned social justice activism masquerading as fairness and equality.
This bold move immediately resulted in the removal of all appraisal bias propaganda from the official whitehouse.gov website. Attempts to access remarks previously made by Vice President Harris regarding alleged racial bias in home appraisals now return a “page not found” error message. The implications are clear – the lies and false accusations maligning real estate appraisers as discriminating against people of color, along with calls to forcibly diversify the appraisal profession for political reasons, have been firmly rejected by the new administration. Appraisers across the nation are breathing a sigh of relief, knowing these baseless attacks on their integrity and professionalism have been halted, freed at last from the slanderous accusations of discrimination leveled against them and their industry by agenda-driven bureaucrats and race-baiting politicians.
One of the first casualties was the insidious Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE) initiative, which had promulgated pernicious propaganda falsely maligning the integrity of America’s hardworking real estate appraisers. In the end, PAVE’s legacy was little more than baseless smears against an industry that already operated under strict non-discrimination laws and regulations. PAVE’s dissolution marked a return to common sense and a rejection of the previous administration’s misguided crusade against a vital cog in the nation’s housing market.
With the DEI cancer now excised from the body politic, the days of appraisers being unfairly targeted by activist bureaucrats appear to be over, at least for now.
- HUD Investigation Leads to Illegal Break-In & Evidence Tampering - February 26, 2025
- AMCs Deceptive Fee Skimming Exposed in Lawsuit - February 25, 2025
- AMCs Overcharging Consumers? Morgan & Morgan Investigates - February 14, 2025
Rae Oliver Davis, the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), was one of more than a dozen inspectors general fired by the Trump administration late in the day on Friday. The move has sparked controversy, with lawmakers accusing the president of breaking federal law, and others expressing concern that the independence of these agencies would be damaged.
President Donald Trump dismissed at least 17 inspectors general (IGs) across various federal agencies, including those from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Personally, I believe the federal government is way too big and out of control. We taxpayers are being eaten alive in paying those salaries and benefits. Then add in the cost of the office space and furnishings. There needs to be some very serious pruning of ALL branches of government.
Prune yes, but not with a chainsaw.
Why not?
Let’s try a new approach and see where the details may lead;
Internet search; appraisal subcommittee “federal funding”
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https://asc.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/2024.01.17%20ASC%20Handbook%20Ver.2.pdf
GMO (Grants Management Office) is the group within ASC that is responsible for all aspects of the management and administration of the ASC Grants Program. / NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) is a formal announcement of the availability or opportunity of Federal funding through a financial assistance program from a Federal awarding agency. / NGA (Notice of Grant Award) is the official legal document issued to the grantee that indicates a federal grant award has been made and funds may be requested to be used, and reported on, in the approved manner.
2.1 The Appraisal Foundation (TAF) Grant / 2.1.1 Introduction
Congress has tasked TAF for setting the standards and qualifications for the real estate valuation profession in the United States. They are directed by BOT and have two independent boards; the AQB and the ASB. ASC is responsible for monitoring and reviewing the practices, procedures, activities, and organizational structure of TAF.
2.1.2 Authority / 12 U.S.C. 3338(b)(4) / 2.1.3 Eligible Applicant / TAF is the only eligible applicant.
3.1 Availability of Funds for Grant Programs / ASC funds its grant programs from fees paid by appraisers and AMCs to be on the National Registry of Appraisers and the National Registry of AMCs 1. While the funds come directly from fees, these monies are considered federally appropriated funds for the purposes of ASC’s federal grants management practices.
https://www.asc.gov/grants/state-programs#
The legal recipient in each State would be the State Appraiser Certifying and Licensing Agency, subject to oversight by the ASC, and with jurisdiction for: / (2) registering and supervising appraisal management companies (AMCs).
The ASC makes awards to support the efforts of eligible State Agencies to comply with Title XI. The statute lists two areas of support: / (1) the complaint process, complaint investigations, and appraiser enforcement activities of such agencies
https://www.asc.gov/sites/default/files/2024-06/2024.06.12%20FY24%20NOFA%20TAF%20FINAL.pdf
II. Federal Award Information / A. Available Funding for FY24: $250,000 / A. Eligible Applicant / The only eligible applicant for this grant is TAF. / B. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of Award / By submitting an application, TAF agrees to comply with the requirements of this NOFA and the terms and conditions of the award if they receive one.
Federal funds made available through this award may be used for the purpose set forth in this NOFA, the ASC Grants Handbook Ver. 2, and the terms and conditions of the award and must be consistent with the statutory authority for the award. Award funds may not be used for matching funds for any other federal awards, lobbying, or intervention in federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings.
Pg 7 & 8 / ii. Unallowable Costs /
(1) Conference Fees or Travel: Registration and/or travel costs to attend conferences for the recipient’s employees, consultants, or experts. / (9) Lobbying Costs: Costs associated with attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials, which include legislators, members of regulatory agencies, and/or judges. / (12) Scholarships
ASC grant recipients; terms and conditions.
https://www.asc.gov/sites/default/files/2024-08/2024.08.01%20FY24%20ASC%20Grants%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.pdf
By signing this award or accepting funds under this award, you assure that you will comply with applicable provisions / 3. Lobbying. / a. You must comply with the restrictions on lobbying in 31 U.S.C. 1352, and submit all disclosures required by that statute and regulation. None of the funds provided under a federal award may be expended by the recipient to pay any person to influence, or attempt to influence /
5. Hatch Act. If applicable, you must comply with the provisions of the Hatch Act
9. Research misconduct. You must comply with requirements concerning research misconduct in the Government wide research misconduct policy that the Office of Science and Technology Policy published in the Federal Register (65 FR 76260, December 6, 2000, available through the U.S. Government Printing Office website:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2000/12/06/00-30852/executive-office-of-the-president-federal-policy-on-research-misconduct-preamble-for-research
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Legal ramifications for research misconduct? Enter the AEI Tobias report counter to the Brookings ‘appraisers are racist’ report. Heads of the FHFA, ASC, TAF, Fannie, Freddie, and HUD all acknowledged the Brookings report, then refused to recant the false premise after the AEI disproved the conclusions. The PAVE task force recommendations were based on research misconduct. So were subsequent FHFA recommendations which GSE’s followed. Resulting in; appraisal waivers, unlicensed PDC property data collectors, hybrid forms expansion, PAREA trainees, the AVM final rule, a series of false complaints against appraisers. Enter NFHA operating with HUD grants enticing borrowers to file even more false complaints against appraisers. Wiping out tens of thousands of working appraisers careers whom serviced the American public via GSE service. All because of accepted research misconduct.
Per the ASC grants handbook (first link), ASC funding grants is considered federally appropriated funds. ASC provides these funds to TAF which is tied to responsible oversight of complaint investigations. This appears to place TAF, AQB, ASB, and ASC under the purview of federal rules and executive actions.
This reads as if ASC has authority and responsibility to provide oversight over TAF as TAF is the sole grant recipient for federally appropriated funds. / Although the TAF claims it does not have congressionally appropriated funds (via below link), the grants sent to them via ASC, sourced from the registry fees amc’s and appraisers pay, and the USPAP book sales revenue; are all monies recognized as federally appropriated funds via the ASC’s own rules.
https://appraisalfoundation.org/imis/TAF/About_Us/Myths-vs-Facts/TAF/Myth-vs-Fact.aspx?hkey=614b7a3f-7401-4f0f-b6b0-896dc14c10c2
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https://x.com/doge/status/1889897384122982604
Anyone have a twitter account?
Great threat, Baggins – and yes I’m on X but not premium (no money, lol). It’s great that appraisers are willing to work together – long overdue.
UPDATE “Class Action Suit”: The HUD PAVE Initiative and the Systematic Attack on Independent Appraisers
Over the past few years, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has systematically targeted independent appraisers through the PAVE (Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity) initiative, using baseless allegations of racial discrimination to prolong investigations, entrap professionals, and ultimately reshape the appraisal industry for political and financial gain. I am one of many appraisers who have been subjected to what appears to be a deeply flawed investigative process, and after years of fighting, I am now escalating this case further—seeking congressional intervention, media exposure, and the legal backing to launch a “class-action lawsuit” against HUD for its questionable enforcement practices.
This is not just my story. Dozens of appraisers have come forward and contacted me with similar experiences (And Growing), and the pattern is clear: state appraisal boards and other government agencies review complaints and find no evidence of wrongdoing, yet HUD moves forward with an investigation anyway—disregarding exonerating evidence, extending cases indefinitely, and imposing unjustified hardship on appraisers. The real goal of these investigations appears not to find racism but to make the investigation itself the punishment—ruining the health, finances, and careers of appraisers caught in HUD’s system.
How My Case Exposes HUD’s Actions
I was falsely accused of racial bias after conducting a routine real estate appraisal. Another government agency conducted a year-long investigation and found no evidence of racism. However, instead of the matter being resolved immediately after showing them proof, HUD launched its own separate investigation, disregarding the findings and failing to address clear evidence in my favor.
• Entrapment Tactics: HUD filed a second charge of “Coercion” against me after I followed an investigator’s direct email instructions to contact the complainant about a potential resolution. This was later used against me as an additional violation.
• Prolonged Investigations Without Justification: HUD has exceeded its own statutory limits for investigations, keeping my case open for over two years (the appraisal was performed in 2021) despite clear evidence in my favor. The homeowner was not vetted per (Section 4000.1) HUD’s own handbook guidelines and Fair Housing Regulations, yet HUD proceeded with the case despite blatant perjury by the homeowner.
• Failure to Provide Transparency: I also filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to obtain the status of my case, yet HUD has failed to respond.
• Severe Personal and Financial Impact: Like many others, I have suffered significant emotional distress, anxiety, insomnia, and financial hardship—all while HUD continues its prolonged inquiry.
A System That Benefits from Keeping Cases Open
There is growing concern that these prolonged investigations are not about justice, but about sustaining a system that financially benefits from keeping cases open.
• HUD’s Funding Tied to Open Cases
o The PAVE initiative has received millions of dollars in federal funding under the premise of addressing appraisal bias.
o More open cases = more funding. If HUD resolves cases quickly, they have no justification for additional grant money.
o Congress must audit HUD’s financial incentives and determine whether prolonged investigations are artificially inflating their budget justifications.
• Bureaucratic Self-Preservation Over Fairness
o HUD investigators are not evaluated based on fair resolutions—they are evaluated based on how many cases they manage.
o Closing cases means less funding and fewer positions within HUD’s enforcement divisions.
o Congress must demand transparency and justification for these prolonged investigations.
• The Industry Profits While Appraisers Are Left Defenseless
o DEI consultants, law firms, and compliance companies profit from prolonged investigations, offering costly “bias training” and “diversity reviews” for appraisers.
o Banks and Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs) benefit as fewer independent appraisers allow them to consolidate control over property valuations.
My Efforts to Seek Accountability
Since the last call for appraisers to join this fight, I have taken the following actions to escalate this case:
• Contacted multiple Senators and House Representatives, including the offices of Rand Paul and Josh Hawley, Adam Shiff, Dave Minn, among others, urging a full congressional investigation into HUD’s investigative practices.
• Contacted the FBI: Confidential.
• Filed multiple reports with HUD’s Office of Inspector General, formally expressing concerns over procedural irregularities and investigative conduct.
• Filed a complaint with the HUD whistleblower hotline, requesting independent oversight of the process and my case.
• Contacted the DOJ Twice, requesting a review of the handling of these cases and the broader implications for regulatory fairness.
• Contacted DOGE/Elon Musk, I populated the proper forms.
• Engaged multiple law firms, including civil rights attorneys, to explore legal avenues for holding HUD accountable.
• Sent follow-up letters to HUD’s San Francisco office, which regulates West Coast appraisers, demanding transparency on how cases are being handled.
• Reached out to many media outlets, reporting DEI violations, and ensuring that this issue is not ignored.
• Contacted the General Accounting Office (GAO) in Washington D.C., seeking assistance or appropriate redirection to an oversight agency.
• Gathered multiple testimonies from appraisers currently under investigation, many of whom report the same pattern of extended cases despite being cleared by other agencies with many Investigators suggesting a quick settlement.
One appraiser even reached out stating that he was battling cancer while HUD continued to investigate him despite evidence clearing him of any wrongdoing. Like myself, many appraisers have suffered severe mental, emotional, and financial distress fighting cases that should have been closed long ago.
What Happens Next? Join the Fight.
This is just the beginning. Many more appraisers are coming forward, and this needs to be a nationally recognized class-action lawsuit.
If you are an appraiser under HUD investigation or past investigations—or if you were previously investigated and cleared by your state board or another agency—I urge you to reach out. We need to gather as much evidence as possible to force Congress and the courts to take action.
? If you have been targeted by HUD, email me at: kjmull@aol.com
? If you are a journalist, legal expert, or someone who can assist in bringing this case forward, contact me immediately.
This issue is not about improving appraisal standards or racial equity—it’s about political and financial manipulation of an industry under false pretenses. If we do not fight back now, the ability of independent appraisers to work without fear of government retaliation will be lost.
It’s time to hold HUD accountable.
– Kenneth J. Mullinix
Send this to Elon Musk.
The fact that only 2.2% of all appraisers are black demonstrates racial bias. The proof is in the pudding. Keep flagging them HUD
Im pretty sure anyone has the freedom to pursue their OWN career path provided they meet the qualifications for entry. EVERYONE is held to that same standard. Simply throwing out some false narrative based on a dubious percentage and then accusing racism is idiotic at best. So let’s see, based on your assertion, there is some grand conspiracy to keep ethic groups out of some “good ol’ boys” club? That is one of the most absurd things I’ve ever heard and sounds biased and racist.
Don’t know about that. In my market area the vast majority of the appraisers are Nepo or Good Ole Boy hires. There was one black appraisal firm and nearly all of the appraisers in that firm were Nepo hires too. It’s been the nature of the profession to hire from within.
Can’t say I’ve ever witnessed that in my time as an appraiser and that is a lot. I’ve worked as a fee appraiser, business owner and senior appraiser at a US government agency and never experienced what is being described. I’ll be the first to admit there are some bad players out there but that is true in any profession. One can’t paint an entire industry with a broad brush. That is unrealistic. If that were the case then every profession would be labeled racist based on the minority not the majority. To say what is being said it would have to be a
conspiricy of biblical proportions and the best kept secret in the history of mankind. Let’s engage our common sense and ask, is that really possible? I don’t know what you are basing your observations on so I can’t comment. My observations are based on my personal life experiences.
So?
‘Nepo hires.’ That’s the new liberal slander for ‘family businesses’. They’re really reaching deep lately with innovative trolling.
And the word is totally not applicable to the appraisal industry. You think we’re getting special favors and insider connections, lofty promotions because our parents manage anything? Most of our parents or family, if we came into the industry through those avenues, are long since busted out and bankrupt.
Mark Hastert. Nepotism for independent 1099’s who earn less than fast food workers and are actively discriminated against by both private industry and government? Where do you come up with these wild ideas? When a father and sons moving truck drives by on the road do you spill your coffee and start cursing every time? Good ole boys? Like Mississippi and the south or busing or what exactly does that mean? Show me where this mythical good old boys network actually exists, because I’d like to perhaps swing by to check things out. Like phone a friend or something. And why did you spell it with an ole instead of old? I don’t have time to chase down all this innuendo. Let’s post a counter meme instead. You could at least try to be creative if you’re going to post here. Thanks.
No Baggs, don’t be so touchy. Didn’t intend to strike a nerve. I’m not criticizing. I’m just stating a fact of life. In my market area and with 39 years in the business, nearly every fee appraiser I’ve met was born into the business or got in through a friend (including me). A handful came from county or state agencies but even they had contacts. You don’t see hiring fairs or job postings for fee appraisers. We hire from within. We hire people we know. It’s given our critics unjustified fodder.
Nepotism is not happening in the appraisal world. The term describes something more akin to political dynasties or unearned promotions to family members in large companies. Something not even possible for most appraisers or appraisal firms.
This is what makes the third party management such as the amc industry so extra ordinarily damaging and nefarious when applied to appraisers. They’re not sharing with corporate or taking advantage of scale. Rather driving small business under with ruthless profiteering, restriction of trade, and racketeering type approaches.
Post this again I suppose. The cartoonist was capturing the issue with one state requesting appraisal waivers. But really the message is more applicable to the amc industry for the entire country. The cartoonist was referring to the perspective of lenders appealing for waivers. But what was really happening is the lenders were not calling appraisers trying to discount shop, it was their amc agents whom were calling and insisting on discounting, then despite an available appraiser workforce, they refused to pay market rates for the service.
It’s just important to clearly and accurately describe the issues. Nepotism is not an accurate description for what has been happening.
If not for the constant reduction in appraisal volume, this industry could right now support 200,000+ licensed appraisers, rather than the GSE load only supporting 40,000, of which the majority are now virtually unemployed. Courtesy of; rising demins, waivers, hybrid work products, the avm final rule, profiteering amc companies, pdc’s, the separation from loan production rule. Remember 1099 PIR’s that paid $250 each for a two page report? Standard minimum fees enforced by FHA at $400+ in the 1990’s? Amc’s captured that market. PDC’s do the job for $25 each now a days. Pass all the risk back to the taxpayer.
Mark I’m not mad but sometimes I wonder why I’m even still bothering. Trying to save a pretty silly job lately, a dead end one at that.
As always Baggins – you have great posts. I am one who has been forced out of business due to the lack of work and low fees. My software bill is due in April – last year I put it on a credit card that still hasn’t been paid off. Also added the MLS membership afterwards, and then the E & O. I suspect I will be out of business by April as I’m not doing that again. As for all this bias crap, I’ve been in the business for nearly 24 years, started at 30% for 3 years, and did it on my own. Had a hard start as I was pregnant at the time with my 3rd child – took months to find a mentor. Life situations insisted that I work for a living, and female appraiserrs weren’t very common then. Met a lot of “good old boys”, but so what. My mentor was a “good old boy” who decided to give me the chance – an ex-cop. I had just gotten certified and building my business when HVCC hit shortly thereafter – worked a rural FHA for $200, with over a 100 mile trip. I didn’t have a choice as I was now a single parent with 3 kids. I would have been glad to hire a trainee – no matter what ethnic background – if I had enough work and pay to do so. You are so spot on with the AMC companies which have progressively gotten worse in terms of trying to find multiple ways to keep the appraiser out of the equation. In relation to this supposed bias – I’ve had many “minority” customers and would never consider that factor in my appraisal work. It is the AMC companies directly that have destroyed our profession. Banks also have their appraisal departments and do the same thing – charge the homeowner a higher fee and expect us to work for less. I had a customer – from a bank appraisal – ask me why his appraisal cost over $1000. We’re not allowed to discuss fees expressly, but I found some way to convey that I wasn’t getting that fee (perhaps they had other charges rolled into it…..). I’m still fighting for this profession even though I realize my professional demise is inevitable. I’m not even making enough to cover basic living expenses.
I learned of this occupation when my wife and I did a refi on our home. When we originally bought it was from a friend who financed for us. I took the classes and passed all the tests. I went to several appraisers before I got hired on as a Trainee. I took CE classes plus additional classes over a two year period. When I passed all tests I became a Certified RE Appraiser. No family connections or friends to pave the way for me. That was just over 24 years ago. I have had several Trainees over the years. Whites and Blacks. Male and Female. I paid them based on the percentages I got as a Trainee. I have nothing to be ashamed of. I do straight up honest appraisals on every assignment.
I’m completely and utterly white except for a little Comanche. Back in the early 1980’s it was very difficult getting into the appraisal occupation where I live, EVEN FOR EDUCATED WHITE MALES. However, I didn’t whine and expect somebody or government agency to save me from the “mean old racist white men” who dominated the industry. I had a degree, then I went to the Universities of Colorado and Texas and took Institute courses with no financial help from anyone. Then I went out and met appraisers and applied. I got a job after about three months because I took the initiative. I worked for 35% for three years. Had I known then what I know now, well, you know …
Maybe the appraisal industry is 2.2% black because it has something to do with their lack of action. And who said that we are supposed to be social justice warriors? The way it seems now is that we are racist simply because we’re not SJW’s.
I am very curious as to how you come up with that 2.2% figure. Is there some agency that tracks appraisers by race, or by sex?
We’ve looked into this before and the numbers are difficult to track down. More like over 10%. But it’s anybodies guess. Various statistical outlets including those within the government and tax systems bundle appraisers with other non appraiser groups. If the amc industry had not stolen billions upon billions upon billions, year over year over year from the appraisal industry, the workforce would be more diverse, and more people would hire and train appraisers whom they had no relation with. Many have only gotten into the industry for almost three decades, the length of amc industry dominance, by working for free for friends or family members. I worked for nearly free for over two years to get my license, approximately 40 to 60 hour weeks.
Charles Haley, you’re not very smart. Easily programmable though.
Want to play a game? I’ll go first. Name the movie and the scene.
Funny stuff!
Hmmm, crickets. Glengarry Glen Ross and no I don’t sell real estate, lol
Silly, I should not have posted that but it’s too late to edit without bothering the admin again. Everyone is talking about balls this and balls that on the news. Then this person shows up personally hating on appraisers. If they think they can do a better job in this industry, they’re welcome to try, it’s a free country.
Sometimes one needs to just say it like it is. The haters will hate and they wandered into our neck of the woods just tlooking for confrontation and stir the pot
Actually I thought you were very reserved but accurate, as usual.
February 2025 Virtual “How to Become an Appraiser” Workshop
February 19, 2025
6:00 – 7:30 PM CDT
Location: Virtual Workshop
The Appraiser Diversity Initiative® (ADI) Team invites you to learn more about the exciting world of real estate appraisal: a profession with a wide range of increasingly attractive career options.
Pathways to Success Scholarship
Applicants must first complete the PAREA readiness checklist to confirm eligibility for the Scholarship.
Click here to start your readiness checklist.
The Appraisal Foundation Pathways to Success Scholarship, funded by The Appraisal Foundation, covers 100% of enrollment costs for any AQB-approved PAREA program, including the Appraisal Institute’s Licensed Residential PAREA Program. This scholarship is designed to support aspiring appraisers who have completed the prerequisite education in their state where PAREA is approved.
The application for the Pathways to Success Scholarship is available here.
Eligible applicants can learn more at http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/contact-us
https://www.appraisalinstitute.org/advocacy/appraiser-diversity-initiative
4 years of gaslighting and they are still at 2.2%…no wonder trump won in a landslide
Okay Charles, ball is in your court. Hopefully some will seize the opportunity however at the rate things are going with the false narrative that ALL appraisers are racist the profession is withering on the vine. It’s people who choose to not actually do the research and perpetuate the main stream media rhetoric that is contributing to its demise. I’m hoping the truth prevails now that common sense is the montra of the new administration. I wonder if anyone is aware that simply filing a racist claim against a lender can result in a settlement of upwards of $30,000 with a lender? Fact and searchable on the internet. No proof, no conclusions. It’s just “go away” money. If that’s not motivation I don’t know what is.
Amazing how quickly the Foundation succumbed to to BLM narrative. Hopefully, it will be destroyed by the Trump administration.
Why bother holding workshops to become an appraiser? The GSE’s are trying their best to get rid of us overpriced, deal-killing, slow appraisers…I guess having unlicensed/unvetted PDC’s who many times tell the homeowner they are there to do an appraisal are cheaper, faster and no deals will be killed. I know of a real estate agent in a nearby market doing at least 5 PDC assignments a week for *lear *apital AMC, he can’t understand how its any cheaper or faster but he’s still doing them anyway. At least he’s licensed by NY State as an agent.
A landslide, you must have been watching some other election as the metrics I saw tell a different story and that is the truth, unlike the MAGA version there was no landslide.
I’ll be damned, Baggins was spot-on for the masses. They really do seem to find each other in life. Congrats on not dissapointing.
what happened to your 81 million voters…buyers remorse
Why is there no “thumbs down” emoji?
Admin tried that. Some posters were getting downvoted so much their comments became invisible with this click through to read thing which is an option for these types of websites. Did not work, so only upvotes. Admin actually puts in a ton of work to keep this site going the way it currently works. Paid thousands upon thousands year over year of personal money to keep this moving.
Yeah, how is this going to work? Will they be allowed to discriminate against non-moslems who might want to move there? I wonder what the Feds, the Texas Real Estate Commission, NAR, TALCB, etc., will say about this? How will any appraiser work within this context?
https://jihadwatch.org/2025/02/texas-muslim-cleric-announces-construction-of-new-muslims-only-enclave-near-dallas?unapproved=2589080&moderation-hash=4e350b377ec289ce7bb093e46b497c09#comment-2589080
Appraisers will get sued for discrimination for NOT accepting appraisals in those type of markets.
The PTB will then double down on DEI and hiring for anything that moves that is not an old white man to appraise these properties.
Gotta keep pushing the narrative.
Not if you provide and fee quote to cover your potential liability in those areas. Additionally, the percentages are on your side that you never will. There have less than 10 appraisal assignments that have been placed in media attention over the past 10 years. In most cases it was an issue of appraiser competence and not of racial bias.
There are many highly complex properties that I have a much higher quote for, not because I have learn more in order to do it, rather it is going to be a pain in the butt and the I know the owner is a self serving indulgent that thinks there house is the best thing since slide bread; therefore I supply at $2500 rate quote. If they want to pay that, then I’m comfortable accepting the assignment and said risk.
Could Home Price Gains Be Past Their Peak?
Home inventory highest, demand lowest in five years, report finds.
Last month brought the highest housing supply since January 2020. But buyers aren’t biting, feeling economic uncertainty and perhaps – as some sellers also do – that home prices could be at a peak.
According to a report released February 13 from real estate brokerage Redfin, last month saw the highest home inventory nationally since 2020 – and simultaneously the lowest buyer demand, as mortgage rates hit a monthly average of 6.96%, up 0.24 percentage points compared to December and 0.32 percentage points from a year earlier.
“Economic fears have been top of mind for people. I have sellers saying, ‘I think we’re at the top of the market – I’m ready to cash out and put my money into another investment,’” stated Charles Wheeler, a Redfin agent in San Diego, California, in a release.
Homes sat on the market for an average of 56 days before selling – the longest of any January in five years. And, “it’s worth noting that price growth is roughly back to where it was before the pandemic, growing 4%-5% a year, as opposed to the double-digit increases seen in 2021-2022,” according to the report.
Thus, thanks to that home price appreciation, it costs a good deal more now to buy the same house than it would have back then in 2020.
https://nationalmortgageprofessional.com/news/could-home-price-gains-be-past-their-peak
who are they going to blame this time…the appraiser
I have not read all the comments on the subject. But , after 40 years in the appraisal business, this discrimination issue just reinforces how politically WEAK the appraisal profession still is. The professional is a easy for “target for blames”. The appraisal professional gets the blame for everything that goes wrong within the mortgage lending business. The other interest groups have alway understood the can dump the blame on appraiser with minimal push back.
Appraisers are virtually unrepresented. A consequence of the long term failures of the taf and asc to do their jobs properly. That’s your political tie in.
For all these years, not enough people been paying attention to the written rules. They’ve been too busy keeping up with a never ending stream of new rules for appraisers and changing standards constantly piled on by gse’s.
https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisers-freed-from-dei-propaganda/comment-page-2/#comment-44510
‘While the funds come directly from fees, these monies are considered federally appropriated funds for the purposes of ASC’s federal grants management practices.’
Federally regulated funds. There have been certain standard rules which have always been applicable. They have not been followed. Including right now as DEI material is still up on these orgs websites.
This appears to answer the long standing argument and question; Is TAF and ASC subject to certain rules, and are they private or government organizations? Follow the money. Define the money. Federally regulated funds.
ASC is supposed to be responsible for TAF oversight as a condition of continued grants access as well as their enjoyed congressionally approved status. A myriad of federal rules apply. The oversight is lacking. The core missions not being fulfilled. The money misappropriated. The Hatch act. Fly America act. Lobbying rules. Research misconduct. Conflicts of interest provisions. Whistleblower protections.
Title XI FIRREA
https://www.millersamuel.com/files/2020/08/Title-XI-as-amended-by-EGRRCPA-12.2018.pdf
b) Threshold level. Each Federal financial institutions regulatory agency and the Resolution Trust Corporation may establish a threshold level at or below which a certified or licensed appraiser is not required to perform appraisals in connection with federally related transactions, if such agency determines in writing that such threshold level does not represent a threat to the safety and soundness of financial institutions and receives concurrence from the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection that such threshold level provides reasonable protection for consumers who purchase 1–4 unit single-family residences.
(c) GAO study of appraisals in connection with real estate related financial transactions below
the threshold level.
(1) GAO studies. The Comptroller General of the United States may conduct, under such
conditions as the Comptroller General determines appropriate, studies on the adequacy
and quality of appraisals or evaluations conducted in connection with real estate related
financial transactions below the threshold level established under subsection (b), taking
into account—
(A) the cost to any financial institution involved in any such transaction;
(B) the possibility of losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund or the National Credit
Union Share Insurance Fund;
(C) the cost to any customer involved in any such transaction; and
(D) the effect on low-income housing.
2) Reports to Congress and the appropriate Federal financial institutions regulatory
agencies. Upon completing each of the studies referred to in paragraph (1), the
Comptroller General shall submit a report on the Comptroller General’s findings and
conclusions with respect to such study to the Federal financial institutions regulatory
agencies, the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the
Senate, together with such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the
Comptroller General determines to be appropriate.
Question; Did the CFPB approve FNMA’s expansion of the waiver program? Where is the GAO studies for points A-D?
Fannie Appraiser news;
To increase appraiser efficiency and capacity, we’re expanding our hybrid appraisal policy option. Hybrid appraisals utilize a third-party property data collection that is provided to the appraiser for the completion of an appraisal using appraisal Form 1004 Hybrid or Form 1073 Hybrid.
Hybrid appraisal property eligibility will align with traditional appraisals except for the following exclusions:
2-4 unit, co-op, and manufactured home properties;
Construction to Perm, HomeStyle® Renovation and HomeStyle® Energy Loans; and
Proposed construction.
This expansion aims to reduce loan origination cycle time for borrowers.
Effective: This change is effective March 22, 2025.
https://www.fanniemae.com/newsroom/fannie-mae-news/fannie-mae-announces-changes-appraisal-alternatives-requirements
‘Value acceptance’. Expansion to waiver programs.
GAO financial audit FHFA 2023-2024
https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-107454.pdf
pg 51 / They glossed over the entire issue and just rubber stamped FHFA’s actions, including the Tech Sprint event! The entire tech event was based on the premise appraisers are biased and they wanted to code in avm peramiters to eliminate appraisers to eliminate ‘disparate valuation outcomes based on race and ethnicity’. That same exact language now resides in the avm final rule. The GAO report and oversight appears to be meaningless, they auto approved everything.
pg 52; Division of Public Interest Examinations In April 2024, FHFA announced the creation of DPIE to centralize the Agency’s supervisory activities in the areas of affordable housing, community development, diversity and inclusion, consumer protection, and fair lending
Research keywords: FHFA announced the creation of DPIE / Actual FHFA page results get ‘denied access’ returns, presumably content removed via DEI executive order. However, news articles remain online.
https://themortgagepoint.com/2024/04/30/fhfa-forms-new-division-of-public-interest-examination/
James Wiley… That’s your guy right there. Found him. Appraisers take note. FHFA fair lending oversight. CFPB senior counsel. HUD office of general counsel and fair housing enforcement division. Instructor for the NFHTA national fair housing training academy. Appraiser complaints…
FHFA issues final rule on The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has released its Fair Lending, Fair Housing, and Equitable Housing Finance Plans Final Rule, together with the Fannie Mae Equitable Housing Finance Plan update and Freddie Mac’s Equitable Housing Finance Plan update, as well as Performance Reports for both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for 2023.
https://themortgagepoint.com/2024/04/29/fhfa-releases-its-fair-lending-final-rule/
Click the links! Page not found. Page not found. Page not found. Page not found. Page not found. Five in a row, all FHFA direct reference links! Gone!
Yet the appraisal industry is shuttered due to these rules. The AVM final rule incorporated the DEI narratives. The entire GSE apparatus pertaining to independent appraisal requirements has been altered and abolished due to DEI based narratives and prerogatives. If anyone had any doubt that appraisers careers have been purposefully sidelined and decimated due to the effects of DEI policy making at the very top levels. So when does the Comptroller General GAO office actually do it’s job? When do the GSE’s roll back their expansion of waiver programs? Who will correct the mishandling of the appraisal industry, which GSE’s had to follow, because of now discredited FHFA narratives and directives?
Related Tech Sprint research. National Consumer Law Center / Appraisers are not the only ones questioning the integrity of AI machine learning algorithms.
https://www.federalreserve.gov/SECRS/2021/July/20210708/OP-1743/OP-1743_070121_138207_376771404970_1.pdf
C. More research is needed to understand the disparate impact of automated valuation models (AVMs) in real estate financing. / Real estate finance depends on reliable appraisals. Property valuation is done with computer software, either exclusively or in conjunction with a visit to the property. The software, called an automated valuation model or AVM,64 is based on data from traditional appraisals, public records, and private vendors.65 Federal law requires lenders to use a state licensed or certified human appraiser,66 but an exception to that law covers over 80% of home sales by aggregate dollar volume.67 / Consumers depend on accurate valuations. An inaccurate AVM can overvalue or undervalue a property, creating serious, practical consequences for homeowners and buyers. As the Federal Housing Finance Administration observed; inaccurate data may lead to an appraisal waiver on over valued property (data cancer). / Problems with the data fed into AVMs makes them less accurate. The history of housing and residential mortgage lending in the United States is riddled with racial discrimination. Some argue that AVMs will be free of bias if the data points do not include race.72 But that ignores the fact that AVMs are trained on data that has, itself, been shaped by race. (references the AEI Tobias report). / Financial institutions? use of AI and machine learning models may lead to unlawful discrimination and abusive practices in the credit process, including in underwriting, pricing, and credit decisions. Machine learning, the most powerful form of artificial intelligence, heightens this risk because it makes non- intuitive connections using large volumes of data that result in decisions that may not be readily understandable or explainable in an adverse action notice.
FHFA; Pg 22 / 2. Address appraisal bias and valuation equity, including by implementing the Property and Valuation Equity (PAVE) Task Force action plan;
https://www.fhfa.gov/media/51621
the PAVE government site is no longer. Yet the policies persist… If this is not enough proof, what is?
appraisers are way too busy preparing home appraisals at low fees and ridiculous turn times to keep up with the injustices unfairly dump on the appraisal profession. Nothing new……..the beat goes on.
Couldn’t agree more. No representation by any party interested in protecting the profession. It’s our own fault. We’re too damn independent for our own good to unionize.
Trump’s plan to free Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac might change housing market for the better
Neal and fellow Urban Institute researchers have previously published research showing that deep discrepancies in mortgage lending lead to stubborn disparities in wealth. In 2023, mortgage applications from Black borrowers were denied twice as often as those from white borrowers. As of 2024, the Black homeownership rate was 45.3%, a whopping 30 percentage points below that of white households, at 74.4%.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/trump-s-plan-to-free-fannie-mae-and-freddie-mac-might-change-housing-market-for-the-better/ar-AA1z8Z2m
that is right…the banksters approve or deny loans…not the appraiser…heck i don’t even know the loan amount and number hitting is a violation of law…now go away crn shilly shill shills and take your forked tongues with you
Given his rapid rate of change to existing programs and the dismantling of many federal departments, we will most likely see. If history is correct, deregulation will not help but who knows maybe we can trust the bankers this time around.
eliminating waste is a good thing…if trump was serious about reform, he would destroy k street…the gses are cash cows for the dc swamp…all the cards are stacked….against the appraiser…they call it appraiser independence…this is not a conventional war…and appraisers are losing…this place needs a laughing emoji
While out driving around getting comp photos for the 2nd appraisal I’ve had all month (low fee of course), I remembered the first appraisal I ever got on my prior home – around 1989. Since everyone seems to be suggesting bias in the appraisal field, I thought I’d mention that the appraiser was a Black man, friendly and professional, and as I look back I realize that it never mattered to me. I remember looking over the appraisal copy I received and noted that the photos were pasted into the report – what needed to be done before the digital uploads. That was 36 years ago. Why is there always such a big deal on the ethnic backgrounds of people? What matters is whether someone can do the job! I figure if this man could be an appraiser 36 years ago, there is no reason why someone else could not be one now. It’s hard work starting in this business with a percentage fee, and currently not enough hours to be trained. Again, the AMCs and GSEs have caused this as many of us barely have enough work to survive let alone pay a trainee.