Author: AppraisersBlogs

No appraisal required HARP 1

No Appraisal Required Under New HARP

Today the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) to “attract more eligible borrowers who can benefit from refinancing their home mortgage.” The announcement was made in conjunction with the government sponsored enterprises (GSE), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. HARP will now allow borrowers to refinance even if they are underwater. According to the Wall Street Journal, only 894,000 borrowers have used HARP, of which 70,000 were underwater. FHFA announced several enhancements to HARP, including eliminating the appraisal requirement. The appraisal is no longer required if a reliable automated valuation model (AVM) estimate...

Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / Automated Valuation Models / AVM / Fannie Mae - Freddie Mac

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AMC Oversight Bill Signed into Law in Illinois

New AMC Law in Illinois August 31, 2011 – Illinois became the 29th state to enact a law that provides for comprehensive oversight of appraisal management companies. Gov. Pat Quinn signed Senate Bill 1539 into law Aug. 26, and it took effect immediately. Under the new law, AMCs are required to register with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which would have significant authority to “ascertain the qualifications and fitness of applicants for registration and pass upon the qualifications of applicants for registration” and allow AMCs to be disciplined for “professional incompetence” and “gross malpractice.” In addition, the...

AI / AMC / Appraisal / Appraisal Institute / Appraisal Management Companies / Appraisal News

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Appraisal Institute New Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum

On September 29th, the Appraisal Institute released a form intended to help analyze values of energy-efficient home features. It is the first of its kind intended for appraisers’ use. The industry leader in green valuation, the Appraisal Institute issued the form as an optional addendum to Fannie Mae Form 1004, the appraisal industry’s most widely used form for mortgage lending purposes. Used by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration, Form 1004 is completed by appraisers to uphold safe and sound lending. Currently, the contributory value of a home’s green features is rarely part of the equation. “This...

AI / Appraisal / Appraisal Institute / Appraisal News / Appraisal Organizations / Appraisers News

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Appraisal Management Companies Create More Problems Than They Solve

When the final chapter on this housing crisis is written, I hope that I am still around to see those who were responsible for its cause and the feeble attempts to fix it held responsible. One of the worst fixes is the Home Valuation Code of Conduct. Enacted in 2009, HVCC was spearheaded by then New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. His objective was to rein in appraisal abuses by the lenders sending loans to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. A noble goal, but by the time this so-called fix went into action many of the worst offenders were either...

AMC / Appraisal / Appraisal Management Companies / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / Customary & Reasonable Fees

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2012 – 2013 USPAP Now Available

The Appraisal Foundation (TAF) announced that the 2012 – 13 edition of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) is now available. The 2012-2013 edition of USPAP will be valid for two years, effective January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013. According to a TAF press release “the new edition includes the standards of professional practice for all appraisal disciplines as well as guidance from the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) in the form of USPAP Advisory Opinions and USPAP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).” As with the prior edition, the new edition includes the standards of professional practice for all...

Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisal Organizations / Appraisers News / ASB / The Appraisal Foundation

UAD Reader alamode 0

UAD Reader to Manage XML Appraisal Files

Free UAD Reader to Manage XML Appraisal Files UAD (Uniform Appraisal Dataset) is the appraisal format designed and required by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and adopted by FHA and VA. All GSE-destined appraisals as of September 1st, 2011 must be in strict UAD format. FHA and VA have announced they will both require UAD after January 1st, 2012. How do you open and read an appraisal file in the newly required “UAD” MISMO 2.6 XML format? a la mode UAD Reader is a free tool that lets anyone work with any appraisal in the new UAD MISMO 2.6 XML...

a la mode / Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisal Software / Appraisers News / Fannie Mae - Freddie Mac

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Exposure Draft: Adjusting Comparable Sales for Seller Concessions

The best way for valuation professionals and the public to make a difference in their profession is to offer comments to the Boards of The Appraisal Foundation when exposure drafts are released for comment. The Appraisal Practices Board (APB) has recently released its first Exposure Draft entitled Adjusting Comparable Sales for Seller Concessions. All interested parties are encouraged to comment in writing to the APB before the comment deadline of December 2, 2011. Written comments on this Exposure Draft can be submitted by mail, email and facsimile: Mail: Appraisal Practices Board The Appraisal Foundation 1155 15th Street NW, Suite 1111...

APB / Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisal Organizations / Appraisers News / The Appraisal Foundation

VA adopts UAD 1

VA Adopts Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD)

Fee Appraisers are reminded that completion of the data fields of the appraisal report does not relieve them of the duty to provide adequate explanations in the addendum to provide clarity and justification. Veterans Benefits Administration Department of Veterans Affairs Circular 26-11-14 September 26, 2011 UNIFORM APPRAISAL DATASET (UAD) Purpose. The purpose of this circular is to announce the adoption of Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) compliant appraisal reports for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Loan Guaranty Program purposes. Effective Date. Effective immediately, VA fee appraisers may, as an option, use UAD compliant versions of the forms. Effective January 1, 2012,...

Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / Fannie Mae - Freddie Mac / The US Department of Veterans Affairs / UAD

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City Employees Encourage False Real Estate Appraisals

St. Petersburg city employees encourage false real estate appraisals Frank Gregoire of Appraiser Active and Gregoire & Gregoire, Inc. in the news: St. Petersburg city employees encourage false real estate appraisals by Noah Pransky ST PETERSBURG, Florida – Are staffers keeping city leaders in the dark on real estate deals to obtain property faster? A 10 News Investigation into recent land-buys by the City of St. Petersburg indicates employees in the city’s real estate department are influencing the appraisal values of properties they plan on purchasing. But employees aren’t asking local appraisers to underestimate the values of the homes they...

Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisers News

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VA Will Not Require UAD Compliance

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it will not require Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) compliance for appraisal reports on VA backed loans. As of September 1, 2011, VA will accept, but not require, UAD compliant reports; it is preparing a circular with more information on this issue in the very near future which will be posted online.

Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / The US Department of Veterans Affairs / UAD / Uniform Appraisal Dataset

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