Author: Dave Towne

Another Bias Story... A Biased Line of Thinking - AppraisersBlogs 11

A Biased Line of Thinking

This ‘new’ bias story really ticks me off. Click the link below to read it: When My Home Appraisal Came Back Low, I Realized We Need to Change the System (goodhousekeeping.com) It was written by a notable self-promoter, the so-called “America’s Favorite Financial Educator”, also known as “The Budgetnista,” — Tiffany Aliche. I used to be in marketing. Those are clever. Perhaps even memorable. I question the first one, though, as I’ve never heard of Ms. Aliche until seeing the story and researching her. But I’m not black, either, so I guess that’s my problem. Most of the story is...

FHA Temporary Partial Waiver - Actual Reasoning & Directive 2

FHA Temporary Partial Waiver

FHA Appraisers, on April 26, 2021, FHA issued this Temporary Partial Waiver, which is active for one year. This temporary partial waiver is effective for the 12-month period between April 26, 2021, and April 26, 2022. It is found in FHA INFO #21-25 April 27, 2021: Temporary Partial Waiver of the requirements of the single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 Section II.D.4.c.iii.(F)(2) Required Analysis and Reporting that the Appraiser must include, analyze and report a minimum of two active listings or pending sales on the appraisal grid (in addition to at least three recently settled sales) in an Increasing Market...

Truisms - Taxes, Death... and Anti-Bias Training - Appraisers Blogs 8

Truisms – Taxes, Death… and Bias Training

…other states will also modify their appraisal license renewal CE class requirements to include some form of anti-bias training… Folks, I attended the ACTS Conference in Bay St. Louis, MS, sponsored by National Association of Appraisers, last week. While there, enjoying the interactions of ~150 attendees, a primary topic of conversations and presentations was the impending impact to appraisers regarding anti-bias training and bias attitudes. The onslaught of negative news articles, and legislation at state and federal venues was a direct result of the ‘hijacking’ of the Congressional Hearing in 2019 which was supposed to focus on “Appraisal Modernization.” Instead,...

Unlawful Restrictive Covenants - What Are Racially Restrictive Covenants? 4

Unlawful Restrictive Covenants

What are racially restrictive covenants? Are racially restrictive covenants valid and enforceable?.. There has been considerable discussion about ‘bias’ applying to appraisals on forums, and elsewhere, since the Congressional hearing in 2019 where appraisers were blamed for racial bias by the rep from the Brookings Institute. That rep vilified appraisers as being the culprits in the lending process, which is mostly bogus. Unfortunately, now that the charge has been made, appraisers and appraisal organizations are now forced to play on the defensive side of the ball, rather than being proactive and disclosing what actually transpired, on offense. I sense appraisal...

Forms Redesign Extended Into 2023-24 8

Forms Redesign Extended Into 2023-24

What once was a ‘three year’ project to redesign and implement revised appraisal forms has morphed into one taking far longer. Actual implementation and use of ‘new forms’ are not scheduled to happen until (presumably) early in 2024, but could be extended even further. By 2024, the currently used ‘forms’ will be 19 years old, and the current UAD overlay entering ‘teenage hood’ at 13. For context, the current Planet Mars Perseverance Rover mission to successfully plan and land scientific instruments took only 9 years! Details for the ‘forms redesign extension’ are based on the announcement from Fannie Mae (and Freddie...

Passing State Laws Mandating Fair Housing Continuing Ed for Appraisers 41

Blaming, Punishing Appraisers in State Laws

Will the same states that do this for appraisers also mandate similar Fair Housing and Fair Lending courses for lenders, loan officers, mortgage bankers… Are you aware that US States are beginning to ‘require’ appraisers take required courses in how to treat people fairly, by requiring such a class for every license renewal period?? Here’s the law from New York state: 19 NYCRR § 1107.2. is amended as follows: Section 1107.2. Individual continuing education requirements (a) For State license and certification periods that commence on or after January 1, 2000, real estate appraisers and real estate appraiser assistants who hold...

USPAP 2020-2021 Extension Effective Through 2022 - Appraisers Blogs 4

USPAP 2020-2021 Extension

2020-21 USPAP Extension – Does this mean USPAP will be on a three-year cycle going forward? USPAP has been extended for one year, effective through December, 31, 2022. This is the Appraisal Foundation news release, issued on Feb. 19, 2021: Media Contact: Amy Timmerman (202) 624-3048 amy@appraisalfoundation.org BREAKING: 2020-21 USPAP Extended for One Year (Washington, DC) February 19, 2021 – The Appraisal Foundation’s Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) announced today that the current edition of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) will be extended by one year. The 2020-2021 USPAP will now be effective until December 31, 2022. “USPAP...

CoStar Higher Offer to Buy Corelogic - Appraisers Blogs 1

Bids to Acquire CoreLogic

I heard from a number of appraisers about their adverse situations involving CoStar… It was announced on Feb. 4, 2021 that CoreLogic will be sold, with the transfer happening in the April-June 2021 time frame. See Inman news service article, “CoreLogic Acquired By Stone Point Capital, Insight Partners For $6B – Inman”. From the article: The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021, subject to shareholder approval. See another news source here. CoreLogic currently owns several companies with ties to appraising: A la mode – appraisal report software Columbia Institute – appraiser education service provider Matrix...

Who’s REALLY completing bifurcated/hybrid Reports? 14

Who’s REALLY Completing Hybrids?

Who’s REALLY completing bifurcated/hybrid appraisal reports? This essay has been “rattlin’ around my cranium” for a few months from the time I acquired two ‘case study’ report examples in early 2020. I’ve recently received a third bifurcated report, which has similar appraiser data. So now is a prime time to spill the beans, so to speak. Especially since FHFA, the conservator of Fannie and Freddie, is currently on a mission to “modernize the appraisal process.” They are seeking input from appraisers and other stakeholders who use appraisals. But first, as the infomercials say, there’s more! One ‘more’ concerns appraiser obligations...

Media Creating a False Picture. What was Said at the Save America Rally?

Media Creating a False Picture

…the media and others have twisted what was said to hope you will believe that it was an “incitement of violence”… Folks, I’ve been “mulling this over” for a few days, trying to totally understand what has really been happening over the past months and years up to January 6, and after. What I’ve learned is you, me and everyone else have basically been lied to, and as such, what I’m about to write is going to “p@#s off” a few of you, but others will understand. By the way, I should say that I have tried not to mix...

xml sitemap
blank