With lenders facing myriad challenges and consumers seeking cost reductions, it might be tempting to take a shortcut with real estate valuation — but the negative impact could be significant and long lasting. Some lenders utilize automated valuation models in certain cases. However, AVMs are not real estate appraisals; the two are not comparable. An actual appraisal typically requires the appraiser to visit the property and to perform a visual inspection. This enables the appraiser to accurately report property information, which they then verify. Appraisers use their experience, expertise and education to determine which comparable sales to use and what...
American Guild of Appraisers Petitions Fed and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to Overturn Regulation that Threatens Viability of Professional Appraisal Practice WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Guild of Appraisers (AGA), a national organization of real estate appraisers that is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO’s Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), has petitioned the Federal Reserve Board (“Fed”) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to overturn a regulation adopted by the Fed that is contrary to the Dodd Frank Financial Reform law, threatens the viability of professional appraisal practice and undermines the legitimacy of real estate appraisals...
Appraisal Institute Helps Appraisers Choose Comparable Sales in Declining Markets The nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers published guidance to help appraisers know when and how to use distressed sales, such as foreclosures, as comparable sales. Such knowledge is particularly crucial in the current market where distressed sales are common, creating complex valuation challenges. The Appraisal Institute noted that appraisers often use comparable sales (or “comps”) to help develop an opinion of value. But in today’s distressed real estate market, many potential comparable sales represent foreclosed properties. Some owners have complained their home’s values have fallen because appraisers...
Did you know that the 2012 USPAP has a new development and reporting requirement? Effective January 1, 2012; when exposure time is a component of the definition for the value opinion being developed, the appraiser must also develop and state in the report an opinion of reasonable exposure time linked to that value opinion. The following is the exact language in the USPAP; DEFINITIONS Exposure Time: estimated length of time that the property interest being appraised would have been offered on the market prior to the hypothetical consummation of a sale at market value on the effective date of the...
Appraisalbuzz recently posted a ‘White Paper on Training the Next Generation of Appraisers. I thought it was a good enough read to repost to my subscribers. Please read the article HERE and see my comments below: I commend the authors of this well-thought out article. Though I do not agree with every suggestion contained within, I support the general purpose of the article and I thank those who have taken the time to put it together. There are some great suggestions and ideas in this article and every appraiser ought to read it and be a part of implementing a...
AMC’s are sending in complaints on appraisers… From ICAP – Illinois Coalition of Appraisal Professionals “Good afternoon ICAP’ers, I am writing to our residential members regarding a growing problem that ICAP is concerned with regarding lenders and AMC’s filing complaints against appraisers. THE SETUP: You receive a call from a lender or an AMC who wants to talk to you about an appraisal assignment you recently completed for them. The call usually comes from the QC Department at the post closing stage of the loan. They start questioning you on your line item adjustments. All the comparables are on smaller...
Urge your Representative to Vote for HB 210 Regulation of AMCs Hello VaCAP! As you know, VaCAP leadership has been working hard with VAR and the VAR Appraisal Alliance to help draft and support an AMC regulation bill. This bill is currently in the Virginia House of Delegates, and will cross over to the Senate on February 15th. Since many local realtor associations now require appraisers to be full members in order to obtain access to their MLS systems, VaCAP has many members who are also members of VAR. If you are a member of VAR, your dues have helped...
Request For Public Comment for the 2014-15 Edition of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice The goal of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) is to promote and maintain a high level of public trust in appraisal practice by establishing requirements for appraisers. With this goal in mind, the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) regularly solicits and receives comments and suggestions for improving USPAP. The possible issues and alternatives discussed in this document are intended to improve USPAP understanding and enforcement, and thereby achieve the goal of promoting and maintaining public trust in appraisal practice. The ASB is...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 2, 2012 Contact: Paula Douglas Seidel, Executive Administrator, The Appraisal Foundation Washington, DC — A recent survey conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of state appraiser regulatory programs has produced high marks for The Appraisal Foundation regarding its effectiveness in issuing appraisal standards and appraiser qualifications. The survey, which was performed in conjunction with the GAO study issued last month entitled “Real Estate Appraisals: Appraisal Subcommittee Needs to Improve Monitoring Procedures,” contained 65 questions relating to the effectiveness of the current real property appraiser regulatory system. In addition to the effectiveness of the Foundation,...
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released the second proposed version of a new Consumer Disclosure Form Feb. 1 that includes clear disclosure of any fee paid to a “Local Appraisal Company” and to an “Appraisal Management Company.” The Appraisal Institute reported last month that the CFPB is in the midst of developing a new form that would replace the existing HUD-1 settlement statement. In December 2011, Appraisal Institute representatives met with CFPB officials about the new form. The CFPB has indicated that several versions of the proposed form will be developed and tested with consumers by focus groups, with a...
