Category: Appraisal News

Evaluation Solutions ES bankruptcy 7

Evaluation Solutions Closes Its Doors

Evaluation Solutions, ES Appraisal Services in bankruptcy… Another AMC is closing its doors. Evaluation Solutions, ES Appraisal Services is in bankruptcy. Appraisers who have been inquiring about money owed to them, are receiving emails stating “Due to unforeseen circumstances Evaluations Solutions, ES Appraisal Services is ceasing operations” and “any inquiries should be directed to Bradley R. Markey…” The following is a letter from their bankruptcy attorney, Stutsman Thames & Markey, P.A.: Our firm has been retained to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding for the company. Evaluation Solutions lost its major client earlier this week and was forced to shut...

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Possible USPAP Changes

The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) is always a work in progress. If you haven’t heard, the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) is hard at work considering potential changes for the 2014 –’15 edition. On Aug. 15, 2012, the Board released a second exposure draft covering these proposed changes. The ASB’s work plan for the 2014-’15 edition of USPAP includes reviewing and revising as needed the following areas of USPAP: Reporting and Communication Requirements Reporting Options Retirement of Standards 4 and 5 Other revisions and additions as needed to ensure clarity and relevance The deadline for comment on this...

Letting the AIR out 4

Letting the AIR Out!

After all it’s AIR; not a vacuum. First, HVCC is dead. Dead and buried. It died back in 2010. Second, even when it was still plaguing the profession, it never stated that appraisers couldn’t or shouldn’t talk to real estate agents or brokers. Ever. I still have a copy of the HVCC because you never know when revisionist history will appear. Eventually, AIR took its place. AIR stands for Appraiser Independence Requirements. I have a copy of AIR. It resembles HVCC in many ways but, again, it doesn’t say a single word about appraisers being prohibited from chatting up or...

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3rd Exposure Draft: 2014-2015 USPAP

Third Exposure Draft of the Proposed Changes for the 2014-2015 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. Proposed changes 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 currently considering changes for...

Geographical Competency 3

Geographical Competency

Can we stop equating distance with geographical competency? There was a recent study completed that proved, beyond a doubt, what I have essentially suspected for years. The topic was what causes criminals to do what they do. After much study and consternation, it was discovered that all criminals, regardless of the crime and in 100% of the cases, have one thing in common. They all had a mother. There is an old debate trick called “Hasty Generalization.” Basically, it means taking something that may be true in some cases and applying it to all cases. “The Hansen family home schools...

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Free Trial Membership to ICAP

ICAP, the Illinois Coalition of Appraisal Professionals, works hard for you to monitor and make positive changes to Illinois State appraisal law. In an effort to enhance its membership and visibility ICAP has developed a special promotion offering a FREE no-risk trial membership. The FREE trial will allow non-members to receive all the same benefits as paid members through the first quarter of 2013, including: 1. A strong voice in Springfield with membership of over 1,800 appraisers 2. Legislative Alerts and Updates 3. Access to ICAP’s Career Center 4. ICAP Discounts on events and educational Offerings 5. Participation in ICAP’s...

Appraisal businesses risk 2

Greatest Risk Facing Appraisal Businesses

Greatest risk: low fees or low cash flow? A Recent Report From Texas There has been a lot of buzz about the recent survey from Texas. The Texas Appraisers and Appraisal Management Company Survey published by Texas A&M Real Estate Center in conjunction with the University of Houston’s Hobby Center for Public Policy and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago reports the current condition of the appraisal industry in the state of Texas. 1,584 appraisers and 55 Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs) doing business in Texas were surveyed and findings from the report were released to the public...

Appraisers Evaluations Guide 0

Evaluations for Lenders & Appaisers

Appraisal Institute Helps Appraisers Perform Evaluations for Lenders The Appraisal Institute’s “Guide Note 13: Performing Evaluations of Real Property Collateral for Lenders” addresses how appraisers should prepare an evaluation for a lender and comply with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. The Guide Note states, “Federally insured lending institutions in the United States are subject to regulations regarding real estate appraisals. For lending transactions involving real estate, a lender must obtain an appraisal from a state licensed or certified appraiser. There are 12 exemptions from this requirement. For three of these exemptions, in lieu of an appraisal by a...

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Charging by the Hour for Appraisal Services?

How much are you worth per hour? I am fuming. Thanks in advance for letting me vent and virtually ‘throw-up’ my frustration all over you. My Personal Assistant accepted an order for a Forensic Investigative Field Review the other day. Originally, the AMC had offered a fee of $350. We countered back at $500 and crossed our fingers… that we would NOT get the order. These types of orders are becoming more and more popular. As the market has dropped across the nation, lenders cannot sell the collateral they loaned on between 2005 and 2008 for a fraction of the appraised value. Naturally, it must be...

Appraisers work file critical 2

Work file, How Critical is it?

How Critical is the work file? I consider the work file responsibilities that are found in USPAP to be the most neglected. Appraisers tend to treat the work file as an after-thought rather than a fore-thought. Appraiser workfiles largely resemble a hodge-podge of scribblings, notes, dog-eared data sheets, distorted, coffee-stained sketches on legal pads and fast-food napkins. The whole thing is jammed into a file and mostly forgotten. To me, it is the bad comb-over of documentation. However, after reading this, I hope that you’ll afford it a tad more respect going forward. What Is USPAP’s Work file Big Picture?...

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