Fed Report Scrutinizes Appraisal Processes The Government Accountability Office released a report June 28 that scrutinized real estate valuations in the wake of the recent mortgage crisis. The report, Residential Appraisals — Regulators Should Take Actions to Strengthen Appraisal Oversight, was produced using data from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and five of the biggest mortgage lenders. The report revealed that valuations received through broker price opinions and automated valuation models take less time and are less costly than traditional appraisal reports, but traditional appraisal reports are still mandated for almost all first-lien residential loan originations due to their greater reliability....
Gov. Bob McDonnell signed legislation (H.B. 408) April 11 that made Virginia the 10th state to enact new regulations regarding the operation of appraisal management companies. The new law will become effective July 1. Under the law, AMCs operating in Virginia will be prohibited from influencing or attempting to influence the development, reporting, result or review of a real estate appraisal through coercion, extortion or collusion by withholding or threatening to withhold timely payment or future business from an appraiser. AMCs also will be prohibited from: removing an appraiser from an AMC’s panel without first giving written notice to the...
Nearly one hundred members of the Appraisal Institute went to Capitol Hill May 23 to urge Congress to act on three bills that could significantly impact the valuation profession. Attendees of AI’s annual Leadership Development and Advisory Council, held May 22-24 in Washington, D.C., lobbied lawmakers and their staffs on S. 3047, the Expanding Homeowners Refinancing Act; H.B. 3461/S. 2160, the Financial Institutions Examination Fairness and Reform Act; and S. 3085, the Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act of 2012. S. 3047 builds on President Obama’s proposal — announced during his 2012 State of the Union address — that home loans not...
I have described below the 8 biggest appraiser liability cases with which I am familiar that are currently pending in the U.S. These are cases that specifically name appraisers, appraisal firms or appraisal management companies as defendants. That’s an important distinction because the appraisal industry has been fortunate that only a small fraction of litigation about financial losses blamed on appraisal deficiencies actually names any appraisal defendants. Yet, the stakes below are very significant for the appraisal industry because the realistic measure of damages at issue in just these 8 cases — not the plaintiffs’ puffed-up alleged damages — is...
More FHA Borrowers to Refinance without Appraisals The Obama administration announced March 6 that the Federal Housing Administration would reduce fees that have prevented some FHA borrowers from refinancing at ultra low rates over the past year, The Wall Street Journal reported. The change will reduce fees through what’s known as a “streamline” refinance, which is reserved for FHA borrowers who refinance into another FHA-backed mortgage. The process does not require borrowers to verify income, employment or credit — and it does not require a new appraisal, which means that underwater borrowers can refinance, the Journal reported. Many borrowers who...
FHA Updated Valuation Protocol FAQs Revised 02/28/12 FHA has updated the Valuation Protocol FAQs posted on the FHA Appraiser Roster web page. The most recent FAQ can be found on page 27 of the document and provides clarification for what constitutes an acceptable conventional heating system. You can periodically review the FHA Appraiser Roster web page for alerts on recently published Mortgagee Letters of interest and other pertinent announcements. The publication contains the following topics: New Construction Wood Destroying Insects/Termites Utilities – Well and Septic Inspections & Certifications Cost Approach Accessory Dwelling Units Manufactured Housing Two Unit Properties HECM Appraisals Lender...
Free FHA Webinar for Appraisers on Preventing Mortgage Fraud and Foreclosure Scams The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is offering a webinar on February 28, 2012 on Preventing Mortgage Fraud and Foreclosure Scams: February 28, 2012 – Preventing Mortgage Fraud and Foreclosure Scams Webinar. The webinar will provide information on the detection and prevention of Mortgage Fraud and Foreclosure Scams and is presented by the Department of HUD, Federal Reserve Bank, Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The intended audience includes Mortgage Industry (lenders, housing counselors, real estate agents, appraisers);Regulatory/governmental entities; and Consumers. Registration required, no fee.
Last week the Obama Administration unveiled its plan to help homeowners refinance to take advantage of historically-low interest rates. We are going to focus on the valuation side of the plan. If you want the rest of the details you can go here. The program includes refinance options for GSE (government sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) borrowers. Both programs forgo the appraisal requirements in the refinance process. According to the White House Fact Sheet, “the GSEs would be directed to use mark-to-market accounting or other alternatives to manual appraisals for any loans for which...
On January 18, 2012, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) released their report on real estate appraisals “Appraisal Subcommittee Needs to Improve Monitoring Procedures” as required per Dodd-Frank. GAO was tasked with 1) determining how the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) is carrying out its Title XI responsibilities, 2) ASC’s plans to implement Dodd-Frank provisions, and 3) regulatory dollar thresholds for determining when an appraisal is required. GAO reports that one of the challenges faced by ASC is in the area of resources and planning. GAO cites the creation of a national hotline as one example of a Dodd-Frank requirement that could...
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is offering appraisal webinar and seminar training in January and February 2012 for seasoned and new real estate appraisers: January 17, 2012 – Property Inspection Requirements for FHA Appraisers: Have you ever thought, “Am I in compliance with HUD requirements if I do not inspect the subject’s attic?” This FREE webinar training is geared towards the FHA Single Family Roster Appraiser and will cover property inspection requirements to include neighborhood influences, site analysis, and improvements. Appraisers new to the FHA Roster, as well as seasoned professionals wishing to refresh their knowledge, will benefit from this...
