Appraisal News and Appraisal Tips For Real Estate Appraisers - Your source for appraisal industry news, appraisers' opinions, and discussions of appraisal issues
Since we last wrote about the unusual subpoenas coming from the offices of the FDIC through the law firm called the Mortgage Recovery Law Group (MRLG), we’ve learned some interesting things that you need to know. To read the original blog post “What to do if you get a subpoena from the FDIC”, CLICK HERE. First, the MRLG contracted with the FDIC in late 2010 to pursue collection of losses for the FDIC resulting from the many bank failures caused by the economic (real estate) downturn. Of particular interest is that the MRLG is not working on a contingency fee...
How a Few Key Items in your Work File Can Protect You in Court I used to work with someone who had a photographic memory. Most of us are not so lucky, and have to rely on our imperfect memories and good note-taking skills. As an attorney, I document everything. I handle hundreds of cases, and without good documentation I will not remember what I did on a particular day or what support I had for a particular theory. As an appraiser, your work file is your documentation. Not only is a work file a USPAP requirement1, it can help...
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is offering a webinar on March 20, 2013 on FHA Appraisal Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): March 20, 2013: – Webinar: This FREE Webinar training will provide clarification to current Underwriting Hot Topics, Insuring/Eligibility Issues and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in today’s FHA lending environment. Topics covered will include: FHA Updates including most recent
As of January 28, 2013, Fannie Mae started placing greater restriction on the data they collect to ensure uniformity. You will now begin seeing a “hard stop” issued by Fannie Mae on messaging. This change affects Appraisers working with AMCs or other lenders who submit data to Fannie Mae. What has changed? As appraisers know, the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP) is an electronic tool that Fannie Mae uses to ensure uniformity in the data that Appraisers collect and submit. The theory is that being able to track trends and information through data collected on appraisals will ensure more informed...
A Bipartisan Policy Center report released Feb. 25 primarily focused on reducing the government’s role in the nation’s housing finance system, but it also proposed changes to current appraisal policy. Appraisal-specific recommendations contained within the 136-page report, titled “Housing America’s Future: New Directions for National Policy,” focused on banning the use of distressed home sales as comparables by appraisers, a practice the BPC said was helping to depress local home values and impacting buyers’ ability to secure financing. The report suggested that Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration should refuse to accept distressed sales as valid comps,...
Questions dealing with age and retirement… There is a lot of apprehension in the appraisal industry regarding from where the next generation of appraisers will come. There are not a lot of new people entering the profession at this time. To try to get a better idea of appraiser demographics, we asked a couple of questions dealing with age and retirement. First, we asked, “What is your age range?” This was a very popular poll with a near record of 6,885 responses. No big surprise that the most popular answer was 51-60 with 33% of the vote. This was followed...
Have you ever wondered how accurate the Zillow “Zestimate” really is? In this video, Tom Horn explains how to determine the accuracy of Zillow in an area. Zillow has gone back in time to compare their historic Zestimate with what the property actually sold for. They claim that their “estimated market value” is not an appraisal, but in reality an estimate of market value is an appraisal, but it’s one that cannot be used by a bank and one that you may want to think twice about before using to determine a sales price for your home. They provide a...
The Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) has issued the following exposure drafts: Exposure Draft of Proposed Changes to ADVISORY OPINION 13 (AO-13), Performing Evaluations of Real Property Collateral to Conform with USPAP Rationale: The prior version of Advisory Opinion 13 included not only advice related to USPAP, but also some interpretations of the Interagency Appraisal and Evaluation Guidelines. The Interagency Work Group has suggested, and the ASB agrees, that AO-13 should focus on the application of USPAP and avoid interpretation of the guidelines. When an individual is acting as an appraiser, USPAP applies. The proposed replacement Advisory Opinion 13 illustrates that under...
The significant increase in insurance claims and disciplinary complaints against appraisers over the last few years is directly related to the foreclosure phenomenon and subsequent pattern of appraisal reviews performed during the last decade. The validity of both the process and results of these forensic reviews may have little relationship to the subsequent actions by those seeking the deep pockets of the appraiser and their insurance carriers to recover monies lost in bad loans. This trend shows no sign of diminishing. It remains incumbent upon appraisers to understand their errors and omissions insurance policies, any available risk management services available...
ASC Letter to State Appraiser Regulatory Officials Announcing the Launch of the Appraisal Complaint National Hotline To State Appraiser Regulatory Officials The Appraisal Complaint National Hotline (Hotline) will begin operation no later than March 29, 2013. The Hotline will refer complainants to appropriate State and/or Federal agencies to handle complaints of alleged violations of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and/or appraisal independence requirements. The Hotline will direct complainants to contact you to formally file their complaint using the existing protocols established by your State. The Hotline does not initiate complaints, act on behalf of complainants, arbitrate complaints,...
