Tagged: AGA

The Partisan Battle to Eliminate Dodd Frank 15

The Partisan Battle to Eliminate Dodd Frank

Dodd Frank created the illusion… I had a different “take away” from the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee “Modernizing Appraisals” hearing. My impression was that there were two simultaneous hearings by the same people in the same place. There was the actual televised hearing with disparate prepared speeches, and then there was the real underlying reason for the hearing. The partisan battle to eliminate Dodd Frank. I try very hard to take a non partisan approach to the issues facing appraisers when writing about or for the American Guild of Appraisers (AGA). Obviously AGA is a union organization, though as I’ve...

Freddie Mac Criminal Aspects of Its Appraisal Free Mortgages 38

Freddie Mac Criminal Aspects of Its Appraisal Free Mortgages

Freddie Mac is opening itself up to over 150,000± potential individual lawsuits… This is a response from Mike Ford to Kenneth Harney’s article, “Freddie Mac planning appraisal-free mortgages”. I represent the American Guild of Appraisers, #44OPEIU, AFL-CIO, and the real estate appraisal-related consumer and taxpayer interests of our more than fifteen million± AFL-CIO members, retirees and their families. I’m prompted to write this open letter regarding your recent well written & researched article, titled “Freddie Mac planning appraisal free mortgages”. Regrettably, it was too brief to cover several additional critical aspects of the issue, but I assume the Chicago Tribune’s...

STOP the Idiotic Constant Parsing Changes in All Areas of USPAP 14

It’s Time to STOP the Foolishness

STOP the constant parsing changes in all areas of USPAP I encourage ALL appraisers in the DC Metro area to attend the upcoming ASB Public Meeting on October 21, 2016. In a nut shell, my strong belief is that they need to STOP the constant parsing changes in all areas of USPAP. NOT ONE of the proposed changes is a necessary change. NOT ONE! No wonder state regulators no longer comprehend USPAP! If they need the extra money that selling new versions of USPAP produces, then just CHARGE US DIRECTLY! The purpose of FIRREA was to preserve the public’s trust...

Housing Notes: AMCs Running Out of Appraisers 37

Housing Notes: AMCs Running Out of Appraisers

Housing Notes on Appraiser Shortage, Coester AMC Lawsuit… In a recent article, Jonathan Miller, author of Housing Notes, points out several key factors in the appraisal world today. Pat Turner, President of VaCAP, reached out to Jonathan about sharing his information. Here is what Jonathan had to say… “This is a great moment to expand insights on what is really happening. AMCs have run out of appraisers to work for half the market rate. And those that might take less of our fee are still costing us another 30% of lost productivity with ever expanding scope creep. Brexit has pushed...

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Simply too BIG to Say No to…

If they can’t even get their own PACE Pro form right, how are these alternative “valuation” providers going to get something as complicated as the value right? First American, and to some extent similar large scale conglomerate “players”, supply everything to the transaction: from the Home Warranty for the buyer, to the escrow services, to the mortgage company, to the mortgage servicer, to the title company, to the appraisal management company, to the appraiser panelists, to the software company that DESIGNS the software used for PACE Pro and almost all other appraisal software (ACI), to the BPO providers, to the...

Serfs Are Starting to Get Upset 10

Serfs Are Starting to Get Upset

The serfs are PISSED! Apologies. America was not founded by people that ‘went along to get along’, or that were willing to accept economic or political serfdom. Though they did so until a critical mass of frustration was reached. It is human nature to seek and then protect the benefits of privilege. To some extent this is a positive attribute. It’s the foundation of Capitalism. It is only when dishonesty and manipulation of laws becomes prevalent that the system is at risk, and not operating properly. We had dueling to keep honorable people honorable two hundred years ago. That was...

We work together and support each others initiatives 1

Let’s Work Together

We work together and support each others initiatives… Like VaCAP, other appraiser organizations are working towards the betterment of the appraisal industry and public trust. VaCAP works independently, as well as with a network of other state coalitions and other professional organizations in our industry. Many of the initiatives VaCAP supports are the same initiatives other organizations support. Although we may have different ideas on solutions, we work together and support each others initiatives as the appraisal industry and the consumer benefits. The American Society of Appraisers was represented by John Russell, Director of Government Relations, at the Customary and...

We Need More Appraiser Drivers! 9

We Need More Appraiser Drivers!

Powerful ‘uncles’ gave us the vehicles, but we need more drivers! Stand up for yourself and oppose those things that are wrong in our own profession and the related lending industry. Oregon: Teach THEIR Board USPAP! Seriously. They were trying to fine people for not meeting turn times, as a USPAP violation! TWENTY FOUR PER CENT of the AARO (Government Regulatory Officials) members they contacted for advice ALSO thought the same way! …New Jersey, Minnesota, Illinois and how many others: Ongoing reports, and evidence, of punitive mindsets rather than protective of the public views. They are using fines to balance budgets…

Appraisers Need to Learn to Stop Being Doormats! 40

Appraisers Need to Learn to Stop Being Doormats!

Being a bad businessman is not an excuse not to pay me. Period. The borrower pays the AMC up front. The AMC HAS MY FEE FROM DAY ONE! If they do not have it on the date I complete the assignment, it is because they used MY MONEY for some other purpose. If they are too incompetent to operate a general ledger, then open a second checking account and make the fee deposits for the appraisers the same day they are received. Being a bad businessman is not an excuse for not paying me for work I do for you....

Experience, Education Criteria Input Request & AGA Open Letter 18

AGA Open Letter Regarding Changes to the Criteria

Request for appraiser input on current and future educational / experience requirements… The AGA sent the below letter to the AQB in response to their outreach asking for comments. Please write them and tell them YOUR views. If you agree with what we have said, then just copy it and add your name to it saying “we agree”. Or don’t copy it, and just say “We agree with the AGA letter”. If there are any significant parts you disagree with, then please ‘except’ those. If you have additional thoughts or suggestions for them (civil ones), feel free to add them....

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