Tagged: appraisal

Appraisal news and appraisal tips for real estate appraisers – Your source for appraisal industry news, appraisers’ opinions, and discussions of appraisal issues.

Outrage Over New Connect by ValueLink Monthly "Junk Fee" 37

Outrage Over Connect by ValueLink’s New Monthly “Junk Fee”

The recent announcement from Connect by ValueLink has sparked outrage among appraisers. Effective January 1, 2025, the company plans to institute a new $19.99 monthly user fee for all appraisers utilizing their portal to receive and submit appraisal orders. This fee will be in addition to the existing technology fees already charged on a per-appraisal basis. Understandably, many appraisers are up in arms over this development, viewing it as yet another “junk fee” that will only serve to erode their already-thin profit margins. What makes this particularly galling for appraisers is the fact that it is often appraisal management companies,...

AMC / Appraisal / Appraisal Management Companies / Appraisal News / Appraisal Software / Appraisal Technology

Accurate Group Appraiser Selection Practices Expose Troubling Industry Tactics 40

Accurate Group’s Appraiser Selection Practices Expose Troubling Industry Tactics

The situation surrounding Accurate Group’s appraiser selection practices sheds troubling light on the concerning tactics that many Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs) employ in their pursuit of the lowest possible fees. The inadvertent disclosure of an internal file from Accurate Group has provided a rare window into the dubious inner workings of this AMC, revealing a clear pattern of unethical practices that prioritize cost-cutting over fairness, transparency, and the selection of the most qualified and proximate appraisers. At the heart of the issue is Accurate Group’s apparent manipulation of the appraisal assignment process to favor the lowest bidders, rather than the...

AMC / Appraisal / Appraisal Management Companies / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / Customary & Reasonable Fees

ARCC Discussion Exposes GSE Agenda to Reduce Appraisal "Friction" 9

ARCC Discussion Exposes GSEs Agenda to Reduce Appraisal “Friction”

Mark Calabria’s discussion with ARCC revealed the GSEs’ agenda to reduce “appraisal friction” by eliminating the role of professional appraisers and the appraisal process altogether.  The recent discussion hosted by the Appraisal Regulation Compliance Council (ARCC) with Mark Calabria, the former Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), offered a rare and illuminating glimpse into the inner workings and mindset of the nation’s housing finance regulators. During the engaging conversation led by ARCC Chair Josh Tucker, Dr. Calabria shared his expert perspective on FHFA’s controversial decision to significantly increase the use of appraisal waivers, which allow mortgage lenders to...

Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / Fannie Mae - Freddie Mac / Federal Housing Finance Agency / FHFA

Is a Horde of Deadbeat Borrowers Again Walking Among Us? 7

Is a Horde of Deadbeat Borrowers Again Walking Among Us?

There are signs of a new horde of deadbeat borrowers, but the foreclosure filings are being delayed and masked by the government itself. Some of the current deadbeat borrowers will learn to expertly work the system…  In 2022, a San Ramon, California, couple who hadn’t made a mortgage payment since 2009 was finally evicted. Anita and Mahesh Khurana had put on a masterclass in the use of the courts to keep foreclosure at bay. The holdouts had lived in their home payment-free for 13 years. A state court finally ruled they had exhausted all appeals, and they were ejected. In...

Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / Automated Valuation Models / AVM / Fannie Mae - Freddie Mac

Appraisal Waivers Expansion - FHFA Risky Move 30

FHFA’s Appraisal Waivers Expansion

The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) recent push to expand the use of appraisal waivers represents a concerning and potentially disastrous gambit that threatens to undermine the integrity of the housing market and the broader economy as a whole.  The recent announcement from the FHFA Deputy Director Naa Awaa Tagoe regarding the expansion of appraisal waiver eligibility for purchase loans is a significant development that has sparked debate and controversy within the mortgage industry. By increasing the maximum allowable loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for full appraisal waivers from 80% to 90%, and for inspection-based appraisal waivers from 80% to 97%, the...

Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / Automated Valuation Models / AVM / Federal Housing Finance Agency

New UAD Overhaul: What Appraisers Can Expect in 2025 & Beyond 60

New UAD Overhaul: What Appraisers Can Expect in 2025 & Beyond

Folks, I recently attended a Train the Trainer 1.5 day class about the new UAD/URAR, jointly facilitated by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Aloft. About 20 other instructors from across the US were also present. This class is required before this new UAD material can be taught to other appraisers, under contract with the GSEs. My info below is a limited high-level summary for the new UAD and URAR of what was presented, and what the appraiser community can expect to see, from now into 2026. It is not meant to be comprehensive; I may send out other info as...

American National Standards Institute / ANSI / Appraisal / Appraisal News / Appraisal Software / Appraisers News

Appraisal Regulation Compliance Council Exposes Disturbing AMC Violations 96

Appraisal Regulation Compliance Council Exposes Disturbing AMC Violations

The Appraisal Regulation Compliance Council published a detailed breakdown to the CFPB, which showed the median average AMC fee being charged to borrowers amounted to a staggering 65% of the total appraisal fee, with one AMC extracting as much as 84% in pure profit. The Appraisal Regulation Compliance Council (ARCC) is a crucial non-profit organization that specializes in providing fact-based research and expertise on the complex web of appraisal regulations and compliance issues. Driven by a non-partisan mission, ARCC has spent the last two years diligently collecting, vetting, and organizing comprehensive data on lender appraisals conducted by Appraisal Management Companies...

AMC / Appraisal / Appraisal Management Companies / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / CFPB

Uncovering Flaws in FHA Appraisal & Loan Review Process 28

Uncovering Flaws in FHA Appraisal & Loan Review Process

The story of this single mother’s harrowing experience with a defective home purchase and HUD’s negligent oversight exposes deep flaws in the FHA appraisal and loan review process. After sacrificing for years to rebuild her credit and earn the right to become a homeowner, this borrower found her dream home in the country – or so she thought. During the home inspection, several issues were flagged. The seller, an investor who had purchased the home in an estate sale, was unaware of the septic system’s location. The seller agreed to have the tanks pumped so the location could be determined....

AMC / Appraisal / Appraisal Management Companies / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / CFPB

Bill Removes Consumer Protection and Legalizes Bad Behavior by AMCs 16

Legislative Call to Action

Bill removes consumer protection and legalizes bad behavior by AMCs. Now is the time to contact your legislators with comments. They want to hear from you! HB 1453 – Changing the definition of evaluations –  has passed the General Laws Committee and was read in the House of Delegates on February 1, 2018 for the first time. SB  655 – Capping fees of an AMC to 20% and disclosing the AMC fee to the consumer – is on the agenda for Monday February 5th in the General Laws and Technology Committee. Please contact your representatives and the committee members and...

AMC / Appraisal / Appraisal Management Companies / Appraisal News / Appraisal Organizations / Appraisers News

Comment Subscriptions 8

Appraisal Fee Disclosure – Call To Action

Important – Call to Action This must be done by Tuesday July 7 The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is requesting comments on the proposed amendment to the “Know Before You Owe” mortgage disclosure rule, which proposes to move the rule’s effective date to October 3, 2015. We feel it is very important that the appraisal fee be disclosed separately from any add on fees such as an AMC fee. Recently 23 state appraiser coalitions including the Louisiana Appraisers Coalition worked together and submitted a letter to the CFPB about making it a requirement to separate the fees of the...

AMC / Appraisal / Appraisal Management Companies / Appraisal News / Appraisers News / CFPB

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