appraisal profession - Appraisers Blogs

The Great Debate on Appraisal Fees

Isaac Peck — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 12:30:09 +0000

She included several different fee split examples indicating AMCs retained as much as 70 percent of the total appraisal fee paid by the borrower, which prompted her to stop working with AMCs because of the lack of transparency. The appraisal industry is abuzz with a discussion about appraisal fees. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently issued a Request for Information Regarding Fees Imposed in Residential Mortgage Transactions [Docket No. CFPB-2024-0021] in which it solicited feedback from the public and industry stakeholders on the fees charged to consumers by mortgage providers and related settlement services. The CFPB framed it as...

Lack of Fee Transparency: Exposing the AMC Exploitation By keeping the borrower in the dark about the true cost of the appraisal, the AMCs are able to charge…
AMCs Billing Scheme, Hidden Profits & Deceptive Practices Appraisers who do not agree to their hidden billing methods are excluded from the majority of the GSE lending marketplace…
Appraisal Regulation Compliance Council Exposes… The Appraisal Regulation Compliance Council published a detailed breakdown to the CFPB, which showed the median average AMC fee being…

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Lack of Evidence, Appraiser Challenges Discrimination Claims

AppraisersBlogs — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 12:30:29 +0000

The next morning I went to my trusted AI program and asked if there was any evidence of bias. “Where is the evidence?” The issue of perceived bias and discrimination in the appraisal industry has become a highly contentious and polarizing topic in recent years, sparking intense debate and controversy. At the heart of this complex issue lies a fundamental tension between the appraisal profession’s commitment to objectivity and impartiality, and the persistent allegations of systemic racism and unfair practices that have plagued the industry. As exemplified in the response from Maryland Certified General Appraiser William Turner to an article...

NFHA's False Narrative Undermines the Appraisal Industry A barrage of billboards, magazine ads, and TV/radio public service announcements is being used to amplify and spread this false…
Misleading Ads Sow Mistrust These misleading ads are sowing seeds of mistrust in a time-tested profession. The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) has recently…
False Claims of Racism Against Appraiser ...my career, business, and health at risk due to false claims made by a homeowner. As a professional real estate…

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NFHA’s False Narrative Undermines the Appraisal Industry

AppraisersBlogs — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 12:30:59 +0000

A barrage of billboards, magazine ads, and TV/radio public service announcements is being used to amplify and spread this false narrative. The latest attack on the appraisal industry is being spearheaded by the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), who are aggressively pushing a false narrative of widespread appraisal bias against Black and Latino homeowners. Through a relentless media campaign employing emotive messaging, vivid anecdotes, and dubious statistics, these entities are painting a picture of widespread, systemic bias among appraisers against Black and Latino homeowners. However, the reality is that not a...

NFHA Funding Dries Up The NFHA is feeling the heat as their funding evaporates, putting a major kink in their anti-appraiser crusade. The National…
The Real Cause of the Home Value Gap Is the Income Gap Blaming appraisers for the income gap will never solve the real underlying problem... Blaming appraisers for the income gap is…
Stoked by HUD, Cottage Industry Shakes Down… The harassment campaign benefits a number of odd bedfellows: the housing lobby, which wants unfettered access to federal funds and…

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United Appraisers Network Challenges Appraisal Institute

AppraisersBlogs — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:30:45 +0000

Ultimately, the United Appraisers Network would represent a bold and progressive alternative to the Appraisal Institute… The recent firing of Cindy Chance, the CEO of the Appraisal Institute (AI), has ignited widespread outrage and a profound sense of distrust among appraisers nationwide. In the wake of this controversial decision, discussions have emerged on industry forums about the potential creation of a new appraisal organization that would better serve the needs and interests of all appraisers, regardless of their specialization or credentials. Leading this charge is David Samnick, a Georgia-based appraiser, who has proposed the establishment of the “United Appraisers Network”...

Appraisal Fees & Value: Lessons from Picasso & Steinmetz Picasso answered “$5,000 madam.” “But it only took you five minutes.” “No, madam, it took me my whole life.” The…
The Great Debate on Appraisal Fees She included several different fee split examples indicating AMCs retained as much as 70 percent of the total appraisal fee…
The Town With No Bank: How Rural America Lost Its… For decades, we’ve been told that the problem is demand. That people don’t want to live in rural America anymore.…

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Misleading Ads Sow Mistrust

AppraisersBlogs — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 12:30:42 +0000

These misleading ads are sowing seeds of mistrust in a time-tested profession. The National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) has recently launched a concerning campaign of poster ads, billboard ads, and magazine ads that falsely accuse home appraisers of basing their valuations on the personal characteristics of the homeowners or prospective buyers, rather than solely on the objective merits and features of the property itself. This is a deeply misleading and unjust narrative that undermines the integrity of the appraisal profession, which is founded on the core principle of providing an independent, impartial assessment of a home’s value. Appraisers are highly...

HUD's Private Inquisitors Will Chill Protected… HUD awarded $54 million to 182 nonprofits to serve as posses in a a Spanish Inquisition-style drive. The deep pockets…
False Claims of Racism Against Appraiser ...my career, business, and health at risk due to false claims made by a homeowner. As a professional real estate…
USPAP’s Typical Buyer Standard in the Fair Housing Era The Irreconcilable Conflict Between USPAP's Typical Buyer Standard and the Current Fair Housing Compliance Regime. Retain this document as a…

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Fight Unfair AMC Practices – Leverage State Authorities

AppraisersBlogs — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 12:30:38 +0000

Alarmed by predatory practices among AMCs, a peer has drafted letters urging appraisers to call on state authorities to address unfair AMC conduct and potential regulatory violations. As appraisers, we have faced an ongoing challenge with Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs) offering fees that are well below the customary and reasonable rates for standard appraisal assignments. This practice has created a troubling trend of “bid wars” where AMCs pit appraisers against one another, driving down fees to unacceptably low levels. In response to this issue, a peer has provided two draft letters that can be easily modified and used by other...

Fastapp AMC Alleged Violations of AIR The following court documents in the case Naftali Horowitz v. [xxx], Fastapp AMC founder v. Fastapp AMC president, confirm what…
Violating Appraisal Independence Through Harassment,… It shall be unlawful... to engage in any act or practice that violates appraisal independence... Appraisers, I have written the…
Lack of Fee Transparency: Exposing the AMC Exploitation By keeping the borrower in the dark about the true cost of the appraisal, the AMCs are able to charge…

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Insights from CFPB’s Public Comment Period

AppraisersBlogs — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 12:30:20 +0000

The comment period on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) “Request for Information Regarding Fees Imposed in Residential Mortgage Transactions” concluded on August 2, 2024, with a total of 959 comments received. Upon reviewing some of these submissions, several noteworthy perspectives emerged regarding appraisal fees and the role of Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs). The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) highlighted the lack of transparency surrounding AMC fees, which are often bundled together with the actual appraisal fee on the Closing Disclosure (CD). This opaque structure prevents consumers from understanding the true cost of the appraisal service and hinders their ability...

Lack of Fee Transparency: Exposing the AMC Exploitation By keeping the borrower in the dark about the true cost of the appraisal, the AMCs are able to charge…
The Illogical Reality of Mortgage Appraisal Reviews Reforming the appraisal review process is essential to maintaining the integrity of the real estate market and protecting consumers and…
The Great Debate on Appraisal Fees She included several different fee split examples indicating AMCs retained as much as 70 percent of the total appraisal fee…

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Lack of Fee Transparency: Exposing the AMC Exploitation

Desiree Mehbod — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:30:07 +0000

By keeping the borrower in the dark about the true cost of the appraisal, the AMCs are able to charge exorbitant prices and pocket the difference (as shown in Figures 1 through 10), exploiting the consumer’s lack of knowledge. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Request for Information on Fees Imposed in Residential Mortgage Transactions. The growth of Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs) in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis was driven by a well-intentioned but ultimately misguided belief that they could help “ensure the integrity and independence” of property valuations. The reasoning...

AMC Fee Impact on Appraisal Fee While the borrower was charged $695 for the appraisal, the appraiser was only paid $301. The AMC fee was $394. …
AMCs Billing Scheme, Hidden Profits & Deceptive Practices Appraisers who do not agree to their hidden billing methods are excluded from the majority of the GSE lending marketplace…
Exposing Predatory AMCs Exposing the inner workings of these predatory AMCs and their corrosive influence on the housing market. Cindy Chance's recent comments…

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Appraisal Fees & Value: Lessons from Picasso & Steinmetz

Guest Author — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 12:30:01 +0000

Picasso answered “$5,000 madam.” “But it only took you five minutes.” “No, madam, it took me my whole life.” The Appraisal Institute has been a source of frustration and criticism within the appraisal profession for quite some time. I must admit that I have also expressed my dissatisfaction with them. Nevertheless, I must acknowledge that the new CEO, Cindy Chance, appears to be a positive change and is making some valuable points about our profession from her new position. In particular, she recently discussed appraisal fees in a piece she wrote. In this excerpt, she shares two stories that provide...

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…
The Town With No Bank: How Rural America Lost Its… For decades, we’ve been told that the problem is demand. That people don’t want to live in rural America anymore.…
The Real Cause of the Home Value Gap Is the Income Gap Blaming appraisers for the income gap will never solve the real underlying problem... Blaming appraisers for the income gap is…

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AI to Counter Flawed Appraiser Bias Narrative

AppraisersBlogs — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 12:30:07 +0000

In reality, appraisers have a great story to tell, but we have a long way to go to refocus the terribly flawed “appraiser bias” narrative onto facts and science. Last week’s email from Cindy Chance, the CEO of the Appraisal Institute, marks an important and long overdue shift in the organization’s approach to addressing accusations of bias in the appraisal profession. For too long, appraisers have faced sweeping claims that their valuations are biased against certain groups, despite appraisers’ ethical standards, rigorous training, and lack of financial stake in transactions. As Chance acknowledges, the Institute should have done more to...

NFHA's False Narrative Undermines the Appraisal Industry A barrage of billboards, magazine ads, and TV/radio public service announcements is being used to amplify and spread this false…
False Claims of Racism Against Appraiser ...my career, business, and health at risk due to false claims made by a homeowner. As a professional real estate…
Appraisal Bias Mantra is Largely False Reporting Just How Commonplace Is Appraisal Bias? Folks, about the only entity examining in depth the details behind all the allegations…

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Recap of the 4th ASC Appraisal Bias Hearing

AppraisersBlogs — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 13:30:47 +0000

On February 13th, 2024, the fourth ASC appraisal bias hearing took place. For those who were unable to attend, the video of the hearing has been included below. The hearing was a crucial event for the appraisal industry, and it is important for all appraisers to be aware of the discussions and topics addressed. The panel of witnesses included: David Bunton, President, The Appraisal Foundation E.C. Neelly IV, Executive Director, Mississippi Real Estate Appraisal Board Maureen Sweeney, Principal, Maureen Sweeney, Real Estate Appraiser Ltd. Melissa Tran, Director, Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board Jillian White, Chief Executive Officer, Appraisal Insights...

AMCs Billing Scheme, Hidden Profits & Deceptive Practices Appraisers who do not agree to their hidden billing methods are excluded from the majority of the GSE lending marketplace…
AMCs Violating TILA and C&R Fee Clauses Fellow Appraisers, the appraisal industry has been facing a major issue with AMCs violating the Truth in Lending Act (TILA)…
Dear ASC: Details... Why They Matter DETAILS... NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR BIG NEED TO BE PRESENTED. If not, you failed. ASC, today you failed us…

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It’s Just Responsible Journalism!

VaCAP Board — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 13:30:14 +0000

Not reporting complete and accurate information is nothing more than irresponsible journalism! The local television station WWBT, NBC 12 in the Richmond market is airing a story on Thursday February 22 during the 6 pm News Broadcast, about racial bias in real estate appraisals. We know this is not a new topic and previous stories that have aired have been extremely one sided and not from the appraiser’s perspective. VaCAP was not contacted for information, nor were any appraisers that we know. We have seen the negative impact this type of story has on our profession and we need your...

Why is Only One Side of This Story Being Told? There are always two sides to every story; however, understanding is a three-edged sword: your side, their side, and the…
The Other Side, Racism in Appraisals ...the other side of things, the appraiser profession side since no other news media and organizations are willing to do…
The New & Improved Fannie Mae “FRAUDULATOR 2.0” Originally known as Fannie Mae’s Collateral Underwriter (CU), and subsequently Collateral Underwriter 2.0 (CU-2)i this always dubious product of Fannie…

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Damned If You Do and Damned If You Don’t

Guest Author — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 13:30:53 +0000

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t has become the new normal in the real estate appraisal profession. The government and those that write the rules have made it illegal (a punishable violation) to refuse an appraisal assignment in an area which consists primarily of non-whites. The government and those that write the rules also state the purpose of an appraisal is to determine the value of the home/property in its market setting, so an underwriter can make a lending decision. Back in the day, this protected the lender from lending more than the home/property is worth. It also...

Seller Filed a Racial Bias Complaint Against Me So what’s caused the sudden loss of income? Could it be because of the racial bias complaint filed against me…
False Claims of Racism Against Appraiser ...my career, business, and health at risk due to false claims made by a homeowner. As a professional real estate…
The New Appraisal Profession – Why bother! As long as the new normal is reporting the appraiser when you don’t like the value continues, why bother? In…

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McKissock Ditches PAREA

AppraisersBlogs — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:30:56 +0000

On January 1, 2024, McKissock announced that they were pulling the plug on their PAREA project. The primary factor contributing to this cancellation was the substantial resource cost, which exceeded initial estimates and resulted in a higher-end price for customers. This decision was made with the recognition that a higher cost would create a new barrier to entry into the appraisal profession, potentially hindering individuals from pursuing a career due to financial constraints. Happy New Year to you and yours. We hope this letter finds you well. With a strong commitment to responsibility and transparency, we want to inform you...

The Town With No Bank: How Rural America Lost Its… For decades, we’ve been told that the problem is demand. That people don’t want to live in rural America anymore.…
The New & Improved Fannie Mae “FRAUDULATOR 2.0” Originally known as Fannie Mae’s Collateral Underwriter (CU), and subsequently Collateral Underwriter 2.0 (CU-2)i this always dubious product of Fannie…
Fannie Mae Filed a Complaint Against Me An appraiser shared the following with us which was posted on one of the appraisers’ groups. Fannie Mae filed a…

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Appraisers Destroying Goliath’s Messaging

Guest Author — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 13:30:05 +0000

Goliath’s strength is in his messaging. It is appraisers who are destroying the message. The seeming destruction of the appraisal profession by the federal government, GSEs and lending stakeholders is a collective action problem. Appraisers are responding to new GSE and lending dictates with reactions based on our own personal well-being. Not enough people speak up or stand up to change the trajectory of the narrative. Or so it seems. Appraisal waivers, hybrid appraisals, automated valuation models, all based on the last 13 years of data collection by an entity I will call Goliath has created a paradoxical inversion of...

Seller Filed a Racial Bias Complaint Against Me So what’s caused the sudden loss of income? Could it be because of the racial bias complaint filed against me…
Under-Valuations Unrelated to Racial Bias Under-valuations that more accurately reflect the homes' “true” value as opposed to the contract price will also alert the buyer,…
Another 'Bad' Word to Avoid! To lighten the load somewhat from discussions about current highly restrictive language use in appraisal reports that tends to circumvent…

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The New Appraisal Profession – Why bother!

Guest Author — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 13:30:22 +0000

As long as the new normal is reporting the appraiser when you don’t like the value continues, why bother? In today’s new and unimproved appraisal atmosphere, any appraiser that does not “hit the number” is open to detrimental consequences. Buyers, Sellers, & Refinancers – The U.S. Government from the top down have provided the media and the public in general with so much toxic misinformation and encouragement that any appraiser doing their job, a job that can lead to lower values than expected, can now be turned to HUD itself, or a state appraisal board for racial bias. So, why...

How to Destroy the Appraisal Profession Anytime the government gets involved in an issue, it tends to have more adverse effects than positive ones. It makes…
The Real Cause of the Home Value Gap Is the Income Gap Blaming appraisers for the income gap will never solve the real underlying problem... Blaming appraisers for the income gap is…
Promoting False "Racist Appraiser" Narrative Some Lenders promoting false "racist appraiser" narrative to optimize profits via AVMs Like most businesses lenders want to optimize their…

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Leaving the Appraisal Profession

Guest Author — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 12:30:02 +0000

It’s a Great Time to Leave the Appraisal Profession. I can hear the chorus of my fellow appraisers rising up in disagreement with me. I envision many of them screaming, “But I love being an appraiser”! Yeah, I hear you. I loved being an appraiser too. Let’s not consider what we were but what they want us to become. First, ask yourself if you are still making a livable wage. I’m not and instead of blaming myself, I started running the numbers. In, my high value market, 18% of the solds were cash sales. No appraisal required on those! Values...

The Nightmarish End of Home Appraisals In his 1946 essay “Politics and the English Language,” the late British novelist, essayist and critic George Orwell examined the…
I've Retired & I'm So Glad I Did What we got, was 30+ years of complaints from the lenders and politicians who blamed appraisers for all of the…
New URAR Redesign Spec Released The Appraisal Forms & UAD Redesign Spec has been released and the current forms are being retired. This means that…

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PAREA Program & Its Negative Impact on Diversity

Guest Author — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 12:30:04 +0000

The study also found that the PAREA program is not as effective in providing a more accessible pathway to licensure as the traditional apprenticeship model. Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) is a program that aims to revolutionize the real estate industry by increasing the number of appraisers. However, after listening to the Appraisal Institute speaker at yesterdays board meeting it quickly became evident that this initiative is a complete failure. You cannot start PAREA until you have received all your real estate appraisal education. 94 hours = $1,700 per McKissock Appraisal Institute speaker said that most AMC’s/banks won’t...

Exactly How Are Property Data Collectors… Somebody explain to me exactly how Property Data Collectors are “professionally trained” per Fannie Mae directives. The fact is, Fannie…
Is the GSE's "Appraisal Modernization" Really Just… Mass Appraisal tend to exhibit a regressive nature... In the intricate landscape of real estate mortgage financing, the notion of…
McKissock Ditches PAREA On January 1, 2024, McKissock announced that they were pulling the plug on their PAREA project. The primary factor contributing…

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Certified Appraisers vs. Unlicensed Data Collectors

Jonathan Miller — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:30:09 +0000

Here’s a great take on the difference between Certified Appraisers vs. Unlicensed Data Collectors by Leigh Brown, President of the NC Association of REALTORS. Fannie Mae has been working hard to get rid of appraisers for years. Their latest twist is to re-categorize many appraisers as “Unlicensed Data Collectors.” Fannie Mae will end up creating more instability for the trillions in the bond market – investors will have to process millions of valuations with the physical attributes of the home collected by unlicensed, uninsured, and unprepared individuals getting paid $10-$25 per inspection. AI meets with Fannie Mae regulators to...

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…
Top DEI Bosses Have a Problem - Diversity The ranks of the new DEI bosses at the financial institutions are no more diverse than the appraisers their institutions…
The New & Improved Fannie Mae “FRAUDULATOR 2.0” Originally known as Fannie Mae’s Collateral Underwriter (CU), and subsequently Collateral Underwriter 2.0 (CU-2)i this always dubious product of Fannie…

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We the People…

VaCAP Board — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 12:30:40 +0000

We the people need to redirect the mortgage lending direction… The time for every appraiser and consumer to step up is now. This country was founded on the principle of “We the people”. Please sign this petition and share it everywhere. Appraisers have been the target for blame for everything gone wrong in the mortgage lending world. We were blamed for the Savings and Loan collapse, the financial crisis of 2008, and appraisal bias and racial discrimination. Appraisers have even been the target on loans gone bad after several years on payments. Yep, we have been the target and have...

House Measurement by Property Data Collector Gone Wrong The lender allowed an unlicensed property data collector give bad data to the appraiser... I work for this lender and…
No Appraisals Required. The End of Appraisers? No appraisal may be required in the future! Fannie Mae took a direct shot at appraisers with the announcement of…
Dear Representative, FNMA Has Gone Rogue! Dear representative, waiving/eliminating property appraisal for lending purposes is wanton recklessness. Fannie Mae’s decision to waive/eliminate property appraisal for lending…

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appraisal profession - Appraisers Blogs

The Great Debate on Appraisal Fees

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Lack of Evidence, Appraiser Challenges Discrimination Claims

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NFHA’s False Narrative Undermines the Appraisal Industry

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United Appraisers Network Challenges Appraisal Institute

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Misleading Ads Sow Mistrust

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Fight Unfair AMC Practices – Leverage State Authorities

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Insights from CFPB’s Public Comment Period

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Lack of Fee Transparency: Exposing the AMC Exploitation

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Appraisal Fees & Value: Lessons from Picasso & Steinmetz

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AI to Counter Flawed Appraiser Bias Narrative

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Recap of the 4th ASC Appraisal Bias Hearing

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Damned If You Do and Damned If You Don’t

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McKissock Ditches PAREA

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The New Appraisal Profession – Why bother!

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Leaving the Appraisal Profession

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We the People…

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