coronavirus - Appraisers Blogs

Stoked by HUD, Cottage Industry Shakes Down Mom-and-Pop Appraisers

Jeremy Bagott — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 12:30:11 +0000

The harassment campaign benefits a number of odd bedfellows: the housing lobby, which wants unfettered access to federal funds and taxpayer-backed mortgage guarantees through Freddie, Fannie and the FHA – they see appraisals as an unnecessary bottleneck. A firm called Mizrahi Kroub is the largest filer of so-called “digital Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuits.” The New York law firm files about a quarter of all such cases nationwide, according to a provider of web-accessibility services. The firm, which employs nine lawyers, has brought more than 1,100 web-accessibility cases against small businesses for missing alt-text, incorrectly formatting lists or providing unclear...

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Appraisers Are Historians

Guest Author — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 13:30:43 +0000

It is gratifying when appraisers are correct, and the AVMs burn; unless you invested in their stocks. I mean no disrespect to the modelers of the Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) or to Zillow for relying on their AVMs. As an appraiser since the 80s, I have yet to find a computer that can tell me if I want vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Does the buyer want more acres, or less grass to cut? I will admit that a raised ranch, a two story farm house, a colonial, a split level, and a Dutch colonial can all sell for the...

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Appraisal Foundation, Like Khloe Kardashian, Rattled Tin Cup for PPP Alms

Jeremy Bagott — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 12:30:25 +0000

Yet it applied for $270,706 in PPP relief intended to aid small businesses, such as the mom-and-pop appraisal shops coerced at the state level into participating in the foundation’s privately run regulatory regimen… Wearing a scoop-neck black catsuit from her brand’s High Shine Compression line, media personality Khloé Kardashian, whose net worth has been reported at $60 million, turned heads recently at Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila launch party in Malibu. What could this fashionista and socialite have in common with the Appraisal Foundation, an obscure publisher with a government franchise and guaranteed annual grants from a tiny captured federal agency?...

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Don Machholz Passing

Dave Towne — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 12:30:49 +0000

Folks, yesterday, August 11, I received the following notice about Don Machholz from a California appraiser, who requested this be circulated: With sadness, I wanted to share the news of Don Machholz passing on Tuesday, August 9 in Wikieup, AZ due to complications with COVID-19. Don was a real estate appraiser from 2003-2018 and was well known within the appraisal industry. He was active in the Real Estate Appraisers Organization (REAA) and the Nevada County and Placer County Association of Realtors throughout his career. Don was known for his market updates and sense of humor at the weekly marketing meetings....

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Occupational Licensing Used to Intimidate

Jeremy Bagott — Wed, 11 May 2022 12:30:20 +0000

It provides no better illustration of how occupational licensing promotes groupthink and intolerance to differing viewpoints… CALIFORNIA: WHERE RIGOROUS INQUIRY GOES TO DIE It smothers innovation and silences debate. These have been principal criticisms of occupational licensing over the years, and nowhere is innovation and debate under greater attack than in California. Last year, lawmakers there passed a bill tasking the state’s regulator of real estate appraisers to apply lopsided scrutiny to valuations that come in “low” (a friction point with the state’s powerful Realtors, lenders and homebuilders). California lawmakers now want to use the state’s medical board to intimidate...

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Stephen Forrester Memorial Fund

Dave Towne — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 12:30:45 +0000

Appraisers, I just received notice about the untimely death due to COVID-19 of a Tennessee appraiser, Stephen Forrester, while he and his wife and two young kids were on vacation in the Bahamas. Details are posted below. Please click here, and donate if you can. I just donated to this GoFundMe. If you can’t make a donation, it would be great if you could share the fundraiser via email to appraisers you know, and on social media, to help spread the word. By the way, Stephen has been Certified licensed since 2003. The National Association of Appraisers (NAA) would like...

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Desktop Appraisals, Panaceas for Faster Reports

Dave Towne — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 12:30:17 +0000

…I’ve discovered a potential anomaly in Desktop reports (and Hybrids also) which might shock some appraisers… Desktop Appraisals, Panaceas for Faster Reports. Or so they say. Bankrate.com has a revealing article published on Oct. 27, 2021, titled As Appraiser Shortage Delays Closings, Mortgage Giants Try Workaround | Bankrate FHFA (the GSE’s “manager”), after the administration change, under pressure from mortgage brokers and lenders, and after the experiment with the COVID era “flexibilities”, has decided to allow the GSE’s to accept a new type of appraisal for first mortgage (purchase) lending early in 2022: the Desktop report. The current line of thinking...

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Desktop Appraisals Soon to Be the New Purchase Wrinkle

Dave Towne — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 12:30:51 +0000

The desktop appraisals are not necessarily more reliable, which could become an adverse issue for appraisers in the future… Appraisers, we learned about this late on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021: Sandra L. Thompson, acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) appeared before the Mortgage Bankers Association annual conference on Monday. Her remarks to that group featured this: The “flexibilities” (i.e., the desktop appraisals) put in place for appraisers after COVID-19 hit, have ended. However, FHFA has been reviewing the data gathered during their use and examined feedback from lenders and other parties. She told the MBA attendees that both...

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Vaccines Mandate for Realtors?

AppraisersBlogs — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 12:30:14 +0000

Brian Stevens of NREP discusses vaccines mandates in a video blog and whether real estate companies have the right to mandate vaccinations for agents who see see themselves as independent contractors. The video got a fair amount of attention. A good deal of comments were unfavorable to the vaccines mandate. COVID, our current seven day average right now with COVID cases is 145,724 cases with 36,953 cases on September 12 alone. These numbers are about half of the COVID high back in January 9 which was 253,946 cases… Here is the thing, RedFin, Warburg Realty, Remax and Coldwell Banker Bain,...

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USPAP 2020-2021 Extension

Dave Towne — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 13:30:16 +0000

2020-21 USPAP Extension – Does this mean USPAP will be on a three-year cycle going forward? USPAP has been extended for one year, effective through December, 31, 2022. This is the Appraisal Foundation news release, issued on Feb. 19, 2021: Media Contact: Amy Timmerman (202) 624-3048 amy@appraisalfoundation.org BREAKING: 2020-21 USPAP Extended for One Year (Washington, DC) February 19, 2021 – The Appraisal Foundation’s Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) announced today that the current edition of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) will be extended by one year. The 2020-2021 USPAP will now be effective until December 31, 2022. “USPAP...

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Appraisers Being Sued for COVID-19 Errors?

Peter Christensen — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 13:30:44 +0000

The alleged errors in appraisals that parties are suing appraisers over during the pandemic are the same types of errors that appraisers usually get sued over… Wow. I did not go into the basement on my last visit. I’ll explain why an appraiser wrote that in a moment. Are appraisers being sued for errors relating to the COVID-19 pandemic? My short answer is “no” – there’s no pattern of that happening. One of the services that I provide to my legal clients is tracking lawsuits and legislation that relate to valuation services. I locate and follow cases of all types...

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Not a Get Out of Jail Free Card

Dustin Harris — Fri, 22 May 2020 12:30:16 +0000

It is not misleading to use a 1004 form for a desktop or a drive-by because, during these convoluted times… In talking with Tim Andersen, a USPAP instructor and long-experienced appraiser, I was reminded that, even in the time of C-19, USPAP applies, and appraisals must still be credible. Reports must still not mislead. USPAP has never required the appraiser to inspect the property. That is a lender construct. So long as your scope of work is clear relative the level of inspection you provided, and why that was your scope of work, you should not have a problem. Note...

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Defiant or Compliant

George Dell — Mon, 18 May 2020 12:30:07 +0000

And there is another type of defiant. “The government should stay out of our business…” Believe or don’t believe. Is there a parallel between appraisals and how people respond to pandemic warnings? Appraisal reviewers decide whether an appraisal is “worthy of belief” (“credible”) or not. Similarly, people decide whether to believe in the need for public health orders. Steven Dinkin (president of the National Conflict Resolution Center) recently had some observations on the public’s response to the pandemic, dividing people into two groups: defiant or compliant. What is interesting is that each group has a belief that their thinking is the right thinking. Their opinion is the right opinion. Let’s look...

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Appraisal Nation’s Payment Issues Again!

AppraisersBlogs — Wed, 13 May 2020 12:30:12 +0000

In July 2019, appraisers were having payment issues with Appraisal Nation. They were slow paying and when they paid, their checks bounced. Yesterday, they emailed the appraisers on their panel explaining that they have come up against a back log in their Accounts Payable team due to the threat of COVID-19. One has to wonder how are they capable of sending orders to appraisers, collecting the appraisal fees, asking for revision requests, etc. but paying appraisers on time is an issue during the pandemic? Dear Appraiser, We continue to find ourselves living through an unprecedented time as the situation with COVID-19 continues. As...

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Reconsider the Rule on Deferred Appraisals

ICAP Board — Mon, 11 May 2020 12:30:51 +0000

ICAP commented on the impending Interim Final Rule that will allow real estate appraisals to be deferred for 120 days for certain real estate transactions. The letter states that the deferment could lead to several unsettling possibilities. The letter implores the agencies to reconsider this rule. Now is not the time to walk away from safety measures meant to insure the present and future movement of real estate, but to embrace them. Public Trust is the appraiser’s primary concern. To not have this certified and insured professional involved at the outset of real estate lending during this time, in some...

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Pandemic Exacerbating Anxiety & Depression

Dave Towne — Mon, 04 May 2020 12:30:39 +0000

Medical professionals who understand human psyche have been sounding alarms about personal actions relating to how this pandemic is being managed… Folks, this was tough to write, but it’s important. Yes, that’s my opinion! The current state of affairs in this country, and globally, is the worst we humans have seen in generations. Most of us were not alive during the last major pandemic in the early 1900’s, or even during WWII, when living situations were very trying for many people. In later years, pandemics have occurred, but governments’ reactions and actions to those were much more mild as compared...

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Appraisers Continue to Be an Asset

VaCAP Board — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 12:30:04 +0000

The appraisal community has come together… stand strong, be resilient and continue to be an asset to your clients during these challenging times… The appraisal profession came about because of the Great Depression and our relevance is still strong today. Exceptional circumstances such as the current pandemic create a need for temporary allowances for information gathering for the valuation of collateral. The appraisal community has come together to insure our clients’ needs are met. Be it extra precautions with masks and gloves or owner assisted property inspection software. Appraisers have once again adapted to market conditions in order to provide...

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Ocwen Financial Is in Trouble

VaCAP Board — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 12:30:43 +0000

VaCAP concerned about Ocwen financial deteriorating condition… We have all been there; you are busy and you lose track of your accounts receivables. Suddenly, you have 45, 60 and 90 day past due invoices. VaCAP wants to remind you to pay attention not only to your receivables, but industry news to make informed decisions going forward. Two days ago HousingWire reported Ocwen Financial is in trouble with the New York Stock Exchange. According to the article, Ocwen stock has been trading below $1.00 for more than 30 days in violation of the NYSE rules. Ocwen runs afoul of NYSE after stock stays below...

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Technology Companies Selling You a Pet Rock

Guest Author — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 12:30:31 +0000

Are technology companies simply selling a modern day version of a Pet Rock? Technology companies flaunting their real estate valuation products show us lots of pretty color charts and graphs and sell us on their products. But what would happen if someone were to ask a simple question of these technology companies… How did you determine that value? Just imagine for a moment you are testifying in court and counsel asks you how you determined your opinion of value. The appraiser could answer that question without hesitation. Simply, you know what you did. Even follow up questions could be answered...

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COVID-19 & Interior Inspections Liabilities

VaCAP Board — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 12:30:42 +0000

Pay attention to Phil Crawford’s comments on interior inspections and the liability that goes with them… Fannie and Freddie have come out with updated guidelines for appraisals. There is much confusion on what is and what is not required. The below matrix simplified what is allowed by Fannie Mae. Additional questions and answers can be found on Lender Letter LL-2020-04. The unknown to the appraiser is the ownership of the loan. Appraisers must rely on the lender or amc for that determination. VaCAP wants to remind each and every one of you that regardless of what an amc or lender...

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