C&R Fees - Appraisers Blogs

A Cry from the Appraisal Trenches: The Fall of GSE Oversight

Guest Author — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 12:30:13 +0000

That could bring our best and brightest back to GSE lending, leveling the playing field with fairer work distribution. Picture this: a system built to protect homeowners, backed by taxpayer dollars, now teetering on the edge of betrayal. The regulatory framework governing Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) was once a fortress of consumer protection, transparency, and fairness. As an appraiser, I’ve watched this fortress crumble. The rules imposed on GSEs and their partners—our trade-off for their congressional charter—have been chipped away through years of cunning maneuvers by trade groups and stakeholder interests. What’s left is a hollow shell, far removed from the...

Data Cancer Infecting the Real Estate Market They have created the phenomenon known as “data cancer” which reduces an appraisal to a rubber stamp that contaminates the…
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…
It’s Time to Take Out the Junk: AMC Practices Exposed Appraisers have spent years carrying the weight of broken AMC practices, and this article pulls every one of those practices…

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Exposing Predatory AMCs

AppraisersBlogs — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 12:30:39 +0000

Exposing the inner workings of these predatory AMCs and their corrosive influence on the housing market. Cindy Chance’s recent comments about the concerning practices of some appraisal management companies (AMCs) have struck a chord with many in the real estate valuation industry. Chance is shedding light on the troubling ways in which certain AMCs have come to wield significant power and influence over the appraisal process, often to the detriment of both appraisers and the public. The growth of AMCs in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis was driven by the misguided belief that they could help “ensure the...

CFPB Crackdown: Unfair Practices Hurting Consumers Bureau is currently investigating various fees associated with obtaining a loan, with the goal of identifying any that may be…
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…
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…

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CFPB Crackdown: Unfair Practices Hurting Consumers

Guest Author — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:30:07 +0000

Bureau is currently investigating various fees associated with obtaining a loan, with the goal of identifying any that may be particularly burdensome or concerning for borrowers. As we all know many AMCs are not paying Customary & Reasonable fee as required by TILA. They have consistently pushed down the pay of Appraisers while making undisclosed profit off consumers and prioritizing cheapest and fastest over quality and competency. The CFPB has been in communication with individuals behind the scenes and are concerned with what has been shown enough to include AMCs in their data collection process. Now is the time to...

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…
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. …
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…

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AMCs Billing Scheme, Hidden Profits & Deceptive Practices

Guest Author — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 13:30:29 +0000

Appraisers who do not agree to their hidden billing methods are excluded from the majority of the GSE lending marketplace for appraisal orders. Appraisal Management Companies (AMC’s) do not pass on cost savings for reduced appraisal services to consumers. Instead, they keep the savings for themselves without disclosing the amount to the consumer or the appraiser. What should have been cost savings for the consumer are pocketed by the AMC in secret. This is considered a junk fee or unearned fee billing scheme under current law. Appraisers who participate in this system are in violation of The Management Rule of...

First the Borrower Fee. Now the Appraiser… Two lawsuits place Class Valuation’s fee transparency and staff-appraiser compensation practices under federal scrutiny. Most appraisal disputes examine only one…
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…
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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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...

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…
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…

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AMCs Take a Sizable Cut of the Appraisal Fee

Mark Skapinetz — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 12:30:29 +0000

It still proves my point: Appraisal Management Companies take a sizable Cut of the appraisal fee… It was March 28th, 2018 that I wrote my very first blog post entitled “What’s not in your wallet?” where I went into great detail about how Appraisal Management Companies or AMCs get paid and how the consumer is not aware of the fact that the AMC is taking much of the fee while finding the cheapest and fastest appraiser. In that blog post, I gave many examples of the abuse appraisers and consumers are absorbing by these Appraisal Management Companies. How one borrower...

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 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…
It’s Time to Take Out the Junk: AMC Practices Exposed Appraisers have spent years carrying the weight of broken AMC practices, and this article pulls every one of those practices…

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What Is My Incentive?

Michael Ford — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 12:30:38 +0000

Why would I bother taking on the added risk of an inconvenient process? Where is my incentive again? As an appraiser, I have to ask (seriously) why should I care if the profession has a shortage of skilled appraisers? Logic dictates that If there is a shortage, then I will remain busy. Even if waivers (another ruse to eliminate appraisal work) increase, I’ll be busier with fewer appraisers. Especially with so many of them “trained” under PAVE or PAREA programs. If there is an adequate supply of appraisers, then users of appraisals will continue to seek cheaper alternatives from them...

Sales Comparison Approach is Racist "...the modern appraisal industry perpetuates racial inequality through its continued use of the “sales comparison approach”... the sales comparison approach…
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…
Maxine Waters Wants Appraisers Investigated On February 22, 2022, Maxine Waters sent a letter to HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, TAF, ASC and AI regarding ongoing…

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Proposed Rule to Eliminate C&R Fee Tabled

Mark Skapinetz — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 12:30:33 +0000

Yesterday morning, I attended the Georgia state appraisal board hearing on the proposed rule to eliminate the C&R fee law they have in place. You know, the one that is similar to the one in Dodd-Frank. The Georgia appraisal board apparently is being investigated by the FTC for their law. They thought that the FTC vs the Louisiana case was a ruling in favor of the FTC when in fact it was not, and wanted to avoid any sort of notion that they were price fixing or of anti trust. The board received letters from appraisers and others in the...

Is Georgia Going Rogue? VaCAP has learned the Georgia Real Estate Appraisal Board is considering rescinding rule 539-1-.23. This rule is the customary and…
First the Borrower Fee. Now the Appraiser… Two lawsuits place Class Valuation’s fee transparency and staff-appraiser compensation practices under federal scrutiny. Most appraisal disputes examine only one…
United Appraisers Network Challenges Appraisal Institute Ultimately, the United Appraisers Network would represent a bold and progressive alternative to the Appraisal Institute... The recent firing of…

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Is Georgia Going Rogue?

VaCAP Board — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 12:30:27 +0000

VaCAP has learned the Georgia Real Estate Appraisal Board is considering rescinding rule 539-1-.23. This rule is the customary and reasonable fee requirement to appraisers from appraisal management companies. The matter will be decided at a 9:30 AM Sunday July 17, 2022 meeting. From the Georgia Real Estate Commission and Appraisal Board: RULE 539-1-.23 Appraisal Management Companies Purpose: In light of the recent decision and order In the Matter of Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board Before the Federal Trade Commission of the United States and to avoid even the appearance of anticompetitive conduct or the unreasonable restraint of price competition...

Accurate Appraisal Underreporting The HousingWire article highlighting that only 40% of homes sold include an "accurate" appraisal, as defined by the Corporate Settlement…
Freddie's Study, NPR Story Recall Notable Academic Hoax NPR topped the online edition of its article with the headline, “Black and Latino Homeowners are About Twice as Likely…
Analysis of the "Appraisal Gap" White Paper My critical analysis of Freddie Mac's "appraisal gap" white paper Appraisers, this is not an easy essay to write. It…

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FTC Has Cost the Appraisal Profession Dearly

VaCAP Board — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 12:30:10 +0000

The FTC has cost the appraisal profession dearly in their pursuit of the State of Louisiana. This entire episode has been entirely misguided… The FTC’s time SHOULD have been spent investigating the AMC trade group known as REVAA to find TRULY non-competitive practices… The FTC is asking for public comments on the consent decree by the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisal Board. The time line to comment is short and ends on July 22, 2021. VaCAP asks each of you to take a few minutes and read the consent decree as well as the analysis provided by the FTC before commenting....

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Appraisal Fees Back in the Spot Light

VaCAP Board — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 12:30:51 +0000

FTC vs LREAB Update The Supreme Court has denied the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board’s petition to intervene in the administrative case for price fixing by the FTC. The FTC trial is scheduled to proceed on April 20, 2021. VaCAP is closely following this case and will update you as it proceeds. To view all the activity for this case, go to the FTC’s webpage here. Working RE Appraisal Survey Let your voice be heard on what is customary and reasonable fees for your services. Working RE is conducting the annual fee survey. We have been asked to help distribute...

FHFA to Screw Up Appraisals The FHFA is looking for comments on how they can better screw up the appraisal process. So if you’ve got…
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…
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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Price-Fixing Case May Reach Supreme Court

Peter Christensen — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 13:30:06 +0000

The first case about real estate appraisers to reach the U.S. Supreme Court in almost 60 years may concern the Federal Trade Commission’s price-fixing claims against the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board. Would that be a good thing for appraisers? Well, maybe it’s not the best timing. Filed in 2017, the FTC’s administrative complaint asserts that the Louisiana appraiser board, “a state agency controlled by licensed real estate appraisers, has unreasonably restrained price competition for real estate appraisal services.” The FTC contends that the board carried out this price-fixing through its regulation of fees paid to appraisers by appraisal management...

Biden Calls Out Racial Bias Among Appraisers To counteract low appraisals in minority neighborhoods, Biden says he’ll push for training to address racial bias among appraisers... Appraisers,…
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…
It’s Time to Take Out the Junk: AMC Practices Exposed Appraisers have spent years carrying the weight of broken AMC practices, and this article pulls every one of those practices…

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New Appellate Decision – LREAB v FTC

Peter Christensen — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 12:30:07 +0000

FTC’s price-fixing enforcement action against LREAB… A federal appellate court – the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit – has issued a decision in the long-standing fight between the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board (LREAB) and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission about “customary and reasonable” appraisal fees. I’m venturing here to provide a short, understandable, unbiased summary of the litigation and what this latest court decision means. What did the Court of Appeals decide? Here’s the very short summary: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is pursuing an administrative complaint it filed in 2017 against LREAB, contending that LREAB’s “customary and reasonable”...

LREAB Hit With an Antitrust Lawsuit ...everyone knows that iMortgage / Single Source is the "dollar bidding" company. They send out appraisal requests at $1.00 and…
First the Borrower Fee. Now the Appraiser… Two lawsuits place Class Valuation’s fee transparency and staff-appraiser compensation practices under federal scrutiny. Most appraisal disputes examine only one…
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…

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The Biggest Snow Job of Your Life

Guest Author — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 12:30:00 +0000

Remember the saying “Pick two: fast, cheap or good. You can only have two of them?” Well you see, amcs got impatient and stopped reading after fast and cheap… The concept is simple enough, a fire wall between the loan production staff and the appraiser to avoid any possible pressure, coercion or influence. It sounded like a good idea to many; hence the HVCC legislation passed and was enacted. This was a period of trial and error for so many and before anyone found their way, along came Mr. Dodd and Mr. Frank to give their official stamp of approval...

Racial Bias Claims Without Proof or Logic The Appraisal Institute just sent a letter to The Appraisal Foundation to address things that have been floating out in…
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…
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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The Power of No!

Guest Author — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 12:30:37 +0000

Appraisers always had the power to end the appraisal management pyramid scheme. All we had to do is say no. Low fees, headaches, and idiotic reviewers have reached maximum capacity. The imploding of appraisal management companies is forthcoming. Over the past few months, appraisers have been simply saying no to low paying, time wasting, headache giving appraisal management companies; problematic portals too. I even read recently an appraisal was unable to be uploaded to a portal because the opinion of value was below the contract price. This type of influence rises to a whole new level, not to mention 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 Appraisal Fee Lawsuit AMCs Can't Outrun The class action lawsuit filed against CrossCountry Mortgage and Class Valuation arrives at a moment when many in the appraisal…
Fight Unfair AMC Practices - Leverage State Authorities Alarmed by predatory practices among AMCs, a peer has drafted letters urging appraisers to call on state authorities to address…

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Disciplinary Cases Against Hybrid Appraisers

VaCAP Board — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 13:30:27 +0000

Rumor has it there are several Virginia Real Estate State Appraisal Board disciplinary cases against appraisers revolving around hybrid appraisals… Some are for and some are opposed. It is a business decision on which types of assignments you choose to accept. If you choose to complete a hybrid or bifurcated appraisal, you need to pay attention and ask yourself a few questions. Is the fee I am receiving for completing this assignment reasonable for the scope of work I must perform? Notice the term customary was not used as these products are new and there is no customary fee YET....

Sketch or Floor Plan? The FLOOR PLAN has all the elements of a SKETCH... Appraisers, I was given some ‘inside info’ about DESKTOP assignment reports…
First the Borrower Fee. Now the Appraiser… Two lawsuits place Class Valuation’s fee transparency and staff-appraiser compensation practices under federal scrutiny. Most appraisal disputes examine only one…
Scope Creep & the Imploding of Rules ...the imploding rules then implemented, and the scope creep that evolved because the cart was leading the horse, has severely…

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LREAB Hit With an Antitrust Lawsuit

VaCAP Board — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 13:30:10 +0000

…everyone knows that iMortgage / Single Source is the “dollar bidding” company. They send out appraisal requests at $1.00 and ask everyone to provide their fee… The Louisiana Real Estate Appraiser Board has been hit with another legal battle. This time, iMortgage, operating under the name Single Source has filed suit against the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisal Board claiming a violation of antitrust laws. This suit mirrors that of the FTC, which is currently paused by the Fifth Circuit Court. In the suit, iMortgage claims rules created by the Louisiana Real Estate Board, which consists of market participants, set appraisal...

It’s Time to Take Out the Junk: AMC Practices Exposed Appraisers have spent years carrying the weight of broken AMC practices, and this article pulls every one of those practices…
First the Borrower Fee. Now the Appraiser… Two lawsuits place Class Valuation’s fee transparency and staff-appraiser compensation practices under federal scrutiny. Most appraisal disputes examine only one…
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…

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Old Habits & Past Mistakes …

Mark Skapinetz — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 13:30:49 +0000

Learning from your mistakes is all part of the change. You can’t change past mistakes, but you can certainly make sure the future doesn’t include them… My last blog focused on change and how I have benefited from changing things in both my personal and professional life. While I have made many changes, I have now come across another aspect that seems to have followed me from my past, the ability to learn from my mistakes instead of making them over and over. See, we as appraisers are creatures of habit. Well, let me rephrase that, we as humans are...

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…
Look in the Mirror The phrase “take a look in the mirror” is a common idiom used to encourage self-reflection and introspection. It is…
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…

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Appraisal Fee Transparency Bill Falls Short

Michael Ford — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 12:30:33 +0000

No system that continues to allow (or limit) defining appraisal complexity to the lender or AMC will ever achieve reasonable, or fair compensation for the appraiser…. We need to do much better than “half a loaf” in our appraisal legislative efforts. Especially when that half loaf does no more than enshrine continued price-fixing by lenders; with the support & blessing of REVAA… WorkingRE published news of recent House of Representatives action. The Bill addresses consumer disclosure of AMC fees among other issues. While the American Guild of Appraisers applauds the efforts of those that worked in good faith on this,...

Full Transparency in Fee Disclosure Requirement to disclose appraisal fees: Uniform Settlement Statement SHALL include the AMC fee AND fee paid directly paid to the…
Fee Transparency, Pivotal Point for Appraisers ...appraisers may finally have a chance at making the goal of fee transparency a reality... Keep your eyes open, events…
Appraisal Fee Transparency Bill H.R.3619 has left the House and is now ready for consideration in the Senate. There are a number of key…

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Appraisal Waiver Questioned by Legislators

VaCAP Board — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 12:30:01 +0000

Late Friday afternoon, VaCAP learned the Financial Services Committee Chairwomen. Maxine Waters and Senator Sherrod Brown, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking Housing and Urban Affairs, sent a letter to the Appraisal Subcommittee Chairman Arthur Lindo inquiring around the circumstances of the North Dakota Appraisal Waiver that was granted a few months back. The exact verbiage used in the letter to describe the waiver was “unprecedented with minimal justification.” This speaks volumes as to their concern. Congress has repeatedly recognized the essential role that appraisals play in both safety and soundness and consumer protection. That is why it is...

FDIC Says NO to Appraisals The FDIC voted to increase the minimum appraisal threshold to $400,000 for residential appraisals, despite the overwhelming opposition. The vote…
Maxine Waters Wants Appraisers Investigated On February 22, 2022, Maxine Waters sent a letter to HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, TAF, ASC and AI regarding ongoing…
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…

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C&R Fees - Appraisers Blogs

A Cry from the Appraisal Trenches: The Fall of GSE Oversight

Related Posts:

Exposing Predatory AMCs

Related Posts:

CFPB Crackdown: Unfair Practices Hurting Consumers

Related Posts:

AMCs Billing Scheme, Hidden Profits & Deceptive Practices

Related Posts:

Leaving the Appraisal Profession

Related Posts:

AMCs Take a Sizable Cut of the Appraisal Fee

Related Posts:

What Is My Incentive?

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Proposed Rule to Eliminate C&R Fee Tabled

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Is Georgia Going Rogue?

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FTC Has Cost the Appraisal Profession Dearly

Appraisal Fees Back in the Spot Light

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Price-Fixing Case May Reach Supreme Court

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New Appellate Decision – LREAB v FTC

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The Biggest Snow Job of Your Life

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The Power of No!

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Disciplinary Cases Against Hybrid Appraisers

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LREAB Hit With an Antitrust Lawsuit

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Old Habits & Past Mistakes …

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Appraisal Fee Transparency Bill Falls Short

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Appraisal Waiver Questioned by Legislators

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