voice of appraisal - Appraisers Blogs

Data Cancer Infecting the Real Estate Market

Jonathan Miller — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 13:30:21 +0000

They have created the phenomenon known as “data cancer” which reduces an appraisal to a rubber stamp that contaminates the comps used for future sales. The ability to do an appraisal for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac is getting rarer these days now that the GSEs are waiving appraisals on the majority of transactions. Despite drones being everywhere and the GSEs being in receivership, the latter is desperate for higher loan volumes to feed their origination infrastructure. Higher mortgage rates have crushed refinance loan volume and slowed sales volume. What can the GSEs do to increase mortgage volume? Remove appraisals...

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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...

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Let’s All Build the Gallows Together

Guest Author — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 13:30:10 +0000

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have issued a clarion call to all appraisers to pitch in and help build the gallows from which they will hang us all in 2025. The mission is to “modernize” the appraisal profession into a skeleton crew of compliant zombies who will be rubber stamping appraisal reports for $25 each (Source: Voice of Appraisal) from the dark confines of their private offices. “Grab some nails, get your hammer, pick up that saw and let’s build a new gallows… I mean model, that gives lenders everything they want and need to inflate the housing market into...

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Beware of Bifurcated Appraisals

Jonathan Miller — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 12:30:44 +0000

The entire concept of bifurcated appraisals represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the appraisal process. To have an individual inspect a property and then convey that information to an appraiser to complete the valuation is tragically flawed because: Inspections and qualifications of an inspector are not standardized, not insured, not licensed (a convicted felon was caught doing one of these) An immense part of understanding the value of property occurs while walking through it (like observing the occupancy of 50 feral cats) It is generally more expensive (but I think its cheaper) to parse the functions out Places the consumer at...

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Woke ‘Bounty’ Bill Will Chill Speech of New York Appraisers

Jeremy Bagott — Wed, 10 May 2023 11:45:10 +0000

A bill being crafted by the New York state Senate’s Finance Committee would, in effect, place a $2,000 bounty on the head of any heretical real estate appraiser in the Empire State who dares conclude a value that fails to satisfy a seller, serial refinancer or commissioned broker in a deal. Vulnerable buyers, who could be paying off inflated loans based on coerced values, would simply have to live with it. If enacted, the bill would authorize fines to be levied on appraisers for a new category of thoughtcrime – something called “appraisal discrimination.” Half the proceeds from the fines...

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FNMA Ensnares Appraisers in Farcical Probes

Jeremy Bagott — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 12:30:35 +0000

You feel like Fannie Mae is simply trying to get rid of appraisers. A lot of appraisers feel that way… “Even amidst tragedy there is sometimes farce,” wrote author Daniel Prokop. Unleashing tragedy and farce in equal measure, mortgage giant Fannie Mae is using its muscle to coerce lenders to repurchase early COVID-era loans. Fannie apparently deems them now too risky for its portfolio. As a ploy, say observers, Fannie is generating automated appraisals similar to Zillow’s “Zestimates” and using them to undermine appraised values in loans it wants to offload. Fannie’s automated system then sends unsigned boilerplate complaints to...

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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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PS – Never Quit!

Michael Ford — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 13:30:02 +0000

Here we are over 3 and a half years after the article titled “I Do Not Quit, Not Ever!“. No one has quit yet. AGA™ is now a tax-exempt 501(c)(6). We have successfully renegotiated our affiliation agreement with OPEIU and AFL-CIO. The articles of incorporation revised our previous articles of association. In the past two years Jan Bellas and the National Appraiser Peer Review Committee have helped in excess of 185 appraisers get off blacklists; be reinstated with lenders and assisted those wrongfully accused in defending themselves before state regulatory agencies. Anyone that’s dealt with Jan Bellas KNOWS she doesn’t...

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Lenders Want to Eliminate DTI Cap!

VaCAP Board — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 12:30:02 +0000

No DTI CAPS – What could go wrong? Well, the insanity continues. HousingWire is reporting that a coalition of lenders and trade groups are calling on the CFPB to eliminate the debt to income cap on all qualified mortgages. Yes, you read that right. Lenders want to eliminate the debt to income cap to allow more loans to be originated. They claim by using alternative factors to determine risks, more low income borrowers can obtain a mortgage. Mortgage Bankers Association President and CEO Robert Broeksmit stated: With respect to the 43% DTI threshold, it makes little sense to commit to a rigid requirement...

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The Gladiator Appraiser, Pat Turner

VaCAP Board — Sat, 17 Aug 2019 12:30:56 +0000

Regulatory reform is needed in the appraisal profession and Pat Turner is the right appraiser to help move it forward! This is a CALL TO ACTION. Please listen to Phil Crawford’s Voice of Appraisal Show released yesterday morning. He has put out a call to action to every appraiser to write a letter of recommendation for VaCAP President Pat Turner to be appointed to the Appraisal Standards Board: Time to stand up again! Pat Turner, “The Gladiator Appraiser”, from the Great Commonwealth of Virginia has applied for a position on the Appraisal Standards Board at The Appraisal Foundation! Now more...

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Competitors on State Appraisal Boards

VaCAP Board — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 12:30:11 +0000

Phil Crawford has a new Voice of Appraisal show. This is one of the best shows Phil has ever done. He touches on issues with Bifurcation, Board competitors and even mentions VaCAP and our “Other Side of Things” article that received a lot of attention on Appraisers Blogs last week. Phil encourages support for VaCAP President Pat Turner to be appointed to the Appraisal Standards Board. The show is 36 minutes, so please take the time to listen. You might even get a good laugh out of some of the humor displayed. Listen to the show below. Board Competitors? VaCap,...

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Experienced and New

Guest Author — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 13:30:12 +0000

Experienced and New: A Review of Appraiserfest 2018 By Tom Horn, SRA and Woody Fincham, SRA, AI-RRS, RAA Member of RAC A Newbie Conference Attendee’s Take on Appraiserfest 2018 Tom Horn, SRA I just got back from the first ever Appraiserfest conference, held in San Antonio, Texas, and while it is fresh on my mind I thought I would share my thoughts. This is my first national appraisal conference to attend and I have to say it did not disappoint. I have been an appraiser for quite a while but have never been interested in spending my money or time to attend...

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States Back LREAB Against FTC

VaCAP Board — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 12:30:43 +0000

States Support Louisiana Real Estate Appraiser Board against the FTC States (and appraisers) are very interested in the outcome of the LREAB vs FTC to protect their own sovereign actions. On July 11, 2018, the states of Mississippi, Idaho, Iowa, Rhode Island, and Utah filed an amicus brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit supporting the Louisiana Real Estate Appraiser Board. See the entire brief here or below. The outcome of this will impact each and every one of us. As we reported a few days ago, one lender, BB&T, has opted to step up...

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Hybrids Take Another Hit

VaCAP Board — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 12:30:41 +0000

Registration Act, reinserts the definition of “appraisal firm”… Bifurcated (Hybrid) Appraisals Take Another Hit Last week VaCAP shared some information questioning the legality of these products in Virginia. This week Phil Crawford, Voice of Appraisal, talks about the ethical side of them and how appraisers completing these could be on the receiving end of legal actions. Listen to show E206 at Voice of Appraisal NAR Appraiser Liability Webinar On July 17, 2018, the National Association of Realtors along with Peter Christensen from LIA, presented a Webinar on liability issues for appraisers. A strong concern about the certifications exists that open up liability...

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SEC Ruling’s Impact on FTC vs LREAB

VaCAP Board — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 12:30:24 +0000

Today’s ruling is a victory for the rule of law and due process… Does this directly impacts the FTC vs Louisiana Real Estate Appraisal Board? Hensarling Applauds Supreme Court Ruling on SEC Administrative Law Judges WASHINGTON – House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) issued the following statement today applauding a Supreme Court ruling which found that the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) use of in-house administrative law judges (ALJs) unconstitutional. “Today’s ruling is a victory for the rule of law and due process. Chairman Clayton had already started to move the SEC away from the previous Administration’s overreliance...

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Appraisal Waivers

VaCAP Board — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 12:30:30 +0000

TriStar Bank’s request for appraisal waivers: The Appraisal Subcommittee has reached out to the Network Coalitions and has requested appraisers to attend their upcoming meeting on appraisal waivers. Direct from the ASC announcement: ASC Special Meeting – April 12, 2018 Tuesday March 06, 2018 The ASC will hold a Special Meeting scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on April 12, 2018, at the Federal Reserve Board facilities at International Square, 1850 K Street NW, Washington, DC. The purpose of this Meeting is to consider the temporary waiver request from TriStar Bank of Dickson, Tennessee. The agenda for the Meeting will be posted...

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ASC Call for Comments

VaCAP Board — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 12:30:56 +0000

It is important for every appraiser to submit comments… The Appraisal Subcommittee wants to hear from appraisers on Tristar Bank’s request for appraisal waivers. The comment period is open until April 9, 2018. VaCAP has previously participated in a group letter with other organizations and expressed our concerns on this topic. We will once again be part of a group letter as well as send in our own comments. It is important for every appraiser to submit comments on how this is a dangerous slippery slope if the waiver is granted. Consumer protection is the issue and the door will be...

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AppraiserFest 2018

AppraisersBlogs — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 13:30:46 +0000

The appraisal profession has never experienced an economic and valuation education forum like AppraiserFest 2018. This is the only national appraisal conference that is “appraiser centric” with a true advocacy for the profession. There are no hidden agendas, only appraisers sharing their knowledge, experience, skills and wisdom with other appraiser colleagues and peers from all backgrounds of membership, designations and levels of certification. Jonathan Miller, CEO of Miller Samuel, Inc. and highly respected appraiser from New York recently stated in his Housing Notes Newsletter, “This isn’t an event, it’s a happening!” In just one phrase, Mr. Miller captured the integrity...

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Have AMCs Gone Dark?

VaCAP Board — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 13:30:10 +0000

Clarocity May Have Gone Dark… VaCAP has learned from one of our members the Appraisal Management Company, Clarocity Valuation Services, may have gone dark. The VaCAP member has invoices for their services over 30 days old and Clarocity has been unresponsive to numerous emails and phone calls over the past several weeks. Additionally, new orders are being assigned through their portal, Appraisal Scope. Virginia passed a 30 day prompt payment law that went into effect July 1, 2017. The statute is very clear that an AMC must pay an appraiser within 30 days from the initial delivery of the report....

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What’s Your Pleasure?

VaCAP Board — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 12:30:02 +0000

Appraisers Have Choices… So the bartender asks, what’s your pleasure? Appraisers have choices; choices that impact how we do business, with whom we do business and why we do business. Outcomes and consequences of these choices can and will vary. One of the choices we face, and perhaps is one of the most important choice, are you going to be an industry leader or are you going to be a follower? Any organization, appraisal profession or not, needs both leaders and followers to survive. Professional organizations for appraisers are an important part of the future of the industry. Whether it is a national...

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