Pick a Number, any Number - Who to Blame?

This story is getting huge distribution, but the spin offered by bloggers and commenters on news sites really varies.

Special Report: What's a home worth? Pick a number, any number

 WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Aaron and Beth Stiner are renters, but not by choice and not because they can't afford to buy a house. They had a move-up home in Phoenix selected and good credit scores. They even had buyers lined up for the home they were selling. Then they entered appraisal hell.

 
The first appraisal on their chosen home came in at $295,000, a figure that both the Stiners and the sellers agreed upon. The lender didn't like it, and ordered up a second appraisal. Based on comparable homes that were in a different neighborhood, the new appraisal came in $25,000 lower -- too low to allow the loan to go through.
 
They switched lenders and got another appraisal that, at $290,000, would have allowed the deal to go through. Their new lender was skeptical, and ordered up another appraisal. At the same time, the home they were selling was appraised three times, with each subsequent valuation falling.
 
Four months later, the Stiners and their buyer both gave up. Together, they were out $1,600 for seven appraisals. "As a result, we are now renting our home out, and renting the home we wanted to buy," says Beth. "We were frustrated and we weren't going to keep doling out cash for new appraisals. It felt like a game."

Read the full story HERE.

During the build up to the boom time and housing bubble, the loan originiators and lenders were pushing and shopping for the highest number from the appraiser. It's now come full circle; if the lender doesn't like the number the first appraiser delivers, they start shopping for a lower number.

Interference with the objectivity of the appraisal process is not acceptable, no matter the direction folks are pushing the appraiser. Although it has been, and continues to be fashionable to blame the appraiser, take a close look at the story. It's the lender shopping for a "value" to their liking. By what "standard" are the appraisals being evaluated?