The agenda is full, and it will be a challenge to cover it all in the 2 hours allotted, but we will do our best. One item, not on the agenda, but sure to be a topic of discussion, is the recently released Statement on Appraiser Independence.
NAR Statement on Appraiser Independence
April 2011Much more will be discussed. If you are a member of the National Association of Realtors, and happen to be attending the meetings, or are in the DC area, stop by. We encourage your participation.
"In recent months interference in the appraisal process has unnecessarily put at risk a sustainable housing recovery. Our member appraisers are dealing with changes in the real estate market due to economic conditions in the country, their long time business relationships with market participants have been destroyed and their business models have been shattered. The latest blow is their enduring the consequences of the implementation of aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act.
Appraisers are being asked to include distressed transactions as comparable sales, to complete the appraisal in an unreasonable and unrealistic short time span, and to comply with a scope of work not justified by the fee being offered. In some situations appraisers are required to provide as many as eight comparable sales and/or listings. NAR believes this is interference in appraiser independence, causing harm to the real estate recovery, and harmful to consumers.
This month, compliance with the Federal Reserve's interim final rule amending Regulation Z (Truth in Lending) became mandatory. Early reports indicate that some appraisal management companies may be misinterpreting the reasonable and customary fee requirements of the statute and the interim rule. Although NAR has not commented on the customary and reasonable fee language of the statute or the interim rule, we are concerned that unfair treatment of our member appraisers will further erode their businesses and impact the quality of appraisal reports, adding risk for consumers and lenders.
NAR 2010 President Ron Phipps said "asking for up to 10 comps, reducing turnaround times, and expanding the scope of the assignment without appropriately adjusting the fee is adding unnecessary risk to an already fragile mortgage market system. We must maintain an environment where our independent appraisers are treated fairly as they are the lynchpin of the mortgage transaction." NAR has long advocated for an independent appraisal process and enhanced education requirements to promote public trust in the appraisal profession. NAR wants to ensure the consumer is provided the service bargained for along with a well-supported, credible opinion of value."
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3 comments:
"Better late than never".
Sorry NAR, but this rubbed the intelligent guys wrong long ago. I dropped my membership as both an appraiser and Realtor long ago. My only regret was that I wasted 20 years of my life building a firm that banks could hijack in one day.
Thanks for the point of view, Anon. Party due to my perseverance, and partly due to my membership in the Realtor organization, I've spend over 30 years building a business and clientele impervious to hijack.
Like tens of thousands of other appraisers I loved doing residential appraisal work. I realized long ago that diversification was the key to protecting an appraisal business. Unfortunately for me (and tens of thousands of others) we had no desire to work with attorneys and even less desire to do commercial appraisal work.
Unfortunately for commercial appraisers they will be next in the targeting process. Keep that in mind when you think you see the light at the end of the tunnel. It will more than likely be a train heading for the commercial appraisers.
One good thing will come of this however. Residential appraisers will have the opportunity to move into the newest real estate related profession since home inspection was created. A career tht is far more profitable, liability free, and immune to bank rape. I predict a severe residential appraiser shortage will occur as more and more appraisers surrender their license to enroll in this new profession.
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