Valuation Expo

Promotion of Appraisal Conferences and events is not a usual topic on Appraiser Active. Breaking a bit with tradition here because the upcoming Valuation Expo is in Florida, and your truly will be participating as a panelist. 

A number of interesting topics and speakers are on the schedule. On Monday, March 20, 2017, from 1:30 P.M until 5:00 P.M, along with  David Berenbaum and Bob Parson, I will be presenting Role of the Appraiser in the 21st Century.The Valuation Expo will be presented at the Caribe Royal in Orlando. Reserve your room here. 

Appraisal Buzz posted a brief preview of the presentation in their email blast today. Take a look. At the link, there is also information about registration, schedule of events, and even a 15% discount by using the code GREGOIRE with your registration. It will be nice to see folks in real life.

U.S. House Committee on Financial Services - Hearing, July 13, 2011 - UPDATED

UPDATED - VIDEO LINK ADDED

Tomorrow, July 13, 2011, the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity, will hold a hearing at 2:00 PM in 2128 Rayburn House Office Building.

The get together, entitled “Mortgage Origination: The Impact of Recent Changes on Homeowners and Businesses” has two panels of "witnesses" representing a wide array of government agencies and interest groups. These include the Federal Reserve, HUD, the Appraisal Subcommittee on the side of the government.

Interest groups to be represented include appraisers, mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers, Realtors, appraisal management companies and Hispanics. As is the custom, most of the witnesses have submitted written testimony in advance of the hearing. Some of it is interesting, some thoughtful. Portions are pandering, and some will infuriate. Most likely, you don't have time to read it all, but here are a couple of interesting excerpts:

Sara W. Stephens, MAI, CRE, representing the Appraisal Institute, includes these thoughts about Reasonable and Customary Fees:

Unfortunately, the Federal Reserve Board issued a rule that fails to implement the plain language and public policy intent of defining reasonable and customary fees as those not involving appraisal management companies – a retail fee, if you will. In our view, the reason Congress included this provision in the Dodd-Frank Act is to help ensure that appraisers receive adequate compensation for the education, experience, and time necessary to prepare credible appraisal reports. While the price of any service will always be a factor, quality and competency and transparency to the consumer should come first. Business models that helped fuel the fundamentally unsound run-up of the past decade placed far too much emphasis on pricing and bundling of services and focused scant attention on appraisal quality. Congress got it right; unfortunately, the Federal Reserve got it wrong.

National Association of Realtors representative, Steve Brown, has this to say about appraisals:

REALTORS® support and encourage credible, independent appraisals and valuations of real property, which are critical to the health of the overall real estate industry. A trustworthy valuation of real property 1) ensures the real property value is sufficient to collateralize the mortgage, 2) protects the homebuyer, 3) allows secondary markets to have confidence in the mortgage products and mortgage backed securities, and 4) builds public trust in the real estate profession. Professionally developed valuations provide an independent, objective analysis of real property. Valuations that are not credible or not independent harm communities and result in unintended consequences. The purchase of a home is the largest investment most people make. A valuation that does not properly reflect the owner’s equity and may require the owner to pay increased fees or inject unneeded additional liquidity into a collateralized loan to meet higher lending requirements. Valuations of real property that are too high give a false sense of security to homeowners seeking access to the equity in their homes and to lenders making a determination as to the security of their loan. Valuations that are too low may create a downward cycle of economic deterioration for neighborhoods and communities and cause increased cash requirements on lenders.

 and, Don Kelly, speaking for both the Real Estate Valuation Advocacy Association (REVAA), on behalf of REVAA and the Coalition to Facilitate Appraisal Integrity Reform provides some views of the landscape from the perspective of AMCs: 

Fair is a coalition of five of the nation's largest AMCs, which operate networks of individual appraisers and appraisal firms for the completion of appraisal reports (These five AMCs include: 1. LSI, a division of Lender Processing Services, Inc; 2. ServiceLink Valuation Solutions, LLC, a Fidelity Natioinal Financial, Inc. company; 3. Valuation Information Technology, LLC d/b/a Rels Valuation; 4. CoreLogic, Inc.; and 5. PCV/Murcor. Rels Valuation is an affiliate of CoreLogic, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank).

There are significant benefits for both an appraiser and a lender when they work with an AMC......

That's as much as I can take on that one. You'll have to follow the LINK to read the rest of Don's comments.

If there ever was a time to contact your member of Congress, this is it.

UPDATE - VIDEO LINK ADDED

It's a long hearing, almost 3 hours. To save time, check Marc Savitt at 1:35, Sarah Stephens at 1:40 and her discussion of appraisal fees at 1:42. Don Kelly talks at 1:46 and tries to justify the AMC support of unreasonable fees at 2:46.

MyTechnologyLawyer Radio Show

On Thursday, February 26, 2009, Frank Gregoire was a guest on the My.TechnologyLawyer.Com Radio Show. Host Scott Draughon teamed up with State Certified Appraiser Marco Ruiz for his weekly one hour show on appraisal topics.

The main topic of discussion was the need to regulate Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs). If you missed the show, use this LINK to either download the show or listen to the archive.

Frank - On the Radio (Live Stream)

(UPDATE ) That was FUN!!

On Thursday, February 26, 2009, Frank Gregoire will be a guest on My.TechnologyLawyer.Com Radio Show. Host Scott Draughon teams up with State Certified Appraiser Marco Ruiz for a weekly one hour show on appraisal topics at 4:00 P.M. each Thursday.

We plan to discuss efforts to regulate Appraisal Management Companies and the Home Valuation Code of Conduct.

The show is streamed live. Just visit MyTechnologyLawyer.com and follow the links to listen LIVE. If you are not able to get in front of your computer at 4:00 P.M on Thursdays, follow the same LINK and download or listen to the archive when time permits.

.....at the very least, you'll learn how to pronounce my name!

Bureau of Financial Investigations

Every day, it seems, there is another story about mortgage and valuation fraud somewhere in Florida or another part of the country. It's reasonable to wonder what is going on and if there is any effort to rein in the wrongdoers and bring them to justice. It's an overwhelming task, but there are several agencies in Florida stepping up to the plate. One of them is the Office of Financial Regulation and their Bureau of Financial Investigations.

Yesterday, February 17th, 2009, I had the pleasure of participating in a segment of a training program for Investigators for the Bureau of Financial Investigations, Office of of Financial Regulation. Over 60 Financial Crimes Investigators assembled for an annual three day training program. Yesterday's program consisted of an update from the Florida Attorney General's Office about their efforts to curb abuses related to mortgage lending, foreclosure rescue, equity stripping and other financial crimes along with a panel of individuals representing mortgage origination, real property appraisal and valuation, mortgage loan underwriting, real estate and mortgage closings.

It was my honor to join the panel consisting of Richard Peek, the current Vice President of the Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers, Rebecca Chase, Regional Trainer (underwriting) for MGIC, and Virginia Semon, Business Development Representative for Fidelity National Title Group. Each panelists spoke about mortgage fraud in Florida, as viewed from their particular industry's prospective.

To set the stage, our hosts Mark Mathosian, Financial Administrator for the Bureau of Financial Investigations, and Robert Rosenau, Chief, Financial Investigations, provided us with an overview of the group in the audience and their current activities. There are over 500 open investigations being worked by the investigators. About 170 of those involve mortgages or mortgage related fraud. Over 1500 consumers are directly affected by the active mortgage investigations. Last year, the investigators closed over 160 cases and collected in excess of $380,000,000 in settlements from wrongdoers.

Each of the panelists talked about their experiences with mortgage fraud; straw buyers, false verifications of employment, false statements of income, false statements concerning occupancy, payments to unrelated third parties at closing, forged W-2s, false income tax returns, requests to prepare false HUD-1s (closing statements) and countless other examples. My appraisal examples had to do with bogus comparable sales produced by builders and condo converters, along with those produced by churning. I also alerted the investigators about the practice of mortgage brokers sending mass faxes to dozens of appraisers, fishing for the "pre-comp" that fits their need for a value to close a fraudulent loan(s).

The pending impact of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct was briefly mentioned, along with the nearly universal belief that the current fraud schemes of choice seem to be Foreclosure Rescue scams and Fraudulently Negotiated Short Sales and Flips of Short Sales. Real Estate Brokers, Mortgage Brokers, Real Estate Closing Agents and Attorneys are being drawn into these schemes.

Unfortunately, the time went much too fast, and the time for our presentation ended. Most of the panel and several investigators stayed nearly one hour past the scheduled time to ask and answer questions and discuss ongoing cases. Mortgage and valuation fraud is a major problem, but there are folks interested in enforcing the law and seeing the perpetrators punished.

From left to right: Frank Gregoire, Rebecca Chase, Virginia Semon, Richard Peek, Robert Rosenau

Appraisal Institute - THANKS!

Thanks to the Florida West Coast Chapter of the Appraisal Institute for hosting the Candidate Forum yesterday at the conclusion of their meeting in Tampa.








It was great to see so many friends and supporters. Since yesterday was the last day to accept contributions for my Campaign for County Property Appraiser, it was particularly encouraging to accept checks and cash from some of the attendees.

News and Updates

The August 5, 2008 Fundraising Reception at Interior Motives was well attended and successful. Many thanks to Leslie Curran, Nancy Riley, Michael Bindman, LuAnne Woods, Carol Hasbrouck, Amy Bromley and Amy Bofman for their efforts and the contributions their efforts generated.

That same evening we made an appearance at the St. Petersburg Association of Legal Support Specialists dinner meeting. In addition to Judicial and Sheriff Candidates, I made a presentation along with the other candidates for Property Appraiser. It's great to provide folks with a firsthand view of the contrast between a Professional Appraiser, a State-Certified Appraiser, and individuals with no state appraisal license.

The roster of supporters continues to grow. Appraisers and Past Presidents have been added to the list of contributors. Take a look at the updated list!

Endorsements and Supporters

James Amorin, MAI, SRA, President-Elect, Appraisal Institute

Paul Amirto, Appraiser
Ben Anderson, Appraiser
Timothy Andersen, MAI

Hazel Annis, Appraiser

Dennis Badger, Appraiser, Investigator-Kentucky Real Estate Appraisers Board

Bruce Barrow, Appraiser
Patricia Birch, Past Chair, Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board
Harry Bright, Appraiser

Bruce Buzzell, Appraiser
Bill Coffman, Appraiser

Milton Corson, Jr, MAI, SRA
Earle "Jack" Crahan, MAI
Thomas Crockett, MAI, SRA
Bruce Cumming, Chair, Membership Admissions, Development and Retention

Susan Dailey, Member, Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board
Paul DelleDonne, Appraiser
Brent Diehl, Appraiser
Robert Dunham, MAI, SRA
James Earle, Appraiser
Henry Entreken, MAI, SRA
Ted Faravelli, Appraiser
Robert E. Galliher, MAI, SRA, GAA
Phil Gehres, MAI, SRA
H. Linwood Gilbert, MAI
John Gillott, MAI, SRA
Karen Goforth, MAI
Bob Gorman, MAI
Joni Herndon, SRA, Chair, Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board

Tom Hockensmith, SRA
Andrew Hupp, MAI

Gregory G. Johnson, MAI, SR/WA

Todd Jones, MAI

Clay Ketcham, MAI, SRA, CCIM, Past Chair, Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board
Patricia Kathman, Appraiser
William Barry Kelley, SRA

Debbie LaJeunesse, Appraiser, Past Chair Wyoming Certified Real Estate Appraiser Board

Charles Ledet, Appraiser

Bill Mallette, Appraiser
Leslie McKeon, MAI, SRA
Steve Marshall, MAI, SRA, Past Chair, Region X, Appraisal Institute
James Millspaugh, MAI

Ami Milne-Allen, Appraiser, Member, Vermont Board of Real Estate Appraisers
Stephanie Monaghan, Appraiser

Jeanne Obedzinski, MAI
Evalyn "Fran" Oreto, Past President National Association of Master Appraisers

Mack Provart, Appraiser, Past Chair Wyoming Certified Real Estate Appraiser Board
R. Wayne Pugh, MAI, President, Appraisal Institute

Janet Rabin, Appraiser
Gina Rascati, SRA
Jack Rawlings, GAA

Dan Richardson, PhD, MAI, AICP
Mike Rogers, MAI, Member, Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board
Donald Rousseau, Appraiser
Donald Sarley, SRA, Chair, Florida Appraisal Council

David Sawyer, Appraiser

Michael Seward, Appraiser
Sam Slater, RAA

Russell Sloan, MAI, Past Chair, Kentucky Real Estate Appraisers Board
Eric Schwartz, MAI, SRA

John Schweitzer, Appraiser
Jay Small, Esq., Past Chair, Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board
Joe Thouvenell, MAI, CRE
C. Richard Tobias, MAI
Joe Traynor, Past President, Indiana Association of Realtors, Member, Appraisal Foundation Board of Trustees, Chairman, Indiana Real Estate Appraisers Licensure and Certification Board
Joyce Tubb, GAA
Joan Trice, SRA
Chris Van Slooten, SRA
Steve Van Slyke, Appraiser
Jesse Vance, MAI, SRA, Chair, Region X, Appraisal Institute
Carl Velie, SRA, Vice Chair, Region X, Appraisal Institute

Robert Vespa, IFA, ASA
Andrew Wheaton, Appraiser
Judith Whitehead, Appraiser
Danny Wiley, SRA, Past Chairman Appraisal Standards Board
Cynthia Wright, MAI

Don Asher, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Chuck Bonfiglio, President, Florida Association of Realtors
Claude "Chip" Boring, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Todd Dantzler, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Michael Dooley, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Roger Enzor, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors, Member, Florida Real Estate Commission
Summer Greene, Secretary, Florida Association of Realtors

Russell Grooms, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Bob Hudgens, Treasurer, Florida Association of Realtors
Dale Jundt, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Jim Kasper, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors

Frank Kowalski, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Mike Owen, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors

Marie Powell, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors

Nancy Riley, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors, State Committeewomen, Pinellas County

Tom Salomone, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Cynthia Shelton, CRE, President Elect, Florida Association of Realtors
Maurice (Moe) Veissi, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors

Harry Vordermeier, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors, Past Chairman, Florida Real Estate Commission
William Watson, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Cathy Whatley, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors, Past President, National Association of Realtors

Richard Butler, Vice-Mayor, City of Pinellas Park
Leslie Curran, St. Petersburg City Council

Neva Conway, Esq., Counsel, Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board
Henry Faircloth, Chair, North Carolina Real Estate Appraisal Board
Dr. Robert Melby
Dr. Jack Ross

Candidate Appearance

CANDIDATE FORUM

The NAACP

Clearwater/Upper Pinellas Branch

invites you to a

Candidate Forum

Facilitated by the League of Women Voters North Pinellas County
Assisted by members of:
Clearwater Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
and
Nu Beta Omga Chapter of Alpha Kapa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Monday, July 21st at 6:00 pm
6:00 p.m – 6:45 p.m. Voter Registration, Vote-by-Mail Requests

and
Voting Machine Demonstrations

6:45 p.m. – 7:35 p.m. County Commission Candidates
7:45 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. Property Appraiser Candidates
8:15 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Sheriff Candidates
at
North Greenwood Recreational and Aquatic Center

900 Martin Luther King Avenue North

Clearwater, FL 33755

View Larger Map

Candidate Appearance

The North Pinellas Republican Club is is providing time for a Candidate Forum during their meeting on July 17th, 2008. Property Appraiser Candidates Frank Gregoire and Pam Dubov will make presentations and take questions from attendees.

The meeting is held at the Rheba Sutton White Chapel, 1190 Georgia Avenue, Palm Harbor, Florida. It starts at 7:00 P.M. Call 727-725-4241 for more details.

Here is some information about the Rheba Sutton White Chapel - LINK

To find the location, a map is available at this LINK

Everyone is welcome. We hope to see you there.