Editor’s Note: This fascinating interaction between an appraiser and builder sheds light on the role of both in a declining market. How Builders Think (in a Down Market) By Thomas J. Inserra, MAI, SRA I had a very interesting conversation with a builder recently on the issue of cost versus value. The Executive Vice President…
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Editor’s Note: Who would have guessed that the Cost Approach would stir such emotions among appraisers nationwide? WRE received a sizable and emotional response to Cost Approach: Why Sidestepping it Can be Costly (WRE Online, Vol. 9). Significant Change to Cost Handbook by Marcos Campos, MAI, SRA A small change was made on page two...…
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Editor’s Note: Author Beverly Bayer, SRA says that lenders, fed up with shoddy appraisals, are laying traps for unsuspecting appraisers. Fannie Mae has said as much, indicating that one of goals with the new forms is to make appraisers more accountable for their work. In this story, Bayer exposes several “gotcha” traps designed to snare…
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Editor’s Note: At a recent conference, Fannie Mae’s Mark Simpson, Director Property Standards, Single-Family Credit, shared how insurance industry changes offer appraisers a new opportunity to provide lenders with an additional service: replacement cost data. The data is used to determine an appropriate level of hazard insurance for Fannie loans. Fannie requires hazard insurance that…
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When was the last time you indicated a functional obsolescence in the cost approach? Did you also reflect it in the sales comparison approach? Would you? Should you? These are questions we rarely, if ever, consider. Perhaps we even avoid the issue when we think the house we are appraising has functional…
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Cost Approach Why Sidestepping it Can be Costly By Gretchen Gary and Richard Vishanoff “I don’t like using the cost approach. It’s too time consuming. Market-based appraisals are always more reliable. Besides, I’m not required to include the cost approach in my appraisals. It’s not relevant anymore.” Sound familiar? If you’re skipping the cost approach,...…
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Measuring Up: Understanding ANSI Standards By Scott Austin “Would you mind going back to the house and re-measuring? There is more than a five percent difference in GLA (gross living area) between your sketch and that of the other appraiser.” I received this question from a specialist with a large relocation company. As per Employee…
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Your workfile is just as important as your appraisal report. Just ask any lender, appraisal management company, client, or worse, your state’s investigator. The workfile is the backbone of your report. It supports everything in your appraisal report.
Your workfile for an appraisal of a single family residence or a condominium unit should contain a minimum…
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