Editor’s Note: The following Q&A with MARI results from its name coming up again and again as the source of complaints against appraisers. The responses are from Merle Sharick, Vice President – National Manager of Business Development, Mortgage Asset Research Institute (MARI), a ChoicePoint company. Mr. Sharick has been at MARI for four years, after...…
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Dealing with Pressure by David Brauner, Editor Few appraisers remain untouched by lender pressure to make a deal work, whether the demand is to “adjust” a property’s value or its condition. Besides losing business, honest appraisers are losing faith in their ability to practice their profession reputably, mainly because there are so many who don’t....…
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Compliant Appraisers: Creating a Level Playing Field A growing number of appraisers are compelled to turn in colleagues for what, in their judgment, is incompetence and/or fraud. Here is a template of an actual complaint which was heard and acted upon by a state board. Phil Rice, appraising eight years, said he filed this complaint...…
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Editor’s Note: WRE reported last issue that according to the FBI, state regulators and appraisers themselves, fraud and identity theft are rampant throughout the industry (Best of Show, Feb. 2006). One fraud prevention expert told us that thieves don’t even need your digital signature to fabricate an appraisal in your name; all they need is...…
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Best of Show – Taking Appraisal Industry Pulse by David Brauner, Editor WRE Here is the best of show from the Valuation conference in Las Vegas and the latest on the issues that affect your business most– new forms from Fannie Mae, AVMs, 2006 USPAP, Scope of Work, identity theft, fraud, the future, negativity and…
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Fraud or Incompetence: You Make the Call by David Brauner, Editor Fraud or incompetence? According to Larry Disney, Executive Director, Kentucky Real Estate Appraisers Board, that is a question that regulators across the nation are grappling with as they sort through the growing number of complaints against appraisers. The answers are not always clear cut....…
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Taking Care of (Your) Business by David Brauner, Editor Two files sitting on my desk and several other stories this issue speak to why the success or failure of your business in today’s world depends on knowing who you work for and who you work with, as much anything else. One file concerns an appraiser...…
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Identity Theft – Appraiser Style The best advice comes from an FBI agent, though unfortunately for one appraiser, it came a little too late. That advice is: Be very careful who you work with and never give anyone authority to use your electronic signature. Here’s why. Billy G., we will call him while the investigation...…
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Fitch, Fannie and Fraud: Conference Roundup WRE hit the road to bring you the latest from several important industry gatherings (see insert). With many practitioners working from home offices, these conferences help us all stay connected and up to speed. The issues that emerged this year are familiar but include some new twists: AVMs, fraud,...…
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Fraud, AVMs and Fannie’s New Forms Report from Valuation 2003 While you were busy appraising, Valuation 2003 took place in Orlando, Fla. with many of the industry’s movers and shakers exhibiting, speaking and networking. Working RE Magazine was there too. Mark Simpson, Director of Property Valuation Standards & Practices, Single-Family Credit Administration, for Fannie Mae...…
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