Newz: WA appraisers fee hikes, AI and an appraiser defense
June 20, 2025
What’s in This Newsletter (In Order, Scroll Down)
- LIA Ad: Protecting My Appraisal Report
- How to Build Strong Appraiser-Client Relationships
- Cardiologist Lists Glass Mansion in Jackson Hole for $60 Million
- WA Appraisers Stung by Fee Hikes and Veto
- FOIA, AI, & the Appraiser’s Defense: A Blueprint for Fighting Back
- MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
—————————————————————
Real Estate Agents and Comparable Sales – Tips for Appraisers
Click here to subscribe to our FREE weekly appraiser email newsletter and get the latest appraisal news
———————————————————–
—————————————————————–
How to Build Strong Appraiser-Client Relationships
Excerpts: The most successful appraisers are those who consistently bring in new clients. Are you looking to earn more referrals and repeat business? Start by fostering good relationships with your appraisal customers. Taking the time and effort to build strong appraiser-client relationships is a great way to establish a good reputation and distinguish yourself from the competition so that you can easily generate new business through client referrals and word-of-mouth.
Not sure where to begin? To help you out, we asked our community of real estate appraisers, “Which is MOST important for building strong appraiser-client relationships?” Read their responses below for insights into several effective strategies you can use to keep your customers happy and keep business flowing.
Produce credible, high-quality work (47%)
Have clear communication (20%)
Be courteous and professional (11%)
Deliver reports on time (7%)
Go above and beyond (4%)
Other (7%)
To read more, Click Here
My comments: Worth reading the appraiser comments.
—————————————————————————————-
Cardiologist Lists Glass $60 Million mansion in Jackson Hole
Excerpts: 6 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, 8,583 sq.ft., 36.14 acre lot
Gerald Dorros, 83, assigned renowned local architect Wallace Cunningham to design and build the “immersive” dwelling back in 2018 after his former Wyoming home was decimated in a devastating fire in December 2017.
The architecture seamlessly integrates with the landscape, nestled into a stream curve, with a parallel pool reflecting both the mountains and the house. The sweeping sculptural roof and lofty interiors blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, creating inviting spaces for private enjoyment or entertaining. The formal entrance leads to a great room and a large office area, all surrounded by glass.
To read the listing and see 39 photos and a virtual tour, Click Here
—————————————————————————————-
Are you getting too many ad-only emails?
4 ways to get only the FREE email newsletters and NOT the ad-only emails.
1. Twitter: https://twitter.com/appraisaltoday Posted by noon Friday
2. Read on blog www.appraisaltoday.com/blog Posted by noon Friday. You can subscribe to the blog in the upper right of each blog page. NOTE: the popular ads with liability tips are below the first topic on my blog posts.
3. Email Archives: https://appraisaltoday.com/archives
(posted by noon Friday) The link is above and to the left of the big yellow email signup form. Newsletters start with “Newz.” Contains all recent emails sent.
4. Link to the 10 most recent newsletters (no ads) at www.appraisaltoday.com. Scroll down past the big yellow signup block. The newsletters have abbreviated titles, taken from their blog posts.
To read more about the 4 ways, plus information on why I take ads, etc.
—————————————————————————————-
What is a Good Appraiser?
In the October, 2024 issue of Appraisal Today
Everyone has a different opinion of a “good” appraiser – clients, review appraisers, AMCs, other appraisers, regulators, etc.
In this article, I discuss what clients want and what appraisers see as good
appraisers. Sometimes they are very similar and sometimes not. For too many clients, they just want their “number” or you may not get another job.
With a slow market today few experienced and trainee appraisers are being
hired. But I put in a section of ideas on what to look for. When mortgage interest rates go down, appraisal business will pick up and you may want to hire a trainee or experienced appraiser.
Many appraisers are retiring or just quitting, especially residential lender
appraisers. There will be an appraiser shortage.
Appraiser ethics
There two types of appraisers – honest and ethical or give them what they
want (for both residential and commercial). I was trained to be ethical and give my unbiased opinion of value.
Whether you can learn to be ethical or are trained that way when you are
young is a somewhat controversial topic.
Appraiser Opinions of Who is a Good Appraiser
Who is a good appraiser (honest and competent)?
Who do you call when you have an appraisal question? I bet it’s a name from
a short list. This article focuses on what makes those appraisers the people you call when you have a problem.
To read the full article, plus 2+ years of previous issues, subscribe to the paid Appraisal Today at www.appraisaltoday.com/order .
Not sure if you want to subscribe?
Sign up for monthly auto renewal for $8.25!
Cancel at any time for any reason! You will receive a prorated refund.
$8.25 per month, $24.75 per quarter, and $89 per year (Best Buy)
or $99 per year or $169 for two years
Subscribers get FREE: past 18+ months of past newsletters
————————————————————————
What’s the difference between the Appraisal Today free Weekly email newsletter and the paid Monthly newsletter? Click here for more info.Subscribe to Monthly NewsletterIf you are a paid subscriber and did not receive the June 2025 issue emailed on Monday, June 2 , 2025 please email info@appraisaltoday.com, and we will send it to you. You can also hit the reply button. Be sure to include a comment requesting it.
———————————————————————————–
WA Appraisers Stung by Fee Hikes and Veto
Excerpts: In Washington, where evergreen forests meet bustling real estate markets, appraisers are caught in a bureaucratic drama that’s anything but charming. Robert Mossuto Jr., owner of B.N. Appraisals, Inc., with over two decades of experience appraising residential real estate, recently took to LinkedIn to expose a saga of skyrocketing fees, mismanaged funds, and a gubernatorial veto that’s left the state’s nearly 3,000 credentialed appraisers reeling. This tale is as wild as a Seattle storm, blending financial frustration with a sharp wit that captures the absurdity of it all.
Back in 2022, the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) decided to streamline operations by consolidating over 40 professions, including appraisers, under one administrative umbrella, promising efficiency and cost savings. The catch? The appraiser section was fully funded by appraisers’ fees. When it was dismantled, appraisers wondered what would happen to their money. Spoiler: it didn’t go toward appraiser appreciation parties. Instead, the DOL’s Professions Division went on a spending spree, snapping up new equipment, handing out raises, and upgrading online security like they were staging a tech startup’s launch party.
To read more, Click Here
—————————————————————————————-
FOIA, AI, & the Appraiser’s Defense: A Blueprint for Fighting Back
Excerpts: Targeted under the guise of equity, I faced baseless accusations with no due process — until I used FOIA, uncovered the truth, and turned the tables. But I had a secret weapon: I used artificial intelligence.
My story is not unique. But my strategy is.
When HUD opened a case against me, I did what most would do: I tried to cooperate. I waited. I asked for my file. Nothing came. I was locked out of TEAPOTS. Emails went unanswered. And then the letters started — accusations, then silence, then a phishing-style FOIA denial through an expiring DocuSign link. But I had a secret weapon:
I used artificial intelligence.
With AI, I analyzed HUD handbooks, mapped violations, cited federal statutes, and drafted responses within minutes — letters it would take most attorneys weeks to construct. When they invoked FOIA Exemption 7(a) (an illegal filing), they thought I’d be confused. Instead, I documented it, appealed it, and sent it to the Department of Justice. Now they are notified of HUD’s abuses towards the Appraisal Industry.
To read more, Click Here
—————————————————————————————-
Zillow says these paint colors can boost a home’s sale price
Dark olive green and rich navy blue are the new value-boosting colors of 2025
- Buyers would pay $1,597 more for a home with an olive green kitchen.
- A navy blue bedroom can increase a home’s sale price by $1,815.
- Buyers prefer dark, dramatic shades of green, blue and gray over white.
New Zillow® research finds that a dark olive green kitchen and a navy blue bedroom can boost a home’s sale price. Nearly one-third of all homeowners paint their home before listing it for sale, but sellers can earn top dollar when they pick the right colors.
Zillow’s study finds recent and prospective home buyers prefer muted green kitchens over all other colors, and they’re willing to offer $1,597 more for homes with cabinets painted this color. Buyers liked navy blue bedrooms the best. This restful shade can increase a home’s sale price by $1,815.
To read more, Click Here
My comments: Wonder what appraisers would say about value of colors??
—————————————————————————————
HOW TO USE THE NUMBERS BELOW. Appraisals are ordered after the loan application. These numbers tell you the future for the next few weeks. For more information on how they are compiled, Click Here.
Note: I publish a graph of this data every month in my paid monthly newsletter, Appraisal Today. For more information or get a FREE sample go to www.appraisaltoday.com/order Or call 510-865-8041, MTW, 7 AM to noon, Pacific time.
My comments: Rates are going up and down. We are all waiting for rates to drop in 2025.
Mortgage applications decreased 2.6 percent from one week earlier
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 18, 2025) — Mortgage applications decreased 2.6 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending June 13, 2025.
The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 4 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index decreased 2 percent from the previous week and was 25 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 3 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index decreased 5 percent compared with the previous week and was 14 percent higher than the same week one year ago.
“Mortgage rates decreased last week, driven by financial market volatility caused by current geopolitical conflict and ongoing tariff uncertainties. The 30-year fixed rate decreased to 6.84 percent, its lowest level since April,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist. “Even with lower average mortgage rates, applications declined over the week as ongoing economic uncertainty weighed on potential homebuyers’ purchase decisions.”
Added Kan, “Refinance activity declined for both conventional and government borrowers. VA applications, however, bucked the trend with a 2 percent increase in purchase applications and a slight increase in refinance applications. Additionally, the overall average loan size at $380,200, was the lowest since January 2025.”
The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 37.3 percent of total applications from 36.7 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity decreased to 7.1 percent of total applications.
The FHA share of total applications decreased to 17.8 percent from 18.0 percent the week prior. The VA share of total applications increased to 12.1 percent from 11.6 percent the week prior. The USDA share of total applications remained unchanged at 0.6 percent from the week prior.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($806,500 or less) decreased to 6.84 percent from 6.93 percent, with points increasing to 0.66 from 0.64 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $806,500) decreased to 6.81 percent from 6.93 percent, with points remaining unchanged at 0.63 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages backed by the FHA decreased to 6.57 percent from 6.60 percent, with points increasing to 0.90 from 0.88 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
The average contract interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 6.14 percent from 6.16 percent, with points increasing to 0.70 from 0.66 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs decreased to 6.10 percent from 6.22 percent, with points increasing to 0.57 from 0.33 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.
The survey covers U.S. closed-end residential mortgage applications originated through retail and consumer direct channels. The survey has been conducted weekly since 1990. Respondents include mortgage bankers, commercial banks, thrifts, and credit unions. Base period and value for all indexes is March 16, 1990=100.
——————————————————————————–
Ann O’Rourke, MAI, SRA, MBA
Appraiser and Publisher Appraisal Today
1826 Clement Ave. Suite 203 Alameda, CA 94501
Phone: 510-865-8041
Email: ann@appraisaltoday.com
Online: www.appraisaltoday.com
We want to know what you think!! Please leave a comment.