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Appraising Kitchens

Newz: FHFA Waiver Expansion, AMC Appraisal Fees, Appraising Kitchens

November 1, 2024

What’s in This Newsletter (In Order, Scroll Down)

  • Construction Progress Inspection Reports: Claims Involving ADUs and Remodels
  • Appraising Kitchens: Understanding Trends, Functionality, and Market Expectations
  • Lake Tahoe Ranch Hits the Market for $188 Million, Making It One of the Priciest Listings in the U.S.
  • FHFA’s Appraisal Waivers Expansion
  • The Great Debate on Appraisal Fees
  • Updated UAD redesign timeline with specific implementation dates
  • Mortgage applications decreased 0.1 percent from one week earlier

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Appraising Kitchens: Understanding Trends, Functionality, and Market Expectations

Excerpts: When it comes to real estate appraising, kitchens often play a pivotal role in determining a home’s value. A well-appointed kitchen can significantly enhance a property’s appeal and marketability. As an appraiser, understanding the nuances of kitchens is essential to providing credible and insightful valuations. Let’s dive into appraising kitchens and how the room impacts market value.

Functional Obsolescence and Price Point

If a back corner kitchen or a galley kitchen does not align with current market preferences for homes of a similar age, it might be considered outdated and impact marketability. However, this does not necessarily rise to the level of functional obsolescence that must be remedied. An outdated but functional kitchen might not be a major concern in lower price ranges.

Conversely, in high-end homes, buyers expect the latest designs, features and finishes; and therefore, an outdated kitchen may be considered as functional obsolescence.

Appeal & Functionality Count when Appraising Kitchens

In conclusion, appraising kitchens requires a thoughtful, balanced analysis of market trends, quality, and functionality. While it’s important to understand current design preferences, the value of a kitchen is ultimately determined by how well it meets the expectations of buyers in a particular market.

A homeowner may have invested heavily in a kitchen renovation, but it is the appraiser’s responsibility to carefully consider factors such as conformity, local market preferences, and house style and price range when valuing the subject property. Remember, ultimately a kitchen’s value lies in its ability to enhance the overall appeal and functionality of the home, not its initial cost or the cost of renovation.

To read more, Click Here

My comments: This is the best analysis I have read on kitchens. Worth reading. Kitchens are a very important factor when buying a home. What is popular changes over time. Of course, appraisers see all types of kitchens.

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Lake Tahoe Ranch Hits the Market for $188 Million, Making It One of the Priciest Listings in the U.S.

Excerpts: sprawling Lake Tahoe estate known as Shakespeare Ranch hit the market on Monday for $188 million.

Not only is that a price tag that makes it the most expensive property on the market in Nevada, it’s also one of the priciest in the entire U.S., bested only by a small handful of homes in Los Angeles and South Florida.

Named after the nearby Shakespeare Rock, a nearby outcropping that is said to resemble the playwright, the property spans 130 acres on the eastern shores of Lake Tahoe and includes a colossal selection of amenities, from multiple properties and a historic barn to its own rodeo ground and private pier.

The ranch dates to the late 1800s, and its multiple properties include a 4,980-square-foot lakefront home with a waterside cabana, an under-construction 7,713-square-foot architect-designed residence and a number of cabins.

he historic barn on the property was built in 1873 and is currently outfitted with a commercial kitchen, a game center and a wine room.

The property also has a pool house with an indoor pool and spa, a gym, lawns, gardens, an office suite, a staging kitchen for catering, two boat lifts, 14 buoys and a boat house.

To read more, Click Here

For video, photos, and more information and to see the listing, Click Here

My comments: I live within driving distance to Lake Tahoe and have been there many times. A beach with a dock and a boat house is a premium feature.

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Posted in: AMCs, appraisal, appraisal modernization, liability, UAD, waivers

Appraisers – Protect against Being Sued

Newz: Protect Against Being Sued, DOJ Sues Rocket Mortgage, Solidifi AMC and Appraiser, Scary Places

October 25, 2024

What’s in This Newsletter (In Order, Scroll Down)

  • Dealing with Unhappy Buyers as an Appraiser (LIA ad)
  • Protect Against Any Grounds for Suing an Appraiser with Defensible Reports
  • A Billionaire Built a Cliffside Version of Versailles. Now It’s Asking $108 Million
  • DOJ Sues Rocket Mortgage, Solidifi AMC and appraiser – Bias
  • Halloween: Paranormal/Haunted places where I live and How to find what is near you. You may be surprised!
  • Very funny Halloween appraiser cartoon
  • Ghosts Are Scary, but 95% of Americans Are More Afraid of Home Repairs (2024 Data)
  • How to Avoid Unexpectedly Buying a Haunted House—Because It Could Happen to You
  • 32 of the most haunted places in America
  • White House Ghost Stories
  • Mortgage applications decreased 6.7 percent from one week earlier
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  • Appraisal Business Tips 
    Humor for Appraisers


Protect Against Any Grounds for Suing an Appraiser with Defensible Reports

Excerpts: … appraisers can be sued for several reasons, including negligence, errors and oversight, failure to notice underlying issues, or even fraud. While lawsuits against appraisers can be serious, they are rare when compared to the number of complaints to the state appraisal boards, which are much more commonplace and can also have serious consequences.

Therefore, the best defense for a real estate appraiser against a lawsuit or an appraisal board complaint is an accurate, defensible appraisal report.

Topics include:

1. Why is it important to create a highly defensible appraisal report? Mel Black: Real estate appraisers need to be prepared when the bright spotlight comes shining down on their work. They need to be prepared for issues that arise in a board complaint or civil lawsuit…

2. To ensure their report is defensible, what should real estate appraisers focus on at the beginning of an assignment? MB: There are a number of things to consider at the beginning of an assignment. As an appraiser, you want to look at assignment selection. You want to look at your competency to handle the assignment. You want to make sure you are able to define the problem and create an appropriate scope of work.

3. Once you’ve accepted the assignment, what are some things to focus on when developing the appraisal?

4. While you’re developing the appraisal, how do you find the best comparable sales information to include to ensure it’s highly defensible?

5. How can you prepare your workfile or appraisal report for a question about adjustments for the differences between the comparable and the subject property?

To read lots more about all 8 suggestions, Click Here

My comments: Information in the blog post is from Mel Black, a Certified Residential Appraiser, licensed real estate broker, and a practicing attorney who provides regular counsel on compliance matters and other industry-related law for appraisers and brokerage services, about creating defensible appraisal reports and why they are necessary in fighting legal battles or against appraisal board complaints.

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Posted in: AMCs, bias, humor, liability

FHA Appraisal ROV Q&As

Newz: FHA ROVs, Avoiding Court, ADUs and Sq.Ft.

October 18, 2024

What’s in This Newsletter (In Order, Scroll Down)

  • Avoiding Court: A Common Sentiment Among Appraisers By Claudia Gaglione, Esq.,
  • FHA Q&A on ROV Policy
  • One of America’s Biggest Homes Hits the Market for $195 Million
  • UAD/URAR Threat, Opportunity, Confusion, Part 2 By George Dell, MAI, SRA
  • Why didn’t the appraiser add the ADU in the square footage? By Ryan Lundquist
  • Choosing the Right Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs): A Guide for Appraisers
  • Mortgage applications decreased 17.0 percent from one week earlier
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Q’s and A’s Now Available from Appraisal Review and ROV Industry Briefing Webinar

FHA INFO 2024-70

October 10, 2024

FHA Posts Appraisal Review and Reconsideration of Value Policy

Questions and Answers from Industry Briefing Webinar

Today, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) posted a questions and answers document that addresses inquiries received from stakeholders regarding FHA’s Mortgagee Letter (ML) 2024-07, Appraisal Review and Reconsideration of Value (ROV), announced in FHA INFO 2024-24 on May 1, 2024.

To prepare mortgagees and other stakeholders for the implementation of the ROV policy, FHA hosted a live webinar on August 8, 2024. During this webinar, FHA subject matter experts briefed participants on the ROV policy and processes and addressed questions submitted prior to and during the webinar. Due to time constraints, not all questions were answered during the webinar; therefore, today’s FHA INFO includes a summary of the questions addressed during the webinar as well as those that were not.

Mortgagees are reminded that while the provisions outlined in ML 2024-07 may be implemented immediately, they must be implemented for FHA case numbers assigned on or after October 31, 2024, as announced in ML 2024-16. Additionally, the technology updates announced in FHA INFO 2024-43, will also be available in FHA Connection (FHAC) beginning October 31, 2024.

The questions and answers and recording of the ROV webinar are available for viewing on HUD’s Single Family Housing Archived Webinars web page.

To read the full Q&As (PDF), Click Here

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Posted in: ADUs, AMCs, Fannie, FHA, liability, Mortgage interest rates, ROVs, UAD

AI and Appraisers

Newz: AI Limits, VA News, New UAD,
Hurricane Risks

October, 11 2024

What’s in This Newsletter (In Order, Scroll Down)

  • Intended Use and User (LIA Ad)
  • The Limits of AI: When the intelligence is artificial, common sense is a superpower
  • Vila Siena In Bel-Air CA Is The Most Insane Mega-Mansion EVER at $177,000,000
  • The New UAD: Opportunity, Confusion or Threat?
  • What’s New at the VA? A Q&A With Its Chief Appraiser
  • Effects of Hurricane Helene
  • Is Anywhere Safe From Hurricanes? The 10 States With the Lowest Risk of Damage
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  • Appraisal Business Tips 

 


The Limits of AI: When the intelligence is artificial, common sense is a superpower

By John Russell

Excerpts: At some point, all of us will integrate AI tools into our business practices. Whether it automates mundane and repetitive tasks, generates narrative text, or assists with analyses, the power of AI to save time is real.

The good news for valuation professionals is they have lots of experience spotting data points that don’t jibe with what they know. Another way to say this is that they have common sense. It’s a basic requirement for doing the work. Of course this 3-story overbuilt McMansion is probably not a comparable for a Cape Cod two miles away. That sale was under atypical conditions and, at minimum, needs adjustments to even be considered. You get the idea.

Do I trust what the AI is telling me?

Accepting AI outputs without any skepticism is a recipe for disaster. Approach AI like a detective interviewing witnesses: trust, but verify. Basic internet searches can quickly fact-check results — or raise enough red flags that you reject what is being offered. No state board will accept the argument, “But ChatGPT said,” and neither should you….

Should I be using AI for this task?

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should — commit this phrase to memory. You will have to own everything in your report, and if too much of the product is driven by AI tools, you may be asked: “Well, what exactly did you do here?”…

Common sense is a superpower that can protect you from dire consequences as you experiment with AI. It’s tempting to be spellbound by new AI tools that seem miraculous — and to let down your guard of common sense. Instead, I recommend a heightened sense of caution: The tools are only as good as the people who craft them and the inputs provided by the users. AI hallucinations are still unpredictable, inevitable failure points, which means any “facts” and analyses it supplies should always be verified — it’s just common sense

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Good, practical analysis of AI for appraisers.


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Posted in: appraisal business, george dell, HOME INSURANCE, liability, real estate market, va

Q3 Fannie Update – Concessions, Rural, Environmental Hazards

Newz: Fannie Update, Concessions Are a Mess, State Board Complaints

October 4, 2024

What’s in This Newsletter (In Order, Scroll Down)

  • State Board Complaints and Renewal

  • Q3 2024 Fannie Mae Appraiser Update – Concessions, Rural, Environmental Hazards

  • $47 Million Ski Chalet With Private Tesla-Style Gondola, Bowling Alley, and Basketball Court

  • September 2024 Real Estate Market Update: What Appraisers Need to Know By Kevin Hecht

  • The hot mess of concessions in real estate By Ryan Lundquist

  • That A-Frame Life: What It’s Really Like To Live in These Triangular Houses

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    Humor for Appraisers

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Q3 2024 Fannie Mae Appraiser Update – Concessions, Rural, Environmental Hazards

Excerpts:

Rural

Worth reading with links to Fannie info, including a link to: Free Fannie online Rural Appraisal Challenges eLearning course. Plus other tips.

Environmental Hazards

While Fannie Mae does not expect the appraiser to be an expert in the field of environmental hazards, we do expect appraisers to analyze and report any information about environmental hazards that is available in the normal course of business…

If an appraiser has knowledge of or identifies an environmental hazard in or on the subject property or on any site within the vicinity of the property, we require the appraiser to…

Seller Concessions

The article about seller concessions in our December 2023 Appraiser Update generated a lot of questions and buzz.

First, we heard that some appraisers, in reaction to our article, adopted a practice of always adjusting dollar for dollar for seller concessions. While this may seem sensible from a theoretical perspective, it could have adverse unintended consequences (such as undervaluation) if the concession did not actually have a dollar-for-dollar impact on the price. Making either assumption (that there is no impact or that the impact is dollar-for-dollar) is not the correct approach…

PSAs – UAD, Bias with useful links to Fannie info

To read more, Click Here

My Comments: Read the concessions section to see what Fannie Mae says on this hot topic! Plus the useful info and links on other topics above.

See Ryan Lundquist’s post below on Concessions – A Mess

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Posted in: adjustments, Fannie, real estate market, state appraiser regulators

Waterfront Property Appraisals

Newz: Rate Drops and Appraisers, UAD Overhaul, Avoiding Court

September, 30 2024

What’s in This Newsletter (In Order, Scroll Down)

  • Avoiding Court: A Common Sentiment Among Appraisers (LIA ad below)

  • Making Waves: Appraising Waterfront Property

  • $850K Nantucket ‘Shack’ That Looks Set To Plunge Into the Sea

  • New UAD Overhaul: What Appraisers Can Expect in 2025 & Beyond

  • Sticky Prices

  • The Fed is finally lowering interest rates. What does it mean for appraisers?

  • Experts Predict Where Mortgage Rates Are Headed in 2025 as the Fed Cuts Rates

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Making Waves: Appraising Waterfront Property

Excerpts: Appraising waterfront properties involves a comprehensive evaluation of various factors that go beyond typical residential appraisals. By considering the unique aspects of water frontage, local regulations, environmental factors, and property-specific amenities, you can provide credible and comprehensive valuations that reflect the worth of these highly sought-after properties.

Understanding the depth, quality of the water, and type of shoreline is crucial, as these elements directly influence the property’s usability, aesthetics, and long-term stability. The importance of these factors cannot be overstated, and they deserve careful consideration in every waterfront property appraisal.

1. Water Frontage and Access

One of the most critical elements in appraising waterfront properties is the type and extent of water frontage. The value can vary significantly depending on whether the property is adjacent to a lake, river, ocean, or pond.

5. Depth of the Water

The depth of a water body significantly affects its usability, particularly for recreational activities like boating, fishing, and swimming. Shallow water might limit boating and can lead to stagnant water, which may contribute to unpleasant odors and an increase in insects like mosquitoes.

Conversely, deeper water is often clearer, supports a healthier ecosystem, and is more desirable for recreational use, thereby enhancing property value.

To read the details on all 8 factors, Click Here

My comments: Excellent article. Worth reading. The best I have read on this topic. Even if you never appraise a waterfront home, most people have been to a lake or other type of waterfront property on vacation. I live on an island in San Francisco Bay with water on all sides plus a small area on a nearby peninsula with 3 sides waterfront. I moved here in 1980 and appraised hundreds of waterfront properties including condos plus semi-detached and detached homes.

I lived for 25 years in three waterfront homes with boat docks in my city and am very familiar with with the issues above. I have appraised waterfront homes with 7 of the 8 factors in the blog post, except utilities as all were public utilities with no problems).

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Humor for Appraisers

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Posted in: appraisal how to, appraisal modernization, Economic analysis, liability, Mortgage interest rates

Appraisal Value Vs. Sale Price

AI and Appraisal Success, Cindy Chance Terminated (Appraisal Institute CEO)

September 20, 2024

What’s in This Newsletter (In Order, Scroll Down)

  • Using Trainees, the Safe Way
  • Appraised Value Vs. Sale Price
  • Converted $500K Minnesota Bank With Historic Vaults and Bulletproof Glass
  • How AI Tech is Reshaping Appraisal Success
  • From Panic to Profit: One Appraiser’s Story of Survival and Growth
  • Cindy Chance Terminated (Appraisal Institute CEO)
  • Mortgage applications increased 14.2 percent from one week earlier

Appraised Value Vs. Sale Price

Excerpts: Property sellers often ask professionals who are performing appraisals for mortgage lending, “Why is an appraisal even needed? The buyer and I have already agreed on a sale price.” However, when it comes to appraised value vs. sale price, they are not the same thing.

What is Value?

Value is defined in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) as:

“The monetary relationship between properties and those who buy, sell, or use those properties, expressed as an opinion of the worth of a property at a given time.

Comment: In appraisal practice, value will always be qualified—for example, market value, liquidation value, or investment value.”

What is Sale Price?

Unlike value, price is not an opinion. It is a fact. Price is defined in USPAP as:

“The amount asked, offered, or paid for a property.

Comment: Once stated, price is a fact, whether it is publicly disclosed or retained in private. Because of the financial capabilities, motivations, or special interests of a given buyer or seller, the price paid for a property may or may not have any relation to the value that might be ascribed to the property by others.”

What’s the Difference Between Sale Price and Appraised Value?…

If a property is under contract for purchase at $450,000 and an appraiser provides a market value appraisal of $425,000 for the property, the $450,000 sale price is a fact, while the $425,000 appraised value is the appraiser’s opinion. The $450,000 price is what the property is actually selling for. The $425,000 market value opinion is what the property should sell for, under the specific conditions of the definition of market value.

The Appraiser’s Role

Properties don’t always sell for what they should. Depending on many factors, including the motivations and negotiating skills of the parties involved, a property might sell for more than its value, less than its value, or right at its value.

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Short and worth reading. Good analysis – for newer and more experienced appraisers.

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Posted in: AI, appraisal business, Appraisal Institute, liability

Appraising New Construction

September 13, 2024

What’s in This Newsletter (In Order, Scroll Down)

  • Family Feud and Intended Use
  • 6 Tips for Appraising New Construction Homes
  • Vast $100 Million Equestrian Estate With a Bowling Alley in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
  • Mortgage Volume Forecasts
  • New UAD GSE online appraisal report samples
  • Inside the Tiny Arkansas Town Where Homes Sell for $400—With a Huge Catch
  • Mortgage applications increased 1.4 percent from one week earlier

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2024 Updated UAD and URAR – What does It Mean for You?

Real Estate Agents and Comparable Sales – Tips for Appraisers

Appraisal Business Tips 

Humor for Appraisers

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6 Tips for Appraising New Construction Homes

Excerpts: Lenders, FHA, and the GSEs (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) treat new construction a little differently. When appraising new construction homes, certain factors that don’t always apply to existing dwellings must be considered.

New construction appraisals require more work, so you want to charge a fee that is commensurate with the work involved. Perhaps more than that, you need to follow the proper protocols. Stick to these best practices to ensure you cover all your bases when performing a new construction appraisal.

1. Don’t rely totally on blueprints during a new construction appraisal

2. Gather as much detail about plans and specs as you can

3. Keep a file of local building costs

4. Be careful when choosing comparables for a new construction appraisal

5. Use the sales comparison method for site value (if possible)

6. Know the applicable requirements for an appraisal on new construction.

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Read this if you do new construction. I have done many new home appraisals from one-off custom homes to all sizes of projects. My advice: Always check what plan and updates were actually built when doing final inspection. Getting the actual costs and upgrades can be difficult to obtain on the subject and the comps from the project sales office. I always asked to see the final sales document data. Sometimes I got them.

I finally quit doing them – too much hassle. There is little new construction where I work, except for infill projects – townhomes and and condos. My area is almost fully developed, so I did not lose much work. On the plus side, I learned a lot about construction!

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Posted in: appraisal modernization, GSEs, liability

Appraiser and Real Estate Agent Communication

Newz: Disturbing AMC Violations, Appraiser and Real Estate Agent Communication

September 6, 2024

What’s in This Newsletter (In Order, Scroll Down)

  • Top 10 Things Appraisers Wish Real Estate Agents Understood
  • Divorce Appraisal Red Flags
  • Carmel’s Iconic and Artistic ‘Owl House’ $3,750,000
  • Housing Market Update: August 2024
  • Please! Not Another Highest and Best Use Question?!
  • Appraisal Regulation Compliance Council Exposes Disturbing AMC Violations
  • Mortgage applications increased 1.6 percent from one week earlier

Real Estate Agents and Comparable Sales – Tips for Appraisers

Appraisal Business Tips 

Humor for Appraisers

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Top 10 Things Appraisers Wish Real Estate Agents Understood

McKissock Survey

Excerpts: Survey question: “What’s one thing you wish real estate agents knew about the appraisal process?”

Based on the answers we received, appraisers wish that agents knew the following:

  • The appraisal process is complex and takes time
  • Appraisers do not assign value
  • Appraisers are unbiased and must follow guidelines
  • Appraisers need their input and cooperation
  • How to select appropriate sales comps
  • The importance of providing accurate and detailed info in their listings
  • How to determine correct GLA (gross living area)
  • How renovations and upgrades affect value
  • How to prepare for the appraisal appointment
  • FHA/VA/USDA guidelines

Sample appraiser answers:

“How complex it really is. We don’t just pull numbers out of the air—they are market supported adjustments backed by ‘many angles“

Some brokers regard the appraiser as an adversary, who potentially can ruin their deal and end up without commission. They should learn that the appraiser is neutral and cooperating can be a benefit.”’ of research.”

“Entering an occupied home without agent or home owner present is a liability issue for appraisers—[we] need someone present to observe what we do.”

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Read the blog post and maybe get some good ideas for answering agent questions!

Many years ago a top local agent asked me why I was driving around taking photos. I explained they were similar homes (comps) I may be using in an appraisal. I realized she did not know much about what appraisers do.

When I started my appraisal business in 1986 I did presentations at all the local real estate offices, usually during their marketing meetings. I explained what appraisers do and how agents and appraisers can work together. They liked the information.


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Posted in: AMCs, appraisal, Appraisal fees, Economic analysis, non-lender appraisals

AI and Appraisers

August 30, 2024

What’s in This Newsletter (In Order, Scroll Down)

  • New AMC client. They’ve asked me to provide a list of other AMCs I work with and how long I’ve been working with them before they accept me. Is this a common requirement?

  • AI Appraisals: Embracing the Future Appraisal

  • 5 Enormous Mansions, With Wildly Different Architectural Styles—Priced at Under a Million Bucks

  • Is appraisal accuracy measured by contract price?

  • Redfin Reports 6 of Every 7 People With Mortgages Have an Interest Rate Below 6%

  • 110 Nightmarish Home Inspector Scenarios

  • Mortgage applications increased 0.5 percent from one week earlier

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AI Appraisals: Embracing the Future Appraisal

By Jim Amorin

Excerpts:

Image Recognition

AI can analyze property images to identify features and property conditions, and even estimate dimensions with remarkable accuracy. This technology accelerates the inspection process, allowing appraisers to focus their expertise on more nuanced aspects of the valuation where their experience and judgement are most critical.

While some may worry about image recognition taking away from the appraisers’ skills, it is more useful to see it as a supplement to your own eyes. The visioning capabilities (image recognition) of AI can reinforce your own observations. Using the generative capabilities of a large language model such as ChatGPT coupled with the visioning tools, some of the narrative description of the property can be streamlined for the appraiser.

Enhanced Reports

Another appraiser leveraged AI tools to generate detailed market analysis reports. These reports included data visualizations and trend analysis that provided clients with a deeper understanding of the market, ultimately enhancing the appraiser’s service quality and client satisfaction.

Summary

AI is not a threat to appraisers but a powerful ally. By leveraging AI’s capabilities, appraisers can enhance their efficiency, accuracy, and overall service quality. The unique judgment, expertise, and contextual understanding that appraisers bring to their work are irreplaceable. Embracing AI as a tool will ensure that appraisers continue to play a vital role in the real estate industry, delivering unparalleled value to clients and shaping the future of real estate appraising.

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Amorin’s new book is very well written and understandable. Craig Gilbert wrote an extensive review of the book “The Generative Shift: A Thorough Examination of AI” and interviewed Amorin, in the July, 2024 issue of Appraisal Today.

I have not used AI for my appraisals but follow its use in other applications, such as medical. For example, I have had many mammograms over the years. A recent study found that an artificial intelligence system has an accuracy rate of about 90 percent, compared to an overall average of 80 percent by radiologists. “Notably, when radiologists used this tool as a second reader, their performance improved,” says Dr. Moy. “So we want to reach that sweet spot where we use both.”

A friend had dense breasts. Her mammograms never detected the small tumors scattered through both breasts before her breast removal surgery, where they found them. Bad News

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Posted in: AI, appraisal, appraisal management company, liability, Mortgage interest rates