Comparable Sales for Appraisals

Newz: Curiosity and Appraisers, GSEs future, Sideline AMCs

May 23, 2025

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

  • LIA AD: Your Role as a Judge’s Appraiser
  • On Comparable Sales By Timothy Andersen, MAI
  • Futurist Architect’s Funky Spaceship-Inspired ‘Starcastle’ Hits the Market in Connecticut for $1.5 Million
  • Why Curiosity Matters in Appraisals
  • Mortgage Bankers Association head addresses ‘elephant in the room’
  • Bye Bye AMC: A Script to Sideline Appraisal Middlemen
  • Mortgage applications decreased 5.1 percent from one week earlier

Real Estate Agents and Comparable Sales – Tips for Appraisers

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On Comparable Sales

By Timothy Andersen, MAI

Excerpts: This short article raises issues related to what constitutes or defines a comparable sale. While it may seem arrogant to take on a topic of this import, it is necessary, since there is not currently a formal definition. There are descriptions of what a comparable sale is. But there is no formal, universally recognized definition¹. However, does there need to be? Do we have enough technical information to understand the concept of a comparable sale? This article suggests the descriptions are sufficient.

It is common for the GSEs to criticize appraisers’ poor choice of comps. Under some conditions, the GSEs’ have the justification to level these critiques. Yet, given the wealth of descriptions there are in the available literature about what constitutes a comparable sale, why do appraisers ignore those descriptions to their own peril?

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Good analysis by Tim, The USPAP Expert. GSEs vs. USPAP goes on and on. I hate it when GSEs tell me how to do my appraisals. I am so glad I quit working for them in 2005. Non-lender appraisals rarely have special requirements and reviews.

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What are the best AMCs for Appraisers?

Newz: AMCs,  Appraisal Institute Is Accused of Cover-ups, Appraisal’s Perfect Storm

May 9, 2025

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

  • LIA AD: Can’t Complete Appraisal with Access Denied
  • Choosing the Right Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs): A Guide for Appraisers
  • Staggering $900K Glass Lake House in Oklahoma Surfs to the Top of the Most Popular Homes List
  • Wildly Inappropriate Behavior’: Appraisal Institute Is Accused of Cover-ups
  • 5-minute YouTube video, posted yesterday by Cindy Chance, former AI CEO regarding her lawsuit that was filed May 8
  • Appraisal Institute’s Harassment, Tests, and Dance with AMCs
  • #MeToo And Testing Fraud Applies To Appraisal Industry’s Largest Trade Group
  • Pulte defends his authority as board chairman of Fannie, Freddie
  • Upheaval at mortgage regulators leaves questions for lenders
  • The Appraisal Profession’s Perfect Storm: A Veteran’s Take on a Dying Craft
  • Mortgage applications increased 11.0 percent from one week earlier
  • Appraisal Business Tips 
  • Humor for Appraisers

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Choosing the Right Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs): A Guide for Appraisers

Excerpts: Today a large percentage of residential real estate valuations are coordinated by appraisal management companies. For appraisers, working with AMCs is almost a necessity.

Let’s look at how appraisal management companies work, the pros and cons, and—perhaps most importantly — how to choose the right AMCs to partner with.

Additionally, we’re sharing insights from appraisers who answered our survey question, “What’s your best tip for working with AMCs?”

How to choose the right AMCs

To prevent challenges and ensure smooth operations, it’s crucial to select the right AMCs. We recommend taking the time upfront to find a few good AMCs that value your appraisal expertise, then building relationships with that smaller group.

Use the following steps to choose the best AMC partners for your appraisal business.

Step 1: Find AMC candidates

Step 2: Investigate each appraisal management company

Step 3: Narrow your list to select the best AMC partners

Tips from Appraisers

  • Prioritize communication
  • Ensure timely delivery
  • Be friendly and polite
  • Get to know the AMCs and their practices
  • Don’t sell yourself short

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Good article on AMCs. Worth reading. Includes appraiser comments. I wrote about how to evaluate AMCS in the monthly Appraisal Today. The most recent article, including a Client Rating Grid, is in the January 2025 article: “What are your best current and former AMC/lender clients?”

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Finding Comps with Few Sales for Appraisers

Newz: Pulling Comps in 2025, Appraiser Union? AMCs Overcharging Consumers

March 7, 2025

  • What’s in This Newsletter (In Order, Scroll Down)
  • LIA ad: Problem with An Affidavit
  • The struggle of pulling comps in 2025 By Ryan Lundquist
  • Op-Ed: Why An Appraiser Union Would Never Work By Dustin Harris
  • The Full Measure: February 2025 Housing Market Snapshot for Appraisers By Kevin Hecht
  • The Trump Administration’s Regulatory Overhaul: The Impact on CFPB, FHA, and the Housing Industry By Rob Chrisman
  • Homebuilders Warn of Rising Building Costs as Trump’s Tariffs on Canada and Mexico Take Effect By NAR
  • AMCs Overcharging Consumers? Morgan & Morgan Investigates
  • Mortgage applications decreased 1.2 percent from one week earlier

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The struggle of pulling comps in 2025

By Ryan Lundquist

Excerpts:

1) SALES TELL US ABOUT THE PAST

Comps aren’t easy today. The problem is there aren’t that many sales, so it’s not so simple to figure out value. Lately, I’ve been getting a ton of questions about this, so I wanted to share some things I’m doing on my end….

2) TWO OPTIONS TODAY

We have two choices for comps. Go back further in time in the immediate neighborhood, or go out further to competitive areas. Why not do both?…

3) HOW FAR AWAY CAN YOU GO FOR COMPS?

It’s not how far you can go, but where you should go. Read that again. This is true in any market. And where would buyers go for comps? That’s also a viable question. No matter where you’re getting comps, be sure they are a good substitution…

To read lots more plus see graphs and read appraiser comments, Click Here

My comments: Read This Article! Few sales are common in many areas. I prefer going back in time. I have been doing time adjustments since 1975, when prices were going up 5% per month in a semi-rural Northern California county. The GSEs seem to be making it way more complicated. I do them on every appraisal. If not needed, I always comment that the market is stable. It is the only adjustment I make on my non-lender appraisals, except for features that are unusual.

I have no idea why the GSEs complain that many appraisers are not doing them when needed. Maybe the appraisers never learned how? Many dollar adjustments are needed on the grid and can be much more difficult than time adjustments.

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Appraisers: Advice On Staying Current

Newz: AMCs Fee Skimming Lawsuit, Appraising a Hobbit Hole

February 28, 2025

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

  • LIA ad: Disclosing Identity of Complaining Party
  • On Staying Current By Timothy Andersen, MAI
  • Futuristic $177 Million Bel-Air Megamansion With Its Own Private Jazz Club Hits All the Right Notes
  • Appraising a Hobbit Hole: The Property Value of Bag End
  • AMCs Deceptive Fee Skimming Exposed in Lawsuit
  • The 10 Most Expensive Home Listings and Home Sales in the U.S.
  • February 21, 2025
  • Mortgage applications decreased 1.2 percent from one week earlier

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On Staying Current

By Timothy Andersen, MAI

Excerpts: In this monograph, we discuss the absolute necessity of developing more than one skill set as part of becoming a competent and professional real estate appraiser.

Real estate appraising is a complex practice that requires a diverse range of skills and knowledge, from understanding current market conditions to understanding and interpreting complex legal and financial documents. If you want to be your own boss, it also requires business acumen.

At its core, real estate appraising involves the due diligence necessary to form a credible opinion of the market value of a particular property. This requires a deep understanding of the appraiser’s local real estate market, as well as of the physical, legal, and economic factors that influence property values in it. However, becoming a successful real estate appraiser requires more than mere market knowledge.

It also requires a range of other skills, including the ability to conduct thorough research, analyze mountains of data, communicate persuasively and effectively with and to other professionals, and manage complex projects. These are all aspects of being an appraiser they do not teach us in appraisal school.

Most importantly, successful appraisers must adapt to changing market conditions and trends. Currently there are so many of these ongoing, especially as the GSEs are about to inaugurate UAD-2 to replace their archaic appraisal reporting forms. This means continually learning and developing new skills to stay ahead of the curve.

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Good analysis of appraising. I have been appraising for 50 years and I still love it. I am easily bored, but every property is different and market conditions change regularly where I work. I am always learning something new.

If this seems overwhelming to you or other post-licensing appraisers, it is not your fault. Unfortunately, after licensing started many trainees hired other trainees. Almost all had poor training and classes. I was unable to refer wannabes to professional associations as they only wanted classes for members, not for new appraiser. Changing what you learned when you started is very difficult to do. I was very fortunate as I started before licensing and had very active local chapters of AIREA and SREA predecessors of the Appraisal Institute. The appraisers I met had lots of experience. They helped me whenever I had any questions. I learned how to lender appraisals plus many types of non-lender appraisals correctly from them.

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The Sales Comparison Approach in Appraisals

Newz: Shadowy AMC Fees, State Board Complaints, Borrower Questions

January 24, 2025

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

  • LIA AD: Borrower Wants Answers Appraiser Can’t Give
  • The Sales Comparison Approach: A Cornerstone of Real Estate Appraisal
  • Waterfront Home in Boca Raton, FL $25,000,000
  • Metrics – What Poetry and Data Analysis Have in Common
  • The Shadowy AMC Fees Draining Billions from Homebuyers
  • Why Report a State Board Investigation or Complaint?
  • Trump signs executive order to reduce housing costs, but will it work?
  • Mortgage applications increased 0.1 percent from one week earlier

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The Sales Comparison Approach: A Cornerstone of Real Estate Appraisal

By Kevin Hecht

Excerpts: For experienced real estate appraisers, the sales comparison approach is more than just a method — it is a reflection of their expertise and competency in the marketplace. By mastering this approach and staying informed about industry standards and technological advancements, appraisers can ensure that their work meets the highest standards of professionalism and accuracy.

Challenges and Best Practices

While the sales comparison approach is a powerful tool, it is not without challenges. Appraisers may encounter situations where there is a lack of recent sales data or where the subject property is unique. In such cases, appraisers must exercise judgment and creativity to develop credible results.

Some common challenges include:

Inadequate Market Data: In markets with limited sales activity, finding comparable properties can be difficult. Appraisers may need to expand their search geographically or consider older sales, making appropriate adjustments for time.

Dissimilar Comparables: When the subject property has unique features, it may be challenging to find truly comparable sales. Appraisers must carefully analyze and adjust for these differences.

Unsupported Adjustments: Adjustments must be based on market evidence. Unsupported or arbitrary adjustments can undermine the credibility of the appraisal.

To overcome these challenges, appraisers should:

  • Conduct thorough market research to identify the best available comparables.
  • Use both quantitative and qualitative analysis to support adjustments.
  • Document their reasoning and methodology clearly in the appraisal report.

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Good reminders of the Sales Comparison Approach.

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Waterfront Home in Boca Raton, FL $25,000,000

Excerpts: 12 bedrooms, 11 baths, 12,709 sq.ft., 0.53 Acres, Built in 2016

Direct Intracoastal Point Lot with 256 ft of Waterfrontage and .53 Acres. Built of John Ross/ ROSSCO Const, the beauty of the lot is that it is sited on an expansive Nautical turn of the Intracoastal so it captures the gorgeous long North views.

There are 2 staircases, one with Marble & tile work by a Canadian Artist and banister designed by a metal artist and the owner, the other is a tree staircase The best part is you do not have to climb down the stairs as there is a hand crafted wooden Dragon Slide from the second floor to the foyer. The central slide seen from the front door is artizanally made from oak by local artist. The observation deck (covered) offers stunning views of the Intracoastal, and it includes another outside shower, and solar panels.

In the middle there is a 20 sitting Norse carved table with Helga and Magnus dragons protecting it. There are tile murals, stained glass windows and ceiling paintings all over the house, also thematic. The kitchen is dedicated to the Elements of Air and a story of its power is depicted on its ceiling.

To see the listing and 209 Photos, Click Here

My comments: Thanks to Joe Lynch for this listing with very colorful exterior and interiors!

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Q4 2024 Fannie Appraiser Update

Newz: Q4 Fannie Appraiser Update, 2025 Mortgage Rates Forecasts Are Now Wrong

December 27, 2025

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

  • LIA ad: Disclosing Identity of Complaining Party
  • Q4 2024 Fannie Mae Appraiser Update
  • Dramatic Concrete-and-Glass Santa Monica CA Masterpiece Designed by Famed Architect Ray Kappe Lists for $4 Million
  • Is Ethics a Spiritual Principle By George Dell, SRA, MAI, ASA, CRE
  • All those 2025 mortgage rates forecasts are now wrong
  • The New Con: Hybrids, Waivers & AMCs Threaten Public Trust
  • MBA: No data released until January 2, 2025

CHANGE THE YEAR ON YOUR TEMPLATES NOW TO 2025!
DON’T WAIT UNTIL AFTER 1/1/25!

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Mortgage forecast – loans predicted to drop 30% in 2014

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Appraiser Humor

Newz: Appraiser Humor, Data Cancer In Comps,
AMC Panel “Requirements”

December 20, 2025

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

  • LIA ad: AMC Panel “Requirements”
  • 12 Days of Appraiser Christmas
  • Santa’s House returns to Zillow with new ‘Let Santa Know You Moved’ feature
  • The Town Where Santa’s Sleigh Is a Surf Boat in Mooloolaba Australia
  • You Are Not a Business Owner!
  • Data Cancer In Your Comps

  • Mortgage applications decreased 0.7 percent from one week earlier

 

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12 Days of Appraiser Christmas

NOTE on video: Click on image and it opens in Youtube.

Very funny!! 3.5 minute video

Here are two of the days: 8 mega mansions, 5 REOs

Many thanks to Gary F. Kristensen, SRA, ASA, AGA at A Quality Appraisals in Portland, Oregon.

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Market Trends and Market Conditions Adjustments Appraisals

Newz: GSE New Market Conditions Policy, State Board Complaints, Waivers

December 6, 2024

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

  • LIA ad – Navigating Value Revisions in Appraisals
  • Market Trends and Market Conditions Adjustments.
  • A Ferrari Inspired Masterpiece With 20K square Feet of Luxury Resort Amenities Listed at 55 Million in Delray Beach FL
  • November 2024 Real Estate Market Update By Kevin Hecht
  • 5 Tips to Handle Appraisal Board Complaints
  • Correcting the Record: Accurate Group’s Commitment to Compliance and Industry Excellence
  • FHFA’s Massive Expansion of Appraisal Waivers: What It Really Means
  • Mortgage applications increased 2.8 percent from one week earlier

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Market Trends and Market Conditions Adjustments

Working through the new Market Conditions policy and advisory from Fannie Mae

By Ken Dicks

Excerpts: Did Fannie Mae just throw a wrench into how residential appraisal reports for mortgage transactions are completed with their recent announcement on Market Conditions?

As an appraiser, it is highly likely at some point you will see the following or a similar request soon after your appraisal is submitted to your client, or even months after your appraisal is accepted by your client: Please provide support for your market conditions adjustment conclusions.

Appraisal Quality Control and Appraisal Quality Assurance create a revision request minefield filled with Lender and Investor tailored appraisal reporting requirements and preferences. Review of the appraisal reports is required by the lender or whoever the lender chooses to delegate this requirement to (i.e. Appraisal Desk, AMC, etc.).

As a practicing appraiser, the announcement and accompanying exhibit prompted a series of questions in my mind.

  • Does Fannie Mae want to see this specific graph in all appraisals?
  • What does USPAP say?
  • What level of data and analysis does an appraiser need to present when providing support for market conditions adjustments?

The following is where I have arrived at developing answers:…

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Worth reading the full article, plus the appraiser comments.

I am so glad I have not done any GSE appraisals since 2008! I don’t care what the GSEs say. I comply with USPAP. Of course, I always make market adjustments on my residential appraisals or explain why no adjustments was needed. It is the only dollar adjustment I make on non-lender forms unless the subject has an unusual feature requiring research and analysis.

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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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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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