Changes to Fannie's Selling Guide dated April 15, 2014

Fannie’s Selling Guide, which includes appraisal guidelines has been updated.

Be sure to use the new Selling Guide to find out what Fannie really says vs. what your client thinks Fannie says!!

Summary of appraisal changes

New or Updated Policies
Chapter B4

Some of the new requirements/changes:

Added the requirement that a front photograph of the subject must be taken when completing the Appraisal Update portion of the Appraisal Update and/or Completion Report (Form 1004D) to validate that the appraiser has inspected at least the exterior of the property when he or she performed the
appraisal update.

Unpermitted additions
If the appraiser identifies an addition(s) that does not have
the required permit, the appraiser must comment on the quality and appearance of the work and its impact, if any, on the market value of the subject property.

Older Comparable sales
Revised the policy by removing the requirement that an explanation is required when using a comparable sale that is older than six months

Provided an example to illustrate that in some instances it
may be appropriate to use older sales with proper time
adjustments rather than a dissimilar more recent sale.
An older sale may be more appropriate in situations when
market conditions have impacted the availability of recent
sales as long as the appraisal reflects the changing market
conditions.

Information related to Fannie Mae’s acceptance of unique
property types has been provided.

The definition/characteristics and the eligibility of an
accessory dwelling unit have been provided.

Be sure to use the new Selling Guide to find out what Fannie really says vs. what your client thinks Fannie says!!

Link to summary:
https://www.fanniemae.com/content/announcement/sel1403.pdf

Link to new Web based documents:
https://www.fanniemae.com/content/guide/selling/index.html

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Info on Fannie’s do not use appraiser list available

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Info on Fannie’s “do not use” appraiser list available

Many thanks to appraiser Dave Towne for sending the email below!!

FannieMae distributed this info below on 1/07/14 ….. shown here just as an FYI, because appraisers cannot access the AQM page.

But you can access the LL-2013-10 which describes some of the negative reporting issues the GSE’s have seen since the UAD was implemented.

Your UAD reports are subject to a higher level procto exam if:
–>you often use the same comp in different reports, but the data you report for that property is different between reports
–>you change the Quality and Condition rating for the same property used as a comp in different reports  (The first time it’s used the Q & C ratings should ‘stick’ thereafter)
–>you are contacted by a GSE reviewer who discusses the above item(s), and you don’t have a credible explanation as to why you have done the above
–>you continue to make the same reporting errors frequently

If you wind up on the GSE’s ‘do not use list’ you are effectively out of business – at least for federally regulated mortgage lending reports.  So “let’s be careful out there!”

Appraiser Quality Monitoring Information
Fannie Mae has published a new web page with information about the recently implemented Appraiser Quality Monitoring (AQM) process. The new AQM web page includes FAQs and a link to the AQM list identifying appraisers whose appraisals will be subject to 100% review by Fannie Mae or whose appraisals are no longer accepted by Fannie Mae. The AQM list is protected content, and approved Fannie Mae sellers/servicers may set up access through Technology Manager.

For more information, refer to Lender Letter LL-2013-10: Appraisal Quality, which reminded lenders of Fannie Mae’s appraiser selection requirements, highlighted several data quality issues, and described the AQM process that Fannie Mae has implemented to identify and monitor issues with individual appraisers.

Direct link to Fannie Appraiser Quality Management (AQM) web page at  www.fanniemae.com/singlefamily/appraiser-quality-monitoring

Dave Towne, AGA, MAA                                             towneappraisals@clearwire.net                           www.towneappraisals.comMount Vernon, WA

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What do I think? This can be good for the appraisal profession!

Appraisers have been complaining for years about the “other” appraisers who are unethical, incompetent, lazy, or stupid. For many clients, since licensing, all appraisers are seen as the same. Why not use someone who gives you what you need – turn time, fee, no problems with underwriting, etc.?

Unfortunately, AMC hassles have driven many very experienced appraisers out of the business, or refusing to do AMC work. This makes the problem more difficult.

Maybe more AMCs will start using appraiser quality rather than fee, turn time, etc. to select their appraisers.

Also, the preference by many AMCs for low fees makes it very tempting to skimp on the time and effort for doing appraisals.

A low fee does not mean that you can do a poor job on an appraisal. I know what it is like to work for a low fee. I tried doing low fee jobs a few times over the years, but found I had a really “bad attitude” about the appraisal and had to force myself to do the same appraisal no matter what the fee. Doing a good appraisal is more important to me than using a low fee as an excuse for doing less work on an appraisal.

It is great to see that Fannie is using objective criteria, rather than a reviewer that gives an appraiser a bad rating, removing them from the list of a major lender. Just like appraising, reviewing is subjective. Particularly with the use of reviewers not familiar with your local market.

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Fannie's Appraiser Quality Monitoring(AQM) FAQs July 2014(Opens in a new browser tab)