“Death Stairs” for Appraisers

By on November 22, 2024   /   appraisal, climate change, forecast, GSEs, liability, modernization, Mortgage interest rates, New URAR, retirement, ROVs, zillow   /   Leave a comment
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Newz: New URAR Training, “Death Stairs”, Catastrophe and Climate Risk

November 22, 2024

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

  • LIA Buyer says value too high
  • The Rise of the ‘Death Stairs’! Inside ‘Perilous’ Home Trend Taking the Internet by Storm — and How To Conquer It Safely
  • Infinity Symbol-Shaped Circular House Hits the Market for the Unique Price of $3,399,888
  • ARCC (Appraisal Regulation Compliance Council) Podcast with Guest Mark Calabria – AVMs, GSEs, and more
  • NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun Forecasts 9% Increase in Home Sales for 2025 and 13% for 2026, with Mortgage Rates Stabilizing Near 6%
  • Catastrophe and Climate Risk Is Only Increasing – Lender and Servicer issues
  • New Uniform Residential Appraiser Report Training (for lenders but useful for appraisers)
  • Mortgage applications increased 1.7 percent from one week earlier

 

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The Rise of the ‘Death Stairs’! Inside ‘Perilous’ Home Trend Taking the Internet by Storm—and How To Conquer It Safely

Excerpts: Thrill-seekers who are in desperate need of an adrenaline boost need look no further than their own home for their next dose of action—that is, if they are (un)lucky enough to be in possession of a set of “death stairs.”

While walking down a flight of stairs has not historically been considered the most death-defying of acts, one group of social media users is on a mission to change that misconception by highlighting the most dangerous, baffling, and downright weird step designs across the world, starting in their own homes.

In a now-viral Facebook group, which is named “Death Stairs,” hundreds of users have been sharing images of the most mind-boggling steps they have come across, from those so steep that few would dare to descend them, to edgy designs that appear near-impossible to mount.

To read more, Click Here

My Comments: Appraisers see some strange stairs. I have seen many. Usually DYI. I really hate the very narrow spiral staircases – often the only access to a part of the home. And old exterior wood stairs with very shaky hand rails.

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FHA Appraisal ROV Q&As

By on October 18, 2024   /   ADUs, AMCs, Fannie, FHA, liability, Mortgage interest rates, ROVs, UAD   /   Leave a comment
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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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Waterfront Property Appraisals

By on September 27, 2024   /   appraisal how to, appraisal modernization, Economic analysis, liability, Mortgage interest rates   /   Leave a comment
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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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AI and Appraisers

By on August 30, 2024   /   AI, appraisal, appraisal management company, liability, Mortgage interest rates   /   Leave a comment
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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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