Haunting Photos of Europe’s Abandoned Buildings, From Steel Plants to Castles
FHA handbook 4000.1 quarterly update
Popular (and sometimes strange) real estate listings
Take a break and check out these listings!!
The 4 Most Interesting Home Listings of 2016 – Fun Video
Video is 2 minutes and 40 seconds long and very entertaining!!
Can’t describe it. You just gotta see it!!
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2016’s top 10 most popular (and sometime strange) homes for sale
Here are 3 of them
No. 1 is the country’s biggest fixer-upper – over 60,000 sq.ft. in Texas. Price: Listed for $3.6 million
5. The cave dwelling, Undisclosed address, Festus, Missouri. Price: Listed for $314,900
10. The ‘Amityville Horror’ house, 108 Ocean Ave, Amityville, New York. Price: Listed for $850,000, entered into contract in November
http://www.housingwire.com/articles/38783-here-are-2016s-top-10-most-popular-homes-for-sale
Beautiful and unusual places
What are the most popular links in these newsletters? Weird properties, very expensive homes, etc. Plus Appraiser goes to jail (not many of these today), Freddie and Fannie no-appraisal loans. LIA’s Claudia Says ads are also very popular. Sorry, USPAP, ASB, AQB, ASC etc. are not very popular but I put them in just to let you know what is happening, even if you don’t care much ;> Here are two:
10 of the Most Beautiful Libraries on Earth
Take a break and a look at these beautiful and unusual libraries!!
From all over the world, including the Chicago Public Library
Excerpt:
Chicago Public Library, by SOM
Chicago’s new Chinatown library branch has no sharp edges. The pebble-shaped building is wrapped in glass and marked by solar-shading fins that are meant to reduce heat and glare. The library’s curvy, three-sided shape is built around feng shui principles and designed to align with the avenues outside the building. Inside, the two-story structure is centered around a light-filled atrium.
No links for more info, but you can google the names.
https://www.wired.com/2016/09/settle-10-beautiful-libraries-earth
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Carmel, Indiana, America’s King of Roundabouts
Are Granny Flats Undervalued?
by Kathy Price-Robinson, The Appraisers Research Foundation
Excerpt:
Whether you call them granny flats, in-law units, or something else, residential accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on residential properties excite municipal planners, homeowners, and others for social and environmental reasons. They are “green” by nature because of their small size and can provide great benefits to the owner.
But they can also perplex appraisers and other real estate professionals because of erroneous perceptions and various institutional policies that complicate lending on properties featuring ADUs.
To help clarify the estimation of value of residential properties with accessory units, researchers Martin J. Brown and Taylor Watkins conducted a study to test an income-based approach to valuation of properties with ADUs.
http://www.workingre.com/granny-flats-undervalued/
My comment: I appraise these types of units often in my city. Typically they are not legal. I consider them similar to detached bonus rooms, offices, guest quarters. If legal, the income approach would work to determine the added value of the ADU. Of course, income from airbnb, etc. vs. “regular” rentals is another big issue. The article does not address non-legal ADUs, the vast majority of them. FYI, The Appraisers Research Foundation has been around for a long time and regularly publishes (and gives grants for) research papers. For more info, go to http://www.appraiserresearch.org/ To see their other research, click on Research Results in the top menu bar.
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Poll: On average, how long does it take you to complete a 1004 interior inspection appraisal report, including inspection and drive time?
How Man Caves Took Over America’s Basements
Excerpts:
A man cave usually develops in spare rooms, such as bedrooms, offices, finished basements, or recreation rooms. The garage, another traditionally masculine space, is more often a workshop or place to make repairs. Its connotation with work (often frustrating and unsavory as any viewer of Home Improvement can attest) as well as its thermal issues (it’s rarely cooled or heated like the rest of the house) demarcate it from the man cave, an interior space.
While men have always had their sacred spaces in the home such as the garage or study, the domesticity of the 19th and early 20th century overall implied that the home was, of course, the woman’s place. In the previous centuries, men sought refuge outside the home in establishments such as gentlemen’s clubs (think more country club than strip club), and male-only social clubs and establishments such as the Freemasons.
Very interesting, especially the history!!
http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-the-man-cave-took-over-americas-basements
My comment: I live in California, where there are few basements. I do see garage “man caves”. But, they are not as fixed up as basements, mostly with a tv, beer fridge and some tools. Sometimes I see bedrooms set up as computer rooms.
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Collection and Verification of Residential Data in the Sales Comparison Approach APB Valuation Advisory #8
Voluntary Guidance on Recognized Valuation Methods and Techniques:
My comments: This is advisory and not part of USPAP. Finally the Appraisal Practices Board has 48 pages of practical advice for practicing residential appraisers, the vast majority of appraisers. It discusses what different types of clients want, such as Fannie, VA, Rels, relocation, data, data collection, CU, etc. Scope of work examples are included. The last 17 pages are about verification. Worth reading.
2016’s Best Small Cities in America
Excerpt:
Small-city dwellers enjoy tighter networks, shorter commutes and an abundance of land, just to name a few advantages. Granted, there are tradeoffs such as perhaps fewer restaurant options or shorter business hours. But one of the best perks of living in a city with a relatively smaller population is cheaper cost of living – generally speaking, that is. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a two-parent, two-child family would need to earn $49,114 a year “to secure an adequate but modest living standard” in Morristown, Tenn., compared with $106,493 in Washington.
So which small cities outshine the rest? WalletHub’s analysts compared 1,268 cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 based on 30 key indicators of livability. They range from “housing costs” to “school-system quality” to “number of restaurants per capita.” Continue reading below for the winners of the top spots, expert commentary and a full description of our methodology.
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-small-cities-to-live-in/16581/
My comment: Check your city – mine was listed!! But, did not rate high on cost of living with a median home price of around $800,000… But, you can see the mayor at the grocery store to complain about potholes ;>
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Wells Fargo agrees to $50 million settlement over homeowner appraisal fees
Excerpt:
Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N) has agreed to pay $50 million to settle a racketeering lawsuit accusing it of overcharging hundreds of thousands of homeowners for appraisals ordered after they defaulted on their mortgage loans.
The proposed settlement, which requires court approval, was disclosed in a filing on Friday in an Oakland, California federal court. If approved, it will resolve nationwide claims that Wells Fargo charged much more than it paid for third-party appraisals, exploiting borrowers who could least afford it and driving them further into default.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-wellsfargo-settlement-idUSKBN12V27F
The Coolest Empty Buildings in America
They’re weird, amazing, and available.
Excerpt:
If you’ve got a few million bucks to play with, you’ll find that the country is littered with remarkable empty structures in various states of disrepair, just waiting for enterprising new owners with big dreams and deep pockets. Here are five of our current faves.
Here are a few:
Miami Marine Stadium: Miami, Florida
“Superman Building”: Providence, Rhode Island
Michigan Central Station: Detroit, Michigan
www.citylab.com/design/2016/10/the-coolest-empty-buildings-in-america/499049/
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Fannie’s Property Inspection Waiver (no appraisal) effective 12/10/16 for all lenders
Notice dated 10/24/16. I suspected that this was where Fannie was going with UAD and CU. Refis only.. for now. $75 to waive the appraisal requirement. Fannie has been testing it for awhile with some lenders. You may see this referred to as “Day 1 Certainty”, the name Fannie has chosen.
Link to the 2 page fact sheet: https://www.fanniemae.com/content/fact_sheet/property-inspection-waiver-fact-sheet.pdf
Thanks to Dave Towne for this very interesting news!
My comment: I will have an article on this topic for my November newsletter, out November 1, including relevant details and what this means for you. Very interesting.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? POST YOUR COMMENTS AT www.appraisaltodayblog.com !!
9 Amazing Things Disguised as Boring Things
Look twice-these seemingly mundane objects are hiding something.
Excerpt:
Narnia hid behind a wardrobe. Doctor Who’s Tardis was disguised as a blue police call box. With no signage and no flags, these out of the ordinary things are hidden away disguised as something utterly banal. In some cases, these things are camouflaged on accident; in others, they are secreted away so that only those in the know can find them.
Either way, the world is full of seemingly mundane places that are more than meets the eye. It reminds us to stay curious-one has to always be on the lookout for wonder. Here are nine places in the Atlas that may seem boring at first glance but are actually amazing once you take a closer look.
Here are a few:
1. Brooklyn Townhouse Secret Subway Exit
Brooklyn, NY
3. Mystery Soda Machine – insert 75 cents and see what you get
Seattle, WA
4. The Lonely Parking Meter
The only parking meter in Winters, CA
http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/9-amazing-things-disguised-as-boring-things
My comment: Just For Fun!! We all work in the field and discover strange things. This article will make me look closer at what I see ;>
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Disciplinary Process-How It Works, Your Rights & Likely Outcomes
by Robert Weinstock, JD, MBA, CBA, CVA
Excerpts:
While the number of licensed real estate appraisers nationwide has decreased, the number of complaints filed against appraisers has increased. For example, in my home state of California, complaints against appraisers have increased by 40% even though the number of appraisers has declined, according to the California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA)….
The following is an actual 2015 disciplinary action against an appraiser in which the appraiser lost his license and was required to reimburse the state for its investigation and prosecution costs in the amount of $125,828. In addition, if the applicant should care to reapply for a new license, he shall be required to pay an additional $115,828.
Why It’s Impossible to Know a Coastline’s True Length
Measuring around bodies of water is a mathematically impossible
Excerpt:
Imagine, for a moment, that you and your friend have been given a seemingly straightforward task: to measure the coastline of Puget Sound, in Washington State. Resources are tight, so you’ve got a yardstick, while your friend has a foot-long ruler. You each walk along, laying your measuring stick along the edge of the water, following the the ins and outs of the shore as best you can. When you’re finished, you compare notes-and you’re shocked. While you ended up with a respectable 3,000 miles, your friend and his foot-long got a way higher number, somewhere around 4,500 miles.
You guys aren’t crazy. You’re victims of the coastline paradox, a tricky mathematical principle that messes with cartographers, stymies government bureaus, and makes it impossible to know exactly how big our world truly is.
http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-its-impossible-to-know-a-coastlines-true-length
My comment: Fascinating article!! Looking at the Big Picture. All appraisers take measurements. It seems so easy… most of the time…
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Webinar Title: NEW
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FHA Appraisal Essentials – An In-Depth Look
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Date/Time:
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Pre-recorded: September 14, 2016 / Duration: 115 minutes
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Registration Link:
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Description:
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This pre-recorded webinar provides an in-depth look at a variety of property appraisal topics such as: property acceptability criteria; minimum property requirements; property defects; appraiser responsibilities and requirements; and, much more. The webinar is targeted primarily to FHA roster appraisers, underwriters, processors, and other appropriate mortgagee staff involved with the appraisal review and mortgage approval process.
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Special Instructions:
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This webinar is now available 24/7 for viewing.
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NOTE ON LINK: it looks like you are registering for the September live session. Just fill it out and a link to the webinar will appear.