AQB Exposure Draft Removes College Degree Requirement

By on June 25, 2026   /   appraisal business, AQB, E&O, liability, UAD 3.6   /   Leave a comment

Newz: Appraisal Stress Test, AQB Exposure Draft Removes College Degree Requirement

June 26, 2026

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

  • LIA AD: State Board Complaint Frustrations
  • The Appraisal Profession Is Being Stress-Tested. That’s Not the Same as Being Replaced By Jessica Sturm
  • All About the Brownstone: How the Iconic Design Went From Humble Row House Roots to Million-Dollar Metropolis Luxury
  • MY AD: UAD 3.6 Software Evaluation Checklist By Doug Smith
  • Include E&O in Appraisal Reports? Just Say No By Isaac Peck
  • AQB second exposure draft removes college degree requirement
  • MBA STATS: Mortgage applications increased 1.0 percent from one week earlier     
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The Appraisal Profession Is Being Stress-Tested.

That’s Not the Same as Being Replaced

A frank conversation about UAD 3.6, waiver expansion, and where the real opportunity lies.

By Written by : Jessica Sturm, EVP of Property Services at Opteon.

Excerpts:

What UAD 3.6 Actually Changes (And What It Doesn’t)

UAD 3.6 changes the infrastructure around how appraisal judgment is captured, structured, and delivered. It does not change what a great appraiser does and the value they bring. Your ability to walk a property and know, as a trained professional, that the finished basement wasn’t permitted, that the kitchen renovation was done on the cheap or that the comparable three streets over sold under pressure. None of that local, industry expertise lives in a data schema.

What the new standard demands is that the mechanics around that judgment are handled cleanly and consistently. Field data capture, structured commentary, condition ratings, quality flags, all in a format that downstream systems can use. That’s not a threat to expertise. We see this as a long-overdue investment in the infrastructure that supports our industry.

What the Stress Test Is Really Asking

Every industry stress test asks the same question: who is built for what comes next?

UAD 3.6 is asking whether the profession can operate with greater rigor and efficiency. Waiver expansion is asking whether appraisers can own the complex, high stakes, advisory end of the market with real authority. The mature appraiser pipeline is asking whether the profession can retain experience and retrain while bringing in and developing new people. These are hard questions, but the profession has more tools, more data, and more support to answer them than at any point in its history.

Accounting faced the same reckoning. When tax software arrived and then matured, the prediction was that it would hollow out the profession. Routine compliance work did automate and what happened next was the opposite of collapse.

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Interesting analysis. I think the new reports are much better than the old forms for reviewers and borrowers. If I was doing GSE appraisals I would look forward to doing them.

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UAD 3.6: The Appendices

By on June 19, 2026   /   real estate market, UAD 3.6   /   Leave a comment
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Newz: UAD 3.6: The Appendices, Will Florida Governor Eliminate Property Taxes?

June 19, 2026

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

  • LIA AD: Expanding Intended Users? Not So Fast
  • UAD 3.6 Answer Headquarters: The Appendices
  • Private Island for Sale: 25-Acre Historic Maine Estate Lists for $3.85 Million
  • Buying a private island & prices are now higher than last year
  • By Ryan Lundquist
  • MY AD: Doug Smith’s tips on selecting UAD 3.6 software
  • Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Unveils His Plan To Virtually Eliminate Property Taxes
  • A record 242 U.S. cities now have starter homes that cost $1M
  • MBA STATS: Mortgage applications decreased 3.8 percent from one week earlier

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UAD 3.6 Answer Headquarters: The Appendices

Excerpts: Start Here: The Appendices as Your Foundation

When Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rolled out UAD 3.6, they published an entire documentation ecosystem to go with it. That ecosystem includes a full suite of appendices (A-1 through G-1), each serving a specific purpose. Some are highly technical and aimed at software developers and data delivery. But for appraisers doing the day-to-day work of completing reports, three appendices are essential core references: F-1, C-1, and D-1.

Here’s how each one functions:

Appendix F-1: The Field-by-Field Reference Guide

If there’s a single document that deserves the title of “master manual” for the dynamic URAR, it’s Appendix F-1. This is your comprehensive field guide. It details every possible field in the report, specifies when each field is required (and when it’s conditional), defines what answers are acceptable, and explains how data must be formatted.

Appendix C-1: Your Visual Roadmap

If F-1 is the user manual, C-1 is the map. Appendix C-1 is a visual layout of the dynamic URAR that shows every possible field and label that could appear in a report, giving you a complete picture of the report’s full scope before you ever open an assignment.

Appendix D-1: Context and Practical Examples

While F-1 and C-1 handle the mechanics of the report, Appendix D-1 adds interpretive depth. This appendix provides sample scenarios that show how specific data elements fit into the overall appraisal and are particularly useful when you’re dealing with edge cases or less common property situations.

Layer In the Selling and Servicing Guides

The appendices answer the “how” of UAD 3.6. For the “why”—the policy context and secondary market expectations behind those requirements—you need to work with the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Selling and Servicing Guides.

To read more details in the article, Click Here

For more information, go to Fannie’s Uniform Appraisal Dataset page,

Click Here To read the documents scroll down the page

My comments: This is the best explanation of the GSE AD 3.6 documents. Read this article!! UAD 3.6 can be confusing with many documents available. This article breaks them down so you can understand what they do.

When I took my first UAD 3.6 class “Appraiser’s Guide to the New URAR” in early 2025 it was overwhelming and mostly went over F-1. Now I know what the other documents cover.

Read more!! →

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Creative Appraisal Definitions – Humor

By on June 5, 2026   /   bias, FHA, UAD 3.6   /   Leave a comment
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Newz: Creative Appraisal Definitions – Humor, FHA Modernization Minimum Property Requirements

June 5, 2026

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

  • LIA AD: Subpoena Threat Over a 10-Year-Old Appraisal
  • Creative Appraisal Definitions Humor
  • Foam Dome Home With ‘Not a Single Straight Line’ Hits the Market in Florida for $249K: ‘A Genuine Original’
  • My ad: How to decide which UAD 3.6 software to use
  • USPAP’s Typical Buyer Standard in the Fair Housing Era, By Edwin Farr, MAI
  • FHA Seeks Public Comment Regarding Modernizing Its Single Family Housing Minimum Property Requirements
  • Upcoming UAD 3.6 Bootcamp in Irving, Texas
  • MBA: Mortgage applications decreased 2.5 percent from one week earlier

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Creative Appraisal Definitions – Humor

Excerpts:

  • Purpose of the Appraisal – To make a living in the appraisal business.
  • Functional Obsolescence – That state of many older appraisers.
  • The Subject – A term police use to identify the victim of a crime.

To read more, Click Here

My comments: We can all use some appraiser humor !!

For commercial and residential appraisers.

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Foam Dome Home With ‘Not a Single Straight Line’ Hits the Market in Florida for $249K: ‘A Genuine Original’

Read more!! →

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Adapt or Step Back? How UAD 3.6 Is Forcing a Career Decision for Appraiser

By on May 29, 2026   /   AI, bias, state appraiser regulators, UAD 3.6   /   Leave a comment
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Newz: UAD 3.6 Adapt or Step Back,

Getting Started With AI

May 29, 2026

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

  • LIA AD: Too Late for a Reconsideration of Value
  • Adapt or Step Back? How UAD 3.6 Is Forcing a Career Decision for Appraisers, By Rachel Mann
  • 109-Year-Old ‘Boathouse’ That Appears To Float on Washington Canal at High Tide Hits the Market for $2.1 Million
  • Getting Started with AI for Appraisers
  • MY AD: Loose Lips Cause Claims (Loose Lips Lead to Lawsuits) By Claudia Gaglione, Esq.
  • Wells Fargo Settles Mortgage Discrimination Suit With $100M Fund To Help Low-Income Homebuyers
  • HB 355 and What Every Appraiser Should Learn from Kentucky’s Legislative Win, By Bryan S. Reynolds, MNAA
  • MBA: Mortgage applications decreased 8.5 percent from one week earlier

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Adapt or Step Back? How UAD 3.6 Is Forcing a Career Decision for Appraisers

By Rachel Mann

Behind the technical transition lies a more personal question: Is it worth starting over at this stage of a career?

Excerpts: A Profession Split in Real Time

While there’s plenty of buzz around UAD 3.6 itself, it’s worth taking a boots-on-the-ground look at what active appraisers are actually feeling. In a recent industry poll conducted on Facebook, the findings were telling.

Out of 233 responses from active appraisers, 36.5% reported they are actively preparing, while 36.1% are taking a “wait and see” approach. The remaining responses, which we’ll get into below, reveal the deeper undercurrents.

The clear takeaway is that the industry isn’t aligned. There’s real uncertainty in how appraisers are responding to the shift, and a large unknown hanging over the profession.

And it raises a question: Is the uncertainty driven by the change itself, or by the lack of clear options for what happens next?

Appraiser Voices: Real Reactions to UAD 3.6

Beyond the “actively preparing” and “wait and see” camps, smaller groups of respondents revealed the deeper anxieties at play.

About 8.2% cited concerns about the learning curve, 4.7% said they’re considering stepping back from volume, and 2.6% plan to retreat into private work only.

Another 12% fell into smaller categories ranging from software testing readiness and hardware concerns to skepticism about implementation timelines.

The overall picture is a mix of readiness, hesitation, and resistance — revealing capacity limits and decision fatigue at a critical moment: adapt or step back? The underlying question for those nearing retirement is: Is it worth the time, cost, and effort to adapt at this stage in my career?

When a Workflow Change Becomes a Career….

A sudden decline in active appraisers could carry real consequences:

  • Loss of experienced appraisers who currently make up the majority of the workforce
  • 2. Disruption of long-standing client relationships, leaving lenders, AMCs, and homeowners scrambling
  • A thinning mentorship pipeline for new appraisers, weakening the path forward for the next generation
  • These changes, paired with the lack of exit planning, have broader implications. This isn’t an individual issue; it impacts industry stability and continuity.

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Worth reading the entire post for the details and interesting comments.

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Appraisers – The Clipboard Has to Go!

By on May 22, 2026   /   FHA, real estate market, UAD 3.6   /   Leave a comment
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Newz: The Clipboard Has to Go, Systemic Failures in FHA Appraisal and Loan Review

May 22, 2026

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

  • LIA AD: Am I Still on the ‘Do Not Use’ List?
  • Joe the Appraiser: Calling It Like It Is. The Clipboard Has to Go
  • Florida Megamansion That Starred in ‘Scarface’ and Was Used as President Nixon’s Winter White House Hits the Market for $237 Million
  • Systemic Failures in FHA Appraisal and Loan Review by Desiree Mehbod
  • MY AD: List of my articles about UAD 3.6
  • America’s Homes Are Older Than Ever—and Local Red Tape Could Make Them Harder To Fix
  • Survey: While Some Brokers Push Private Listing Networks, Most Soon-to-Be Sellers Want their Homes Seen By Every Buyer
  • MBA: Mortgage applications decreased 2.3 percent from one week earlier

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Joe the Appraiser: Calling It Like It Is.

The Clipboard Has to Go

By Joe Pravettone

Excerpts: I’m Joe. I’ve been doing this a long time. Long enough to remember when “cutting-edge technology” meant a pager, microfiche, and a Thomas Guide rattling around in the glove box. (If you know, you know.)

I’ve spent nearly 30 years in this profession — 15 years in the mortgage world doing processing, underwriting, and operations, and another 15 deep in appraisals, wearing just about every hat there is, from fee appraiser and AMC staff to QC.

Let’s start with the UAD.

If you’ve been in this business longer than five minutes, you’ve felt it. That low-grade tension humming in the background. The new Uniform Appraisal Dataset is here. The forms are changing, the workflow is changing, and a lot of appraisers are somewhere between uneasy and ready to stress-eat.

I get it. I really do.

But here’s the other reality: We’re also heading toward a volume surge. Rates are easing. Refinances are starting to creep back. And when you combine industry-wide change with rising volume, things can get messy.

So let’s be honest about something. The clipboard has to go. I know, I know, you’ve got a system. Your scratch paper has a system. Your clipboard definitely has a system. You’ve been doing it your way for years, and your way works. I’m not saying it doesn’t. But the road has curved, and it’s time to turn the wheel.

To read more, Click Here

My comments:

This article was written by a long time lender appraisal “insider”. Worth reading.

As the November 2, 2026 UAD 3.6 deadline approaches more lenders and appraisers are getting ready. But, many appraisers don’t like the changes. Those that get ready will have lots of work from AMCs, who are looking all over the country now for appraisers who will do UAD 3.6 appraisals for them. GSEs do about 50% of mortgage loans. Lenders who don’t sell their loans to GSEs will be using the forms software you have been using. I am working on an article on how to get business from them.

I remember the “old days” of microfiche, Thomas Brothers Maps. When I first started appraising 50 years ago, I remember filling up my car by peeling off the back of polaroid photos. I still have old Thomas Bros. maps in my car “just in case” my electronic maps don’t work or are inaccurate. I also have some very old microfiche files but don’t have anything to see them on.

I definitely prefer using an inspection app. I will be writing an article on which tablets are required. I will also have an article with paper checklist instructions that go through SFR, condo and 2-4 units UAD 3.6 appraisals.

Read more!! →

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The Appraiser Exodus and How to Fix It

By on May 8, 2026   /   appraisal business, appraisal how to, Appraisal Institute, UAD 3.6   /   Leave a comment
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Newz: Expanded Intended Users?

The Appraiser Exodus and How to Fix It.

May 8, 2026

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

  • LIA AD: Expanding Intended Users? Not So Fast
  • Under Pressure: What’s Driving the Appraiser Exodus and How to Fix It, By David Massey
  • Historic Tudor Estate With English Gardens and Prairie Views Is Listed for $4.7 Million Near Chicago
  • What is a Pre-listing appraisal? Written for Home Owners But Has Good Tips for Appraisers, By Tom Horn
  • MY AD: What Happened When Government Decided That Appraisers Needed Protection, By Cindy Chance, PhD
  • How to See the Potential in Homes That Don’t Look Perfect. Written for Home Owners But Has Good Tips for appraisers
  • More Than 60% of America Is Covered by Drought and Millions of Homes Are at Risk
  • UAD 3.6 Bootcamp, LIVE in Chicago, IL and on Zoom, Wednesday – Friday, May 13th-15th
  • MBA STATS: Mortgage applications decreased 4.4 percent from one week earlier

 

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Under Pressure: What’s Driving the Appraiser Exodus and How to Fix It,

By David Massey

Ask any veteran appraiser or physician what has changed most over the past twenty years, and the answer is usually the same: paperwork.

Professions once centered on skill, judgment, and service are now dominated by portals, compliance layers, and third-party control. Burnout rises, independence falls, and a quiet exodus follows.

The American Medical Association reports that physicians now spend nearly two hours on documentation for every hour of patient care.

The appraisal profession is now well into that cycle.

According to the Appraisal Institute’s 2023 Fact Sheet, the number of practicing appraisers in the United States has declined by roughly 8,000 in recent years. The Conference of State Bank Supervisors shows a longer-term drop from about 120,000 appraisers in 2008 to fewer than 96,000 by 2017, a 21 percent decline in less than a decade. IBISWorld reports another six percent employment drop between 2018 and 2023. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects only modest growth through 2034, far short of what is needed to replace retirees.

The pipeline is shrinking while demand remains steady.

The National Association of Realtors ® 2023 Appraisal Survey found that more than half of appraisers are now asked monthly, or more often, to complete assignments outside their normal geographic or property-type expertise. More telling, 54 percent cited Appraisal Management Companies as the single greatest challenge to their business. That statistic alone explains much of what has gone wrong.

When I started in this profession, appraisal centered on analysis, interpretation, and professional opinion. I studied neighborhoods, walked properties, and applied experience to market behavior. Today, much of the job revolves around compliance portals, redundant uploads, and layers of review by people who have never inspected a property.

AMCs were created after the 2008 crisis to protect appraiser independence. The idea made sense. The execution has failed. Today, borrowers commonly pay $600 to $700 for an appraisal, while the appraiser often receives about half of that after AMC fees. Turn times lengthen. Panel depth shrinks. Geographic competency erodes. And experienced appraisers quietly step away.

What was meant to reduce pressure has become a system of control. Communication between lenders and appraisers is filtered. Pricing is dictated by algorithms. Scope interpretations are issued by third parties removed from the field. Judgment is slowly replaced by checklist compliance.

Healthcare has already traveled this road.

A 2025 Annals of Internal Medicine study showed nearly five percent of U.S. physicians left clinical practice in a single year, driven largely by burnout and administrative burden. The American Medical Association reports that physicians now spend nearly two hours on documentation for every hour of patient care.

Appraisers now operate inside the same imbalance. More time formatting reports than analyzing markets. More time satisfying review protocols than developing defensible opinions. Judgment yields to process.

This is not a workforce inconvenience. It is a structural market risk.

The fix is not complicated, but it does require courage.

First, appraisal fee transparency must be mandatory. If a borrower pays $650 and the appraiser receives $325, both parties deserve to know. Transparency restores accountability and allows market forces to function.

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Worth reading, especially how to fix it. We all know what is happening to residential lender appraisers.

For doctors, corporate medicine has taken over. For example, primary care physicians are allowed only 15 minute visits with patients. Large insurance companies make it very difficult for patients to get the care they need by denying what the patient needs. Doctors don’t like it, plus the excessive paperwork.

I play pickleball with a retired doctor. He had to sell his medical practice as he was underbid on fees by large health insurance companies.

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New URAR – Mixed Feedback

By on April 17, 2026   /   appraisal, appraisal business, New URAR, UAD 3.6   /   Leave a comment
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Newz: UAD 3.6 – 10 Biggest Changes,

UAD 3.6 – Mixed Feedback

April 17, 2026

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

  • LIA AD: The Fine Print
  • The 10 Biggest Changes in the New URAR, By Kevin Hecht
  • Tiny Vermont Home That Spans Less Than 1,000 Square Feet Hits the Market for the Huge Price of $1.2 Million
  • Why Appraisers Write in the Third Person—and Whether First-Person Reporting Improves Clarity, By Jamie Owen
  • MY AD: Appraisal: Profession, Industry or Trade? by Martin Wagar
  • Rollout of 3.6 Receives Mixed Feedback, By Isaac Peck, Publisher Working RE
  • Starter Homes Are Disappearing—Are Modular and Manufactured Houses the Answer?
  • MBA: Mortgage applications increased 1.8 percent from one week earlier

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The 10 Biggest Changes in the New URAR

By Kevin Hecht

Excerpts: The redesign of the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report is the largest overhaul of residential appraisal reporting in nearly three decades.

While the underlying appraisal principles remain the same, the structure, workflow, and level of detail in the report are changing in meaningful ways.

Here are the ten changes appraisers are most likely to notice.

Topics:

1. One Dynamic Report Replaces Multiple Legacy Forms

2. Reports Will Adapt to the Assignment

3. Data Fields Are More Granular

4. Commentary Is Integrated Throughout the Report

5. Scope of Work Drives Report Content

6. Inspection Observations Are More Structured

7. The Sales Comparison Approach Is Still Central

8. Software Platforms Will Change

9. Reports Will Include Both Narrative and Structured Data

10. The Transition Will Take Time

Summary

The new URAR represents a fundamental shift in residential appraisal reporting, moving the profession away from rigid, form‑driven responses and toward clearer, more transparent analysis.

While the core appraisal principles remain unchanged, how appraisers communicate their reasoning, observations, and conclusions will look different under the redesigned framework.

By understanding the most significant changes now, appraisers can better prepare for the transition and continue producing credible, well‑supported appraisal reports in an evolving reporting environment.

To read more, Click Here

My comments: Good topics list and summary. Read the details. Well written and understandable.

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UAD 3.6 and Appraisal Workflow

By on March 13, 2026   /   AI, humor, real estate market, statistics, UAD 3.6, Uncategorized   /   Leave a comment
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Newz: Practical AI Uses for Appraisers, Appraisal Forms Humor 

March 13, 2026

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

  • LIA AD: Client Insists on Cost to Cure
  • UAD 3.6 Is Coming: A Practical Moment to Rethink Your Workflow
  • Appraisal By Kevin Hetch
  • One of Palm Springs’ ‘Storied’ Rock Houses Hits the Market for $1.5 Million: ‘A Rare Treasure’
  • Getting 94 offers & a tighter housing market By Ryan Lundquist
  • MY AD: Do I really have to report that state board issue to my E&O insurance? By Peter Christsen, Esq.
  • Beyond the Hype: How I’m Using AI to Actually Save 10 Hours a Week By Dustin Harris
  • Appraisal Forms – the next Generation – Humor
  • MBA : Mortgage applications increased 3.2 percent from one week earlier

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UAD 3.6 Is Coming: A Practical Moment to Rethink Your Workflow Appraisal

By Kevin Hecht

Excerpts: For many appraisers, the transition to UAD 3.6 feels different from past form updates. This is not simply a revised version of the URAR with a few new fields or definitions. It represents a structural shift in how appraisal data is organized, communicated, and delivered.

While change on this scale can feel disruptive, it also creates an opportunity to improve efficiency, modernize workflows, and position your business for the future.

This transition is not just about learning a new report format. It is about adapting to a new data-centric environment. And one of the most important places to start is with your appraisal software.

This Is a Moment of Opportunity

Transitions like this can feel uncertain, but they also offer a chance to improve how you work.

By taking time now to understand UAD 3.6, evaluate your software options, and refine your workflow, you can position your business to operate more efficiently and confidently in the new reporting environment.

The goal is not simply to adapt. It is to build a workflow that supports you well into the future.

UAD 3.6 is coming. And with the right preparation, it can be a step forward for both the profession and your practice.

Topics

  • This Is More Than a Form Update
  • Start by Looking at Your Process, Not Just Your Software
  • Not All Software Will Handle This Transition the Same Way
  • Efficiency Gains Are Possible, But They May Require Change
  • Focus on What Supports Your Business Long Term
  • The Appraiser’s Role Remains the Same
  • This Is a Moment of Opportunity

To read more, Click Here

My comments: I had never thought about the “big picture”: how the software affects your business. Worth reading.

I have been writing about the appraisal software for a year and just wrote another article on Appraisal software vendor Timelines for my April newsletter. Only 1 or 2 are ready to go. The others need more work done. Appraisers cannot learn to use the software until it is fully completed.

Why is this going so slow? The GSEs did not check with the software vendors to see how much time they needed to complete their software. The actual time needed has been longer than expected. Also, GSE requirements to make all the software the same for the reporting section had to be exactly the same for all the vendors. Also, PDF and XML reports must be correctly done. Getting this all validated by the GSEs is taking time.

Read more!! →

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UAD 3.6 Humor for Appraisers

By on March 6, 2026   /   real estate market, UAD 3.6, waivers   /   Leave a comment
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Newz: UAD 3.6 Humor, UAD 3.6 Reality. Appraisal Volume, Waivers, PDCs

March 6, 2026

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

LIA AD: Judicial Appraiser Panels: Balancing Opportunity and Liability
UAD 3.6 – She’s Gonna Blow CARTOON!
Lake Como-Inspired Hillsborough, CA Megamansion With Koi Pond and Private Spa Lists for an $88 Million
What are home prices doing? It depends. By Ryan Lundquist
MY AD: UAD 3.6: Yes, No or Maybe
What the latest war means for mortgage rates
UAD 3.6, the New URAR, and the Reality Nobody Wants to Say Out Loud
2026 Market Update: Appraisal Volume, Waivers, and PDCs
Mortgage applications increased 11.0 percent from one week earlier’
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UAD 3.6 – She’s Gonna Blow CARTOON!

Acme Appraisal Company Replies to Their First UAD 3.6 Appraisal Order

To See the Cartoon, Click Here

My comment: Very Funny ;> And Appropriate!

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Lake Como-Inspired Hillsborough, CA Megamansion With Koi Pond and Private Spa Lists for an $88 Million

Excerpts: 6 bedrooms, 7.5+ bath, 12,404 sq.ft., 12.33 acre lot, built in 2013

It was inspired by the masterful megamansions found on the shores of Italy’s Lake Como.

The sprawling property in Hillsborough, CA, is focused almost entirely around serenity and relaxation, boasting an Asian garden, koi pond, rose garden, reflection pond, and an English spiral mound.

Known as Villa de Verano, the expansive estate begins with a tree-lined driveway that leads to a grand motor court, primary residence, guest home, amphitheater, event lawn, and pool.

Over-the-top highlights found throughout the 12,404-square-foot main residence include a fitness center, home theater, game room, spa, and saltwater aquarium.

A sports pavilion boasts a two-story lounge with viewing platform that overlooks a sunken tennis court, pickleball court, volleyball court, badminton court, bocce ball court, horseshoe court, shuffleboard court, and putting green. There is also an executive length golf course found on the property.

To read the listing, Click Here

My comment: Hillsborough is a city with many expensive homes located in the San Francisco Bay Area

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How to Appraise Basements

By on February 20, 2026   /   AMCs, appraisal how to, UAD 3.6   /   Leave a comment
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Newz: Appraising Basements, AMCs,

Who is doing UAD 3.6 appraisals?

February 20, 2026

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

  • LIA AD: Limiting Liability to Third Parties
  • Basement Appraisals: Understanding Contributory Value (Updated for UAD 3.6)
  • Fascinating ‘Basement Home’ That Rises Just Inches Above the Ground Hits the Market for Less Than $160K
  • The AMCs: Coming Soon to a Lawsuit Near You
  • MY AD: The Cost Approach for Appraisers is not popular, by Tim Andersen, MAI
  • 26% of Appraisers Feel Ready: What UAD 3.6 Demand
  • Mortgage applications increased 2.8 percent from one week earlier
  • Have you received a UAD 3.6 order yet? Survey.
  • MBA: Mortgage applications increased 2.8 percent from one week earlier

Basement Issues and Values

Click here to subscribe to our FREE weekly appraiser email newsletter and get the latest appraisal news

 

Basement Appraisals: Understanding Contributory Value (Updated for UAD 3.6)

Excerpts: While homeowners may ask, “Does a finished basement add value to my appraisal?” you know the answer is a bit more complicated. A basement may impact a residential property’s value, and as an appraiser, you’ll need to evaluate its significance.

While determining the contributory value of basements isn’t overly complex, it does pose challenges. To help you out, we’ll outline essential steps and provide tips for evaluating a basement’s contributory value.

Summary

Determining how a basement contributes to a residential property’s value requires an appraiser to identify the basement type, its level of finishing, and any common concerns, like signs of mold or structural issues. Following best practices is key. This includes separating the basement from the above-grade finished area, understanding the intended use of the space, and completing comprehensive market research. By doing so, you can evaluate the basement’s contributory value more accurately

Topics include:

Types of basements (partial list)

Cellars

Partial Basements

Walk-Up Basements

How Is the Basement Finished? Determining Levels

Know the Intended Use and Client Requirements

To read more, Click Here

My comments: The best analysis and advice on basements I have seen. Watch the 7 minute video on Understanding Q/C ratings (UAD 3.6) Where I work the ground does not freeze. In my Island city there is no cemetery as the ground water from San Francico Bay is very high. Basements need pumps to remove salt water. Basement walls are not used to support the home. Sometimes there are above ground basements, basements dug out of the ground, and many other types of basements. In steep hillside areas what is a “basement” can be controversial.

In Alameda, my city, native American burials, primarily from the Ohlone people, are heavily concentrated in former shellmounds (ancient cemeteries) throughout Alameda. Almost were removed many years ago, similar to other Bay area cities close to the Bay.

Read more!! →

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