Changes to FHA Appraisal Requirements

By on July 5, 2025   /   Economic analysis, Fannie, FHA, liability   /   Leave a comment
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Newz: FHA Appraisal Changes, Fannie Measurement Standards Update

July 4, 2025

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

  • LIA AD: Unreasonable Subpoena Request
  • HUD Announces Changes to FHA Appraisal Requirements
  • The Rock House In Larkspur CO Is Back On The Market for $1,000,000
  • Baghdad Bob of Freddie Mac Merits Mention As Mideast Erupts
  • The Full Measure – June 25, 2025 By Kevin Hecht, Appraiser and Economist
  • Fannie: Standardizing Property Measuring Guidelines
  • MBA: Mortgage applications increased 2.7 percent from one week earlier

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HUD Announces Changes to FHA Appraisal Requirements

Excerpts: There are four significant appraisal-related revisions to Section II. D. of the Handbook.

  1. Subject and comparable photograph requirements have been revised….
  2. The appraiser is no longer required to state the remaining economic life of the dwelling in the appraisal report.
  3. In situations in which the subject is located in an increasing or decreasing market, the appraiser is no longer required to include an absorption analysis, a minimum of two sales that closed within 90 days of the effective date, and two active listings or pending sales.
  4. For Section 223(e) mortgages, the appraiser is no longer required to include an estimate of remaining physical life for the subject property improvements.

It is important to note that the originating lender is the client, not HUD/FHA, and as such, the lender may still require some or all the above items.

To read more, Click Here

To read the full document, Mortgagee Letter 2025-18, Click Here

My comments: Read the full article above and the original Morgagee Letter (Link above) for more details if you do FHA appraisals.

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The Rock House In Larkspur CO Is Back On The Market for $1,000,000

Excerpts: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2,432 sq.ft., 0.86 acre lot. Built in 2000.

The Larkspur Rock House is an iconic Flinstones style home, and now it can be yours for only $1,000,000. The rocks are maybe 200 million years old!!!Outdoor living spaces.

The Rock House is anything but ordinary—this striking, stucco-clad home is seamlessly built into a soaring red rock monolith, transforming nature’s artistry into a one-of-a-kind architectural statement.

The dramatic rock wall isn’t a backdrop—it’s the centerpiece, rising through all three levels and anchoring each floor in natural grandeur. Every space is visually and physically connected to the monolith at its core.

To read more, Click Here

To read the listing, Click Here

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6619-Apache-Pl-Larkspur-CO-80118/13497121_zpid/

Read more!! →

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Appraiser Capacity During the Pandemic

By on June 18, 2021   /   appraisal business, bias, liability   /   Leave a comment
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Spotlight: Appraiser Capacity During the Pandemic

June 16, 2021 

By Danny Wiley, Senior Director of valuation for Single-Family Credit Risk Management

Excerpt: 2020 – and the early part of 2021 – have shone a bright light on a topic that’s been a growing concern – appraiser capacity. While the scope of that concern has been different throughout the country in recent years, it’s now been brought to the forefront for every state. The pandemic fueled regulation which lowered already-low interest rates and, for a portion of homeowners, home-improvement-related refinances combined with additional factors to create a perfect storm for record appraisal volume – without a corresponding increase in the number of licensed appraisers.

The majority of the states comprising the list of the top 10 highest average GSE appraisals per appraiser were often situated in the western part of the country – and also, not surprisingly, included some of the more populated states, including California, Texas, Michigan, Arizona and Colorado. This group ranged from Ohio (165 average appraisals per appraiser), Illinois (171) and New Jersey (174) at the low end to Utah (233) and Texas (207) at the top end. Overall, the appraisers on this list were averaging about 14-19 appraisal per month from 2012-2019.

As you can see, the workload quickly escalates at this end of the spectrum – and, as you’ll find out below, 2020 showed us that a perfect storm of factors can make the situation much worse.

To see more graphs and read more, click here

My comments: Maybe someday lenders will allow trainees to sign. The Very Best Way to solve the appraiser shortage. The significant AMC hassles mean appraisals take more time.

A subscriber called me recently. She got a request for an appraisal of a home with a subsidized purchase price (Low-moderate income). The AMC appraisal request did not disclose this. She left messages to 5 of the AMC reviewers and did not get a callback. I suggested telling the AMC to get another appraiser. The easiest reason is usually to say she is not competent as the reason.

I have appraised them before. They are complicated. Typical restrictions on price if sold, etc. I was working for a local lender and contacted the very experienced chief appraiser to see what they needed and if they want to lend on these types of properties. Many appraisers are giving up on working for AMCs and quitting or retiring.

 

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Humor for Appraisers

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To read more of this long blog post with many topics, click Read More Below!!

NOTE: Please scroll down to read the other topics in this long blog post on unusual homes, marketing, appraisal bias,mortgage origination stats, etc.

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