News By Edition

Valuation Review caught up with Greg Stephens, Metro-West Appraisal Co.’s senior vice president of compliance and chief appraiser, who shared many thoughts about what is “new” on the horizon for appraisers.

He also addressed what a new administration in Washington might bring to the profession.

Read on for all the details from our conversation with Stephens.

In a recent blog post by Dustin Harris (“The Appraiser Coach”) titled “Delegation Without Embezzlement,” he addressed the importance of delegating authority because the more appraisers engage in delegation, the more time appraisers will have for other things.

But what are the financial pitfalls to that?

Read on for Harris’ answer to that question.

According to Data Facts, there are some considerations appraisers may want to think about when it comes to outsourcing appraisals to an appraisal management company (AMC).

The decision on deciding which AMC to use may not be an easy one.

Read on for more from the Data Facts.

Recently, ValueScape’s Artificial Intelligence Data Augmentation Algorithm (AIDA) exceeded its 2020 milestone of auditing four million interior and exterior property images contained in reports used for collateral risk assessment.

Valuation Review reached out to company CEO William Leveson-Gower for specifics about this additional tool for appraisers.

Read on to learn more.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) issued a series of “waivers of provisions” as part of its Single-Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1, which will allow important mortgage servicing activities to continue “in a manner that allows for safe social distancing,”.  Read on for more from the FHA.

Mortgage technology provider SharperLending Solutions has partnered with Integra Software Systems to integrate the Appraisal Firewall web-based real estate appraisal software with Integra’s loan origination system, the companies announced in a release. Read on to learn more.

Incenter Appraisal Management has implemented a new 24-hour fast pay model for appraisers, the company announced.  Read on to learn more.

MyAMC, LLC, a nationwide provider of valuation management services, selected ValueLink Software as its technology partner. Read on to learn more.

Valutrust Solutions, LLC has added property evaluation services and broker price opinions (BPOs) to its suite of property valuation offerings, the company announced in a release. Read on to learn more.

Verity Global Solutions, a leading provider of outsourced mortgage services, has named a senior vice president of sales and marketing. Read on to find out who the team member is.

Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL), and GoSpace AI, a leading provider of workplace and occupancy management artificial intelligence (AI) software, are joining forces.

The partnership will transform how occupancy is supported in the post-pandemic, hybrid workplace.

Read on to learn more.

Greystone has provided a $14.9 million HUD-insured loan to refinance a 119-unit multifamily property in Washougal, Wash., the company announced. Read on to learn more.

With mortgage rates at historic lows and homes coming off the market in record time, many prospective home buyers may be contemplating whether to buy now or wait until the frenzy slows down a bit.

But the market is poised to stay red hot for some time, and a new Zillow analysis shows how waiting might add hundreds of dollars to a monthly mortgage payment.

Read on for more from Zillow.

LoanLogics has launched new software that analyzes HMDA data for compliance with mortgage industry regulations and identifies loans needing manual exception review. Read on to learn more.

DataMaster founder Rick Lifferth reached out to Valuation Review to discuss what appraisers should expect when doing their job in the new environment of COVID-19.

The company executive also addressed other matters appraisers should take note of moving forward.

Read on to find out more of what we earned from the conversation.

Under “normal” conditions, the ability for appraisers to effectively utilize and properly read data is critical in the overall process of the appraisal.

But with COVID-19 restrictions and new guidelines in place, appraisers must rely on information supplied from other sources. How reliable can that information be?

Valuation Review talked to some veterans in the profession for a closer look at this situation. Read on to learn more.

Every metro area tracked by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) through the fourth quarter of 2020 had home prices grow from a year ago, according to the industry trade association’s latest quarterly report. Eighty-eight percent of the metros followed (161 areas) saw double-digit price increases, according to NAR. Read on to learn more.

SLK Global Solutions recently added property Tax Servicing veteran Shane Jones to its leadership team. Read on to learn more about this hire.

Mortgage Network, Inc. has hired Rachelle Bourgault as a loan officer for the company’s Portland, Maine branch, the company announced. Read on to learn more.

Valuation Review hears more insight from Greg Stephens, Metro-West Appraisal Co.’s senior vice president of compliance and chief appraiser, who spoke to more challenges appraisers dealt with in 2020.

One item of discussion centered around appraisers gaining easy access to technology data in the years to come.

Read on to find out more.

Greystone, a national commercial real estate finance firm, reaffirmed its leadership position as a top FHA, Fannie Mae DUS, and Freddie Mac Optigo commercial lender with 2020 loan production volume totaling $14.3 billion across these three agency platforms, the company announced. Read on to learn more.

WFG National Title Insurance Co. has appointed a vice president, regional underwriting counsel for its Central Region. Read on to learn more.