News By Edition

Craig Capilla, from the Franklin Law Group, shares more legal expertise.

Capilla hopes to see improved guidance manuals for those in the valuation profession as the New Year moves forward.

Read on to find out what he had to say.

Appraisers know that what goes into their reports is critical for clients.

But no matter how detailed the information is, if the report is not easily understood by the reader or is confusing by way of multiple grammar errors, will it be acceptable?

Valuation Review talked to one chief appraiser who says it’s not just what you write, but how you write it that can mean a world of difference.

Following Valuation Review’s “Appraiser for the Day” session with real estate appraiser Kevin McGreal, we returned to sit down with McGreal.

He shared his thoughts on other matters within the profession – in particular, regulations and trainees.

Read on to find out what he told us.

The idea of one being both a licensed appraiser and a practicing real estate agent can be a difficult task.

Veteran appraiser Dustin Harris, “The Appraiser Coach,” shares his thoughts on such a dilemma.

Read on to learn more.

Valuation Review talked recently with American Society of Appraisers CEO Johnnie White.

He touched on appraisal topics including additional technology options and evaluations.

Read on to learn more.

Walker & Dunlop, Inc. and GeoPhy have launched a new industry-changing appraisal company called Apprise, according to a release from Walker & Dunlop, Inc. Read on for more information as to how the new company will enhance valuations.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is requesting input on potential changes to its policies on residential energy retrofitting programs financed through special state legislation, also known as Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE). Read on to learn more.

BBG’s assessment group has expanded in the New York metropolitan market.

The move further establishes the commercial real estate firm’s leadership position in this region and nationally.

Read on to learn more.

Newmark Group Inc., which operates the commercial real estate firm of Newmark Knight Frank (NKF), acquired Overland Park, Kan.-based Hopkins Appraisal Services for an undisclosed amount, according to a release from NKF. Read on to learn more.

LRES Corp. expanded its leadership team with the addition of Todd Taylor as the company’s new chief financial officer. Read on to learn more about this hire.

The Travis Central Appraisal District said it will resume face-to-face, informal settlement hearings with property owners.

The hearings will allow owners to challenge their appraised values for 2020, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Read on to learn more.

The American Society of Appraisers (ASA) has partnered with realquantum to provide appraisers access to commercial software, ASA announced in a press release. Read on to learn more.

The Appraisal Foundation (TAF) is seeking qualified candidates to fill three at-large trustee positions for its Board of Trustees, which is the governing body of TAF. Read on for more information and learn how you can apply for a position.

Fannie Mae provided more than $70 billion in financing to support the multifamily market in 2019, the highest volume in the history of its Delegated Underwriting and Servicing program. Read on for more numbers released by Fannie Mae.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes remained as high as it’s been in more than two decades, according to the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Read on for more details.

The total value of every home in the U.S. is $33.6 trillion, nearly as much as the GDP of the two largest global economies combined in the U.S. ($20.5 trillion) and China ($13.6 trillion), according to a new Zillow analysis. Read on to learn more from the report.

After a year of continued strong growth in the multifamily market, Freddie Mac projects that origination volume will continue growing into 2020, reaching $390 billion by year end. Read on to learn more.

The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration announced a proposed rule concerning drones.

The proposal would continue the safe integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, commonly called drones, into the nation’s airspace by requiring them to be identifiable remotely.

Read on to learn more.

One industry veteran says artificial intelligence (AI) is a part of the appraisal profession, and that it shouldn’t be a surprise that other industries are waking up to the usage of AI.

Valuation Review shares more from Computershare Chief Appraiser Tony Pistilli on matters concerning AI and other appraisal topics.

Read on to learn more.

Valuation Review brings more appraiser views and concerns from CCIM Institute Chief Economist K.C. Conway.

Through his special report “Vector Calibration: 2020 Capital Markets,” Conway suggests appraisers can look at the economy from different angles and avoid potential intimidating feelings.

Read on to hear how Conway explains this.

Freddie Mac released the results of its latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, showing that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.60 percent. Read on to learn more numbers from Freddie Mac.

Valutrust Solutions’ Patrick Brown offered more insight on proper appraisal report writing with Valuation Review.

From repeated errors to hurrying through one’s conclusions, Brown shares more tips leading to better reports.

Read on to learn more.

Bifurcation is a consistent topic discussed in the appraisal profession.

Computershare Chief Appraiser Tony Pistilli, in his article “The Modernization of Appraisals: Becoming Trusted Advisors,” outlines appraiser worries about the quality of inspections when using third-parties, but reminds them that appraisers already rely on the inspections of others.

Valuation Review shares Pistilli’s in-depth analysis and thoughts on this and other matters.

Valuation Review went back to appraiser Kevin McGreal to discuss other industry topics.

McGreal shared with us his views on whether or not an assignment should be categorized as an appraisal or an evaluation.

Read on to find out his answer, as well as his thoughts on other changes he’d like to see within the appraisal profession.

BBG has acquired Herr Valuation Advisors, Inc., a Tampa-based real estate appraisal firm.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, BBG announced.

Read on for more details about this key acquisition by the commercial appraisal company.

Valuation Review hosted a webinar featuring Computershare Chief Appraiser Tony Pistilli.

Pistilli shared with the audience everything appraisers should know when utilizing automated valuation models (AVMs) in their assignments.

Read on to pick up a couple of pointers from the webinar, and find out how you can order your copy of the 60-minute program.

HouseCanary, Inc. closed a $65 million growth funding round led by Morpheus Ventures, Alpha Edison, and PSP Growth, bringing HouseCanary’s total funding amount to $130 million. Read on for more information.

The Credit Union National Association wrote a letter to the National Credit Union Administration, saying that increasing the residential appraisal threshold will reduce regulatory burden for credit unions, resulting in both transaction cost and time savings for credit unions and their members. Read on for more comments from the letter.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) welcomed Kate Tyrrell, who recently joined FHFA as deputy chief of staff and executive secretary, and George Brown, who joined the agency as a senior congressional affairs advisor. Read on to learn more.

Veros Real Estate Solutions released comparative research for home price appreciation in Red and Blue States across the nation by the end of 2020 in conjunction with the country preparing for the New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucus. Read on to learn more.