Category Archives: Appraisal Practice

AMC being sued for Bifurcation

AMC being sued for Bifurcation! VaCAP was forwarded an article this afternoon by one of our members.  The article from Foreclosurepedia is dated August 15, 2018 and concerns a class action law suit filed by property inspectors. ServiceLink Field Services, a division of ServiceLink is being sued for misclassifying employees. From the complaint filed in… Read More: AMC being sued for Bifurcation »

What Should an Appraiser Do?

You have accepted an appraisal assignment for a purchase. Your client is the lender. Upon reviewing the sales contract, the following preprinted language is in the sales contract: “This contract is not contingent upon the Property being valued at an Appraised Value according to the Lender’s appraisal or other appraisal as agreed upon by the… Read More: What Should an Appraiser Do? »

USPAP or NOT?

Another Mueller Report has surfaced…. The report is a Mueller REO Hybrid Appraisal Report and it was given to an appraiser as a sample. This one raises more questions than the last one! The photos from the property inspection do not tell the appraiser one thing. The photos are dark and the repairs the inspector… Read More: USPAP or NOT? »

Is This Fraud or What?

Is the Welcome Mat Down and the Door Opened Wide for Fraud? “What Appraisers Need to Know about Property Data Collection” is a topic of discussion in the latest Fannie Mae Newsletter.  The article describes how property data is being collected and being sent to Fannie Mae to determine the type of valuation that is… Read More: Is This Fraud or What? »

Is it Really That Difficult?

The information is on the website… They could have picked up the phone and called… They could have sent an email… They could have sent a fax… Did They?   A recruiter for Mueller Services, Inc. (Mueller Reports) contacted a VaCAP member about joining their team as a W-2 employee to complete bifurcated appraisals. Our… Read More: Is it Really That Difficult? »

Breaking: LREAB vs FTC Decision is in!

The decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has been released to the public. ” For the foregoing reasons, the petition is DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction.” The way we understand the next step, the case will go back as an adminstrative proceeding through the FTC, See the nine page decision:  http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/18/18-60291-CV0.pdf   VaCAP… Read More: Breaking: LREAB vs FTC Decision is in! »

Breaking Overnight: Feds Deny Public Hearing

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency have denied  the request for a public hearing on raising the appraisal minimum threshold for residential real estate transactions from $250,000 to $400,000. See the “agencies” rejection letter here. The American Society of… Read More: Breaking Overnight: Feds Deny Public Hearing »

Worthy of Reposting and Sharing

AppraisersBlogs has published an article this morning that is worthy of sharing.  The article highlights a reason lenders want automated values and not appraisers.  The reason may surprise you.   Check it out for yourself.  While you are there, please show AppraiserBlogs how much you appreciate their dedication to the profession by clicking a few Google… Read More: Worthy of Reposting and Sharing »

Important Info & Dates

February 5, 2019: This is the last day to submit comments to Federal Agencies concerning raising the minimum threshold for appraisals from $250,000 to $400,000. As of this writing, 275 comments have been received. Come up folks, there are 70,000 plus appraisers in this country, and less than 1% have commented. Please comment and encourage others… Read More: Important Info & Dates »

Warning to Appraisers: AMC asking Appraisers to Violate State Law

Appraisers Beware! VaCAP has been informed an email has been sent to Virginia Appraisers from Xome Vender Manager, Adam Burg. The email, addressed to “undisclosed recipients,”  starts with  “Dear Virginia Appraisers.” The body of the email announces that SunTrust Bank has begun ordering a bifurcated valuation product with an interior inspection.   The appraiser is to… Read More: Warning to Appraisers: AMC asking Appraisers to Violate State Law »