Tag Archives: Appraisals

The Five Star Institute announced Monday the formation of the National Appraisal Congress (NAC). In response to a developing need for thought leadership and the promotion of best practices and execution, the NAC will serve as a collection of subject matter experts to foster collaboration in the real estate appraisal industry.

About four years after the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) directed the GSEs to develop a uniform collateral data portal, the Office of the Inspector General of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA OIG) finds the portal is not being used to its potential, and the GSEs continue to purchase loans with red flags.

DocMagic, Inc., says it has a variety of solutions available that support lenders' compliance with the ECOA Valuation Rule, no matter what the lender's business rules are. Under the ECOA Valuation Rule, a creditor must provide an applicant with a copy of the appraisal and other written valuations upon completion, or three business days prior to consummation of the transaction, whichever is earlier.

Mortgage industry commentators may argue (and they certainly have) about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) performance over the last year, but one thing is certain: The bureau knows how to command headlines. Early this year, CFPB finally issued its long awaited Qualified Mortgage (QM) guidelines along with a slew of other finance regulations. With the future of housing finance on the line, it's no wonder readers of DSNews.com couldn't tear themselves away from the news.

Federal regulators have revised new appraisal rules set to take effect in January to include exemptions for some higher-priced mortgage loans, according to a press release from six federal financial agencies. Officials described the updated exemptions as ""appropriate,"" and added loans less than $25,000, streamlined refinances, and loans secured by a manufactured home and land as exempt.

Valuations expert Craig Zielazny has joined Platinum Data Solutions to help build out its automated valuation model (AVM) offerings, the company announced. As Platinum Data's new SVP of valuation analytics, Zielazny is tasked with growing its valuation analytics channel, which includes 18 non-proprietary AVMs and an AVM testing technology.

Pro Teck Valuation Services introduced Appraisal Desktop with Inspection (ADI), a new hybrid appraisal product for home equity and second mortgage lending. As a USPAP-compliant desktop appraisal platform, ADI was designed to fill the gap between an automated valuation model with property condition report and a field appraisal.

Appraisal Logistics, a provider of compliant appraisal management solutions for the mortgage industry, announced it has received the ISO 9001:2008 Certification for Quality Management Systems Standards by LQRA, passing a formal evaluation created to examine quality management standards in the financial services industry.

LRES, a national provider of commercial and residential valuations and asset management, announced it is now serving the retail lending division of California-based PennyMac Financial Services. As part of its services for PennyMac, LRES is managing appraisals that comply with all USPAP requirements as well as all state and federal appraiser independence regulations for the company's customers.

LRES, a California-based company specializing in commercial and residential valuations and asset management, announced it has received a Certificate of Authority to conduct business in the U.S. Virgin Islands. With the certificate, LRES is officially authorized to do business within 54 U.S. states and jurisdictions.