Yes, personal bias in appraisals can be eliminated. The appraisal ‘process’, in its current standard, is “loose.” It is not internally biased either way. But it is vulnerable to systemic human and analytic bias. It enables and conceals bias. It is vulnerable to attack — as being “too high” or “too low,” depending on the […]
Judgment in valuation analysis is not needed — so they say — so long as the algorithm is right. So long as the algorithm is right . . . For appraisers, this means the valuer has identified a good scope of work. For a researcher, this means an investigation path is identified – a hypothesis. […]
How can we fix the excess of appraisers? Easy — we do what we have always done, each time . . . 1) We will raise the standards (“cost of entry”). 2) We will make it harder to become an appraiser; 3) Let the lower fees discourage newcomer appraisers. In past issues of the Analogue […]
Bias and prejudice are always relevant topics. Recently these have received more attention. In asking the questions we present in the Analogue Blog, we find that three concepts/actions produce the greatest response, to create divisiveness and deepening anger in an argument. The three concepts of ignorant argument: 1) use the word “bias,” badly; 2) state […]
The neighborhood section of appraisal reports is pretty much protocol. We have asked how a report on the neighborhood may or may not contribute to valuation value or reliability (risk) estimates. We continue to consider how traditional practice helps or hinders adoption of modern process technologies. As always, we have found it is important to […]
Market area, District, Neighborhood – what do our directives say? Let’s take a look at standards, education, regulations, and the GSE (Government Sponsored Enterprises). First, let’s set a goal: What is the ideal comparable data to analyze? How big, how similar, and how competitive should it be? Read Part I and Part II of Do […]
Diversity can be a goal in itself when diversity means breaking down barriers of groupthink and apathy. An expansive concept. Fairness, on the other hand is elusive, demanding definition. Fairness depends on the very point of view it attempts to define. “Fair” is in the eye of the beholder. EBV (Evidence Based Valuation)© (or EBA, […]
The current residential form (the URAR) neighborhood section is well designed – for data the way it was 40 years ago, filled in on a typewriter, with no software ability to summarize, graph, or map data. Do We Need a Neighborhood Section? Part I is here. As complete market data was rarely available, (and difficult […]
Traditional appraisal says we should describe and analyze the subject neighborhood. In residential form reports, there is a section devoted to the neighborhood. In general narrative reports, there is a section devoted to the neighborhood. In fact, often there is great discourse about the town, the city, and greater things. We have often heard criticism […]
EBV measures markets, rather than compares comps. In the traditional appraisal process, the appraiser ‘picks some comps’, then adjusts any differences in each comparable to the subject feature. In EBV (Evidence Based Valuation©), the analyst identifies all the competitive sales, then applies predictive algorithms. Which system is more USPAP compliant? Which system is more accurate? […]
The messenger. Psychology research easily points out our tendency to dislike the bearer of bad news. It’s also intuitive. Bad news messengers do not smile when they bring the news. Sometimes they even look guilty. We humans can be really basic. We see a correlation between the bad news, the frown, and the messenger. Appraisers […]
Bias is a much used and misused word. Variance too has more than one meaning. Words rule. Words trigger our thoughts, our feelings, and our opinions. Bias itself can mean different things. It can mean different things to different people. And it can mean different things to the same person, depending on context. Bias can […]
AVMs (Automated Valuation Models) are often touted as something appraisers should understand and do more of. This is a problem of words. “AVM” is not descriptive of a formula to calculate value. It is an industry. Each company in the industry does use algorithms, formulas, and calculations to predict (estimate) value. The use of the […]
Per FreddieMac (Scott Reuter, Chief Appraiser)[1] recently stated: “Appraisers need to spend time on developing a market conditions analysis in the appraisal. It’s truly the backbone of the appraisal.” Per the Fannie Mae Selling Guide: “The date of sale and the time adjustment (market conditions) are critical elements in determining an accurate value because the […]
The conditions of the market, in real estate, means the relationship between supply and demand. Supply and demand issues (at a point in time) are particularly important for new construction. In such cases, forecasting may also be important where build-out and rent-up times affect value. For existing properties, like houses, it seems much simpler, as […]
