Who you knew was important when I was a trainee. What you knew was simple: compare comps. Find some comps. Make adjustments. Or — avoid adjustments. (My expert MAI trainer said “if you make adjustments, then the other attorney will ask you how you got the number.” “Just say better, worse, or similar!) Finding comps […]
Bias is an important topic right now. So what are we really talking about? Is someone right? And others wrong? Again, so much divisiveness today is the result of misunderstanding, and the tendency to believe whatever supports your prior opinion. I have heard: Appraisers are biased (meaning racially biased). Appraisers are not biased, so stop […]
Patriotism. Easy, everyone knows what that is! It’s Independence Day! It’s fireworks! It is a time to declare our devotion, love and support for the country. But devotion, support, and love are “feelings” not facts. And do we relate this sense of feeling to our personal actions? Our “support”? Can these feelings run deeper? Does […]
Adjustments to comparables seem to be required by lender clients, the quasi-governmental GSEs, and some other users of appraisals. But are they actually required? USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) says no. No. The word “adjustment” is nowhere to be found. (However Advisory Opinions say an adjustment should be “appropriate.”) Got it. Appropriate. Adjustments […]
The seminal appraisal model was espoused by George Schmutz in the 1940’s. His “appraisal process” followed the works of others starting in 1927 with Arthur Mertzke who translated economic principles to the unique economic features of real estate. Those works presented “systematic procedures” for applying the three traditional approaches to value. Editor’s Note: Find Part […]
Time adjustments have long been required as good appraisal practice. On the residential side, they are required in guidelines issued by FannieMae and FreddieMac (the GSEs). Unfortunately, the requirement for time adjustments (“market conditions”) has been ignored by the lenders selling to the GSEs (Government Sponsored Enterprises). Why? Editor’s Note: Read Part 1 of this […]
How did this “official” ROV process happen? We used to just swim, now we have a rowboat and an oar! Editor’s Note: To read the entire Row, Row, ROV series, and a few more posts on Reconsideration of Value, click here. ROV (Reconsideration of Value) is ostensibly motivated by bias issues, as well as other […]
“Ya gotta show your work,” my third-grade teacher said. “But I got the answer right!” said I. “Ya gotta support your adjustments,” they say. “But I’m credible!” say I. Incredible. Why are we harangued to “support” our adjustments? Why are we sold one form after another of magical adjustment calculators? Another enchanted $129 class to […]
ROV (Reconsideration of Value) is now in the boat. Is it safe? We suspect this will be a long row to get to the chosen island. Just row! It is likely this topic will be the focus of more of our “analog blog” series. To read part one of this series or other blog post […]
It is easy to be critical. Harder to be “right.” In order to be really right, it is important to know how to be very critical! Critical thinking is a professional must. Rule #1: Remember that imposing your belief comes first. Rule #2: How you got to your starting position doesn’t really matter. Rule #3: […]
A better ROV! Please reconsider the direction of your boat. Try this bigger oar. And use it only on the right side of the boat. Appraisers have long been asked to “reconsider” their opinion. Now we have a more official “standardized process” which affects appraisers, lenders, AMCs, GSEs, and of course, the borrower. This part […]
Will there be a need for traditional “appraisal” in 5 years? We think not. Some 25 years ago, I was education chair for my Appraisal Institute Chapter. Our ‘custom’ seminar considered the topic of technology replacing appraisers. The conclusion was, especially for residential appraisal, that AVMs would take a great market share. Worse yet, because […]
Biased thinking, biased analysis — a part of the appraisal process? The Appraisal Institute is starting to address some bias-related critical issues — head on. Cindy Chance, the CEO of the AI, in her recent posts noted the role of human bias as a natural phenomena of the survival of the species. She cited the […]
The second of our “foibles” in USPAP may be from that same paragraph on page (ii), noted last week. This paragraph effectively sets the mission statement for the Appraisal Foundation. The paragraph is titled: “ABOUT THE APPRAISAL FOUNDATION.” It states the AF provides “guidance on recognized valuation methods and techniques for all valuation professionals.” [Emphases […]
The USPAP (Appraisal Standards) publication starts with a self-telling paragraph titled: “ABOUT THE APPRAISAL FOUNDATION.” This paragraph presents the Appraisal Foundation’s self-claimed place as “the nation’s foremost authority on the valuation profession.” This “foremost” claim immediately places it in contention with other governmental and professional standards. The declared self-image conflicts with the reality. Alternative and […]
