Obsolete! Such a harsh word. Can it be? Is the problem convolution? Does it mean I will soon be obsolete? Not needed? Not loved? Terrible. What can be done? Yet all the little signs are pointing that way. “Automated” valuation models have much of the market, and continue to gain. Other valuation methods and appraisal […]
Obsolete — Standards?! This is third in a series, as we look at this question from the viewpoints five forces of friction: process, standards, education, client expectation, and regulation. This issue is about valuation standards. We will end with part 7: the mystery solution. In the United States, the predominant standards are USPAP (Uniform Standards […]
You’d think client/user expectation would follow wise professional leadership. Hah! Innovation and leadership in knowledge and education has declined. The profession and its key organizations have long lost their default position. Pride in designations are diminished. Replaced by licensing, outdated appraisal processes, echoed education, and octopus-like regulation. These are built upon subjective, belief-based ‘credibility’ standards. […]
Government regulations should serve the public trust. How can this not work? Being government is not easy. There are always trade-offs. Sometimes, new regulations can solve problems; at other times they can embed old problems, or beget unintended consequences. Government regulations, by their very nature, can bog down progress. Regulations follow some general principles regarding […]
This post starts the last in our series on the “five frictions” of valuation reform. The question we ask : Is there a simple single solution to our convoluted regulation of a simple product? We have considered that government regulation is a significant friction — holding back scientific and practical progress. We identified the only […]
Appraisers have standards. AVMs have no standards. Other valuation types are “waivered” or exempt. Appraisers have licenses. AVMs have no licenses. Other valuation types are “waivered” or exempt. Appraiser’s foot the bill for much of the valuation world – reviewers, evaluators, programmers, checklist checkers, and unlicensed “valuation analysts.” Today we have unequal regulation, costs, taxes, […]
Some form of Universal Valuation Standards (UVS)© appears to be one way to resolve the multiple issues we see today. Our most recent series focused on the obsolescence of the traditional appraisal process. The primary cause of the obsolescence is the shift from subjective onesey-threesy methods of picking comps – to immediate electronic download of […]
The 1004MC “market conditions” appraisal addendum was created by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to require a form-based market analysis. This added to the traditional practice to collect a handful of ‘comps’ to opine and foretell market price. There are problems and unintended consequences. The ANSI requirement is that residential appraisers measure houses according to […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The word bias brings up personal feelings in almost everyone. Even anger. Even a desire to strike back. Grrrr. This makes sense. Bias, and concepts of bias are personal. It’s about me. Or about THEM! Those people! They should just see things my way . . . The more writing I do, the more I […]
How do we connect Thanks Giving with Critical Thinking? First, we can recognize gratitude (giving thanks) as a neuro-spiritual tool – with benefits. And we can recognize critical thinking as a tool towards good judgments and action. So how do we connect these seemingly detached (thanks and thinking) ideas? Critical thinking is a necessary part […]