When the government enacted some new rules about who is entitled to hire an appraiser to complete a market analysis on a property, there were many ramifications that were not initially considered. Now Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have some mandatory guidelines, which again will have some positive and negative impact on the real estate housing market.
One of the new requirements is banks, mortgage companies or lenders are required to receive a copy of a real estate purchase contract and all addendums associated with the contract prior to completing an appraisal report. Why this wasn’t a guideline from the beginning is beyond me. Any amendments to the purchase contract prior to the appraisal must be submitted to the appraisal company immediately.
Appraisals that only value a portion of a parcel are forbidden. The comparative market analysis by the appraiser has to include the entire parcel of the subject property or parcel of land. The key word here is “entire”.
Sellers beware! If you thought the foreclosed property next door in your neighborhood was not included in the market value of your home, think again. REO’s, short sales and foreclosed homes now have to be considered by the appraiser in determining the market value of your home. The appraisal companies in the past were ignoring the REO’s, short sales and foreclosures.
When information about values within a neighborhood is provided by someone who has a financial interest in the transaction, the appraiser must verify this information with a third party who is “arms-length” from the transaction. One would think this would be common sense.
If repairs are needed that affect soundness, structural integrity or livability, the property must be appraised subject to the completion of those items. This is where we got the FHA 203K loan.
Supervisory authorities can no longer sign off on completed appraisals without reviewing the subject property themselves. The supervising appraiser has to personally review the property before agreeing to sign off on an appraisal completed by one of their employees.
The main purpose of some of these new guidelines that are revised in the Home Valuation Code of Conduct, was to eliminate or stop any “influence” that may have been considered when determining the market value of a home. Although there are some valid and good changes, the parties to a transaction still need to be concerned if this will prolong transaction even more in the real estate market.
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