With the spring home buying season now upon us, coupled with the continued refinance demand, the real estate appraisal industry continues to be challenged with high volumes. For well over 18 months now, the heated purchase and refi markets (driven by historically low rates) have stretched the appraiser community thin, causing a sense of “burn out” given the normal winter lull in order volume did not materialize as steeply as it did in years past. While the work is welcome, there are several things clients, borrowers, realtors and AMCs can do to help expedite the appraisal process for the appraiser community. Here are 8 of them:

Since the outset of the pandemic, market conditions have triggered record numbers of loan originations. Over the past year, we’ve seen low rates, high demand and a dramatic acceleration in home prices. These unprecedented market factors have continued to underscore the importance of managing appraisal risk.

If you’re tired of the burden of managing appraisals in-house when your processor’s focus would be allocated to moving loan files forward, then it might be time to outsource your appraisals to an appraisal management company (AMC). However, the easy decision to outsource to a highly proficient AMC model is hardly comparable to deciding which AMC to use.

These days, historically low interest rates have probably made you think about refinancing your home. If you’re planning on doing this, your lender will need to conduct an appraisal on your property. The goal of an appraisal is to perform an accurate valuation of your home based on a set of factors. Unfortunately, many of these factors aren’t under your control, such as comparable sales or proximity to schools or hospitals. However, Data Facts’ team of skilled appraisers has valued countless properties over the years, and we’ve learned there’s lots of things under your control when it comes to appraisals. Here are some examples of mistakes you should avoid that can diminish your home’s appraised value:

It’s a different world now, and we’re all trying to find ways to make our jobs safer for us, as well as the markets we serve. COVID-19 has taken its toll on the mortgage industry, but there’s few places the pandemic has caused more long-lasting change than in the appraisal business. How has the appraisal industry dealt with the pandemic, and what are lenders’ appraisal options going forward?

Our licensed and certified appraisal review staff comes across appraisals on nearly every property type. Sometimes, lenders or property owners ask us for our opinion regarding building size- how is it calculated and what factors go into it? The answer is more complex than you might think. Living area is one of the most important aspects of a home, but it is often one of the most misunderstood. 

Just as having an impartial jury is essential to a fair justice system, having unbiased appraisers is essential to the mortgage industry. All too often we see lenders, brokers, or real estate agents who use shady tactics to collude with appraisers and artificially impact the appraised value of the property. This is called appraiser pressure. Many appraisers consider appraiser pressure to be one of the biggest issues facing appraisers today.