Been traveling quite a bit – back on schedule next week (I know, I know, you’ve heard it before)

Source: New York Observer

For about the past five years, I have been telling, explaining, cajoling, articulating, ranting and lamenting (I am sure there are a few more terms to add to the list) the direction that the appraisal industry has moved towards. Its actually more like 15 years, but the past 5 years became intolerable. The industry has involuntarily taken the “please hit me again” position and has been powerless to do anything about it.

Well, the New York Observer decided to write about the issue in a very direct way in the article New York’s Longest-Running Real-Estate ‘Joke’ which I am grateful for. I hope it expands the level of understanding of the problem.

>”It’s a joke, the system is a joke,” Mr. Miller said. “There is very little independent analysis of what collateral is really worth.”

I have spoken with everyone who would listen over the years, and some who would not, about whether the lending industry wants an accurate assessment of the collateral or simply a form filled out for the file. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great appraisers, mortgage brokers and lenders out there, but honestly, they are few and far between.

Why? Because the current lending system is flawed as I and others have discussed in nearly every post on Soapbox and quite a few here on Matrix. Here are the the two choices when ordering an appraisal. If you have a commission riding on the appraisal report outcome, which choice do you make?

* Get an appraisal for a low fee, nearly immediately and always at the value required to do the deal.
* Get an appraisal for a fee commensurate with the complexity of the assignment in a reasonable period of time (no impact on the closing date) with a comfort level that the collateral is accurately reflected.

The current actions by the New York State AG’s office is a step in the right direction and I can only hope we don’t end up with simply a law they makes it illegal to pressure an appraiser.

New laws will make the stakes higher to be pressured but it won’t change a thing. (Rinse lather) repeat.

Making appraisal pressure illegal will not change a thing. There needs to be a regulatory environment created where appraisers are insulated from pressure, but still held accountable for accuracy.


4 Comments

  1. Keith Jeppson June 7, 2007 at 12:38 pm

    Grreat post Jonathan. The appraisal system is so broken in Utah. I’m concerned that lenders are fighting so hard for protection from pressure that we are swinging totally away from accountability to consumers. Appraisers will collect their fee regardless of what they do. There should be some kind of appeal process. I consistently have problems with appraisers in residential and commercial making poor assumptions and breaking a deal. They get so cuaght up in their broken standards they forget the definition of current value. “A willing buyer and seller!”

  2. Bill Baughn June 7, 2007 at 4:02 pm

    [quote]They get so cuaght up in their broken standards they forget the definition of current value. “A willing buyer and seller!”[/quote]

    The problem with this is typically in an inflating market you have a STUPID buyer and a GREEDY seller. Has nothing to do with being “willing”…

  3. Steve Borchers June 22, 2007 at 4:17 pm

    You all assume there are comps. We poor consumers are upset with appraisals because no one figgures in bulder/owners. My project had 5 buildings that were completed but only the poorly built spec. project was sold cheap. The system is broken.

  4. Steve Borchers June 22, 2007 at 4:24 pm

    You all assume there are comps. We poor consumers are upset with appraisals because no one figures in builder/owners/occupiers. My project had 5 buildings that were completed but only the poorly built spec. project was sold cheap and compared for my building’s appraisal. The other more expensive and comparable projects were not included. The system is broken. Sorry for the previous post I had tears in my eyes after looking at my appraisal

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