Property appraisals were a significant pain point for lenders and borrowers in the pandemic years, attracting the attention of regulators and agencies who sought to make valuations faster and more efficient. Even as rising mortgage rates cooled the pace of home sales and refinances starting in 2022, appraisal modernization efforts picked up steam. In 2023, Fannie Mae updated its Selling Guide to include more options for valuations, including value acceptance (formerly appraisal waivers), value acceptance plus property data and hybrid appraisals. Today, lenders are relying on technology more than ever before to deliver accurate, timely valuations.

Another area of continued focus is appraisal bias. In 2022, the Biden administration formed the PAVE task force, made up of 13 federal agencies and offices, to combat appraisal bias. Led by HUD, the task force created an action plan the agencies could pursue through administrative action, rather than legislation, and released analysis of its appraisal data. Today the regulators and agencies in the task force continue to pursue a more equitable valuation process.

Top Stories

Appraisal and Valuations News

The Appraisal Foundation settles Fair Housing Act case with HUD 

Jul 11, 2024By Flávia Furlan Nunes

The Appraisal Foundation, which establishes standards and criteria for appraisers, has settled with the HUD over allegations that its qualification program violated the Fair Housing Act. 

• The appraisal revolution: How Opteon is transforming the lending landscape 

  Jul 11, 2024 9:30 amBy Zeb Lowe

• FHA updates tech portal to accommodate new appraisal policy 

  Jul 03, 2024By Chris Clow

• CFPB, FHFA release updated mortgage originations survey data 

  Jul 02, 2024By Chris Clow

• Andrew Bough joins Class Valuation as COO 

  Jul 02, 2024By James Kleimann

• CFPB turns rulemaking eye toward AI use in automated home appraisals 

  Jun 25, 2024By Chris Clow

• Federal regulators approve final rule for AVM usage 

  Jun 20, 2024By Flávia Furlan Nunes

• Hurricane season is here and more than $10T worth of property is at risk 

  May 30, 2024By James Kleimann

• New appraisal bias protections apply to reverse mortgage program: FHA 

  May 02, 2024By Chris Clow

• HUD and FHA announce new appraisal bias protections 

  May 01, 2024By Chris Clow

Load More

Featured Webinars

Latest Shifts in the Spring Housing Market 

Hosted by Altos Research

The market has been heating back up, but rising mortgage rates have spooked some buyers. What signals can we see in the data for the housing market this spring? Join us March 21st for a free webinar with Altos President Mike Simonsen, who’ll look at the recent signals for the market’s trajectory, give an update […]

• Fraud, risk, quality, oh my: The hazards to watch for in gaining purchase market share 

  Hosted by QC Ally – the Official Enterprise Loan Quality Partner of HousingWire Lunch & Learn. Experience the Power of Partnerships.

Featured White Papers

Elevating mortgage servicing through strategic outsourcing: A path to efficiency and growth 

May 17, 2024Published by AIS

As the mortgage sector navigates through complex market dynamics, the primary objectives for many organizations remain the same: master cost efficiency, ensure the delivery of high-quality service, and effectively scale operations. Outsourcing activities to specialized providers continues to be a primary strategy for achieving such goals. This white paper discusses how lenders and servicers can:

• HousingWire Research: The Mortgage Rate Lock-In Effect is Shaping Today’s Market 

  May 09, 2024Published by Mike Simonsen