'Tis the Season! The season to look upon the happenings of this year and posture ourselves for the next. As we reflect on 2017, one feature certainly rings out, change. It has been a year of many changes and adjustments, especially within our industry. Technologies, policies, methodologies and more have evolved seemingly everyday. It is our organization's chief aim to serve our members by educating on these matters and providing the opportunity to make the most of them to grow your business. We believe some of the most significant ways to accomplish such growth is by cultivating lasting, meaningful relationships among others in our body and through our educational platform. NSREA's newly formed College Campus Outreach Committee is setting plans in motion for 2018 to establish real estate valuation curriculum in at least one HBCU campus providing a viable career option while students are pursuing their undergraduate degrees.

In the coming year we will seek more opportunities to provide continuing education for our members within their  markets and help establish new local NSREA Chapters.  Thank you for your continued membership and support. Let's grow together!   Myra L. Lillard President, NSREA

Recently two banking institutions, TriStar Bank of Dickson, Tennessee and City Bank & Trust of Guymon, Oklahoma, have submitted requests to the Appraisal Subcommittee to temporarily waive the requirement for use of state licensed or certified appraisers as authorized under Title XI of FIRREA which would apply to all property types. 

In their requests they justify the need for such a waiver by reporting an appraiser shortage in their respective areas, excessive appraisal fees and lengthy turn times and lack of incentive for prospective appraisers among other factors. To read the request letters click here. For more background information on the ASC and temporary waivers click here.

What implication could the approval of such waivers have on the appraisal industry? Many hold the same views as Appraisal Buzz Staff Writer, Joan Trice on the matter, an outright "attack on the profession." Click here  to read her piece And the Assault Continues for further insight and background on this issue. Could this be the beginning of a dangerous snowball effect, diminishing appraisers and the essential expertise and ethics they bring to the home-buying process? The ASC is encouraging input from the appraiser community as they consider these requests. Send your comments, let your voice be heard. 

Submit your comments to:

 

Jim Park

Executive Director

Appraisal Subcommittee

1401 H Street, Suite 760

Washington, DC 20005

jim@asc.gov

Conducting your business with integrity and competency should not cause lenders to put a "blacklist" target on your back. In the Appraisal Buzz feature, Good Appraiser, Bad Appraiser, Joan Trice discusses how problematic housing finance incentives can be and some of the ethical conflicts that are inherent because of the current policies. Trice raises concern over matters such as backlash for estimating below contract price, refusing to be less "rigid" and the emphasis on fee and turn time as opposed to quality reports, just to name a few. She also discusses what to do when you feel your independence has been violated. Check out the entire article here.

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