Editor’s Note: A desktop appraisal product introduced last month is the subject of concern among many Working RE readers and OREP.org members. Below is guidance issued by the North Carolina Appraisal Board. AMC-Desktop Product: USPAP Compliant? By David Brauner, Editor A new desktop product from a large, national appraisal management company (AMC) is drawing questions...…
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Editor’s note: Determining what is or is not a “stable” market in these turbulent times is confusing for some. Appraisers report having appraisals rejected because the “Declining Market” box is checked on the Fannie Form. Others say they would be admonished for not indicating a declining condition. As always, the best advice is to be...…
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Doing it Faster and Better By Rick Foos, SRA Here is something we appraisers know all too well: because we sell our opinions of value, our income is limited directly by how many appraisals we can complete in the hours in a day (time is money). So how do we give ourselves a raise? By…
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“Your magazine writes that ‘purveyors of AVMs have routinely lifted data from appraisal reports for years without asking permission or paying remuneration.’ I have been hearing this over and over again. However, I have never seen one piece of evidence that proves this assertion. Do you actually have proof?” – Michael R. Cartwright, CMA/RPG MythBusters:…
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Compliant Appraisers: Creating a Level Playing Field A growing number of appraisers are compelled to turn in colleagues for what, in their judgment, is incompetence and/or fraud. Here is a template of an actual complaint which was heard and acted upon by a state board. Phil Rice, appraising eight years, said he filed this complaint...…
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Appraiser Wins Copyright Suit: Now What? And they said it couldn’t be done. Tim Vining, MAI becomes the first appraiser in the U.S. to successfully sue and win for copyright infringement of his intellectual property – his appraisal. The culprit is a real estate broker who lifted Vining’s work for use in a sales brochure.…
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Can AVMs Work for You? By Bradley H. Ellis, IFA, RAA By now, most of us have utilized technology to change the way we do business. We’ve been able to leverage technology to work faster, smarter and cheaper. But what do we do about AVMs, which many feel will eventually put appraisers out of business?...…
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Finding Your Way with GPS By Doug Adomatis Why use a global positioning system (GPS) in your business? There are some very good reasons, according to appraiser Sandra Adomatis. “Realtors have been known to put their sign on the wrong property and some have even sold the wrong parcel. In Charlotte County (Fla.), there is…
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Editor’s Note: According to long-time appraiser Barry Lebow, attending open houses is a great way for appraisers and inspectors to add clients, attract new business and become better professionals. Benefits of an Open House By Barry Lebow With the market slowing down, appraisers are looking for ways to drum up business. I have found first...…
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I decided to make the switch from appraising commercial properties back to residential properties in early 2008. To many this is appraisal suicide. However, the reason is simple- my wife became a state-registered trainee a few years ago, is serious about becoming Certified and needed my mentoring.
Since her knowledge of commercial appraising is limited,…
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