Sales and financing concessions!? What’s the problem? If the house sold for $100,000, its worth $100,000, right? This is what our broker friends try to tell us. But we appraisers have a higher calling than brokers. We can’t use puffery! We have to tell the truth (even if it kills a deal)! So, what’s so […]
Thoughts on Sales and Financing Concessions – TAA Podcast 057 Read More »
What does Fannie Mae want? Can we even provide what she wants? Is it clear what she wants? In a short podcast it is impossible to answer these questions in any depth. Nevertheless, The Appraiser’s Advocate will take a stab at it! Why? Because you deserve to know! What does Fannie Mae want? Among other
What does Fannie Mae Want From Us Appraisers? – TAA Podcast 056 Read More »
“What you can do with these photos” is provocative. I wrote it to get your attention. Appraisal reports contain photos. This is not a USPAP requirement. Nor is it a Fannie Mae requirement. Really, it is the lender’s requirement. They familiarize the lender with the subject. So, what is so controversial about photos in an
What You Can Do With These Photos! – TAA Podcast 055 Read More »
Who is large and in charge? When it comes a real estate appraisal and report, you are! That’s right! You are! While the client wants to think it calls the shots, you do. Really! Have you ever thought why you’re in charge? Think about it! That lender or that AMC needs you! Since you are
You are Large and In Charge! – TAA Podcast 054 Read More »
What a newbie needs is straightforward. A mentor. A supervisor. But, as most newbies know, getting one can be difficult. In fact, getting one may the the hardest part of becoming an appraiser. So, let’s talk about this. Let’s see if we can narrow down this challenge to some more manageable. Take a huge challenge,
What a Newbie Needs to do! – TAA Podcast 053 Read More »
Scope of work!? Doesn’t the boilerplate on the reporting form cover that? In truth, yes it does. But that may be its biggest problem. USPAP says your scope must be property and assignment specific. So, how can boilerplate be property specific? It can’t. See, that’s the problem. Boilerplate can’t know what you did or did
Scope of Work! – TAA Podcast 052 Read More »
“Write it backwards?! What can that possibly mean? Tim, I have enough trouble writing my reports in the regular way! Now you want me to write my reports backwards? Please, Tim, would you share with me whatever it is you’re smoking?” Really, its not a secret. True, it seems logical to write an appraisal report
Write it Backwards?! – TAA Podcast 051 Read More »
Am I the only one who thinks Ted Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) was one of the great moral philosophers of the 20th century? He wrote so much about the ethics of excellence. The Cat on the Hat teaches about moral responsibility. Green Eggs and Ham teaches us about the ethics of change when, maybe, we
The Ethics of Excellence – TAA Podcast 050 Read More »
Bias in an appraisal?! You may not realize it. There is the possibility of bias in your appraisal and your appraisal report. How so? An appraiser is competent, independent, impartial, and objective. OK, so what’s the problem with bias? According to the experts, there are at least 180 types of bias. We appraisers can engage
Bias in an Appraisal!? – TAA Podcast 049 Read More »
“Support my opinion? Why?! It’s an opinion, not a fact!” It is true that we appraisers are paid for our opinions. What a way to make a living, right? Yet, there is an opinion that is little more than a wild-ass guess. Then there is an opinion based on facts. An appraiser’s professional opinions should
What Do You Mean I Have To Support My Opinion? – TAA Podcast 048 Read More »
