News Topic: Appraisals

Federal regulators have issued answers to frequently asked questions on appraisal regulations. ... Read full article

The Federal Housing Administration is mandating that lenders originating new reverse mortgages offer a second property appraisal in certain cases. ... Read full article

The House of Representatives passed two bills that would tie appraisal waivers for Small Business Administration loans to bank rules for commercial real estate loans, despite objections from the Appraisal Institute about its members being cut out of ... Read full article

Following an increase in the CRE appraisal threshold for community bankers earlier this year, the National Credit Union Administration has proposed an even bigger shift for CUs. ... Read full article

The state became the first in the country to ask federal regulators for a temporary waiver, citing a shortage of available appraisers. ... Read full article

Freddie Mac produced modest second-quarter results, reflecting a stabilizing business that CEO Donald Layton compared to a utility company. ... Read full article

From medical expenses to home improvements, here's a look at some of the most frequently cited reasons homeowners are borrowing against their home equity. ... Read full article

The removal of costly appraisal requirements on tens of thousands of smaller commercial properties could help community banks better compete for loans they say they have been losing to nonbank lenders. ... Read full article

If Freddie Mac's credit-risk transfer activities continue to grow, mortgage lenders could eventually see a reduction in the guarantee fees they pay to the government-sponsored enterprise, according to CEO Donald Layton. ... Read full article

TriStar Bank in Tennessee says a shortage of appraisers is slowing down its commercial real estate lending and raising the cost of appraisals. The claim has outraged appraisers, who argue that the bank is simply trying to avoid paying their fees. ... Read full article

Lenda, launched in 2014, currently makes mortgages start to finish in two weeks. But it's aiming to make it a process that can be finished on a borrower's lunch break. ... Read full article

The legislation, a similar version of which passed in the last Congress, would give favorable regulatory treatment to certain loans even if real estate-related fees were paid to an affiliate of the lender. ... Read full article

Under a joint order, lenders still have to document the value of properties in storm-affected regions, but they will not have to depend on appraisers. ... Read full article

Federal regulators issued a proposal Tuesday that would increase the threshold at which commercial real estate transactions require an appraisal, a move that could give some lenders sizable relief. ... Read full article

Financial regulators issued joint guidance on Wednesday highlighting the availability of cross-state appraiser licensing agreements. ... Read full article