News By Edition

January 2, 2012
Valuation Review Edition
January 2, 2012
In the January 2, 2012, edition of Vaulation Review, the appraisers respond to blame from different corners of the mortgage industry. The Wall Street Journal, the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Home Builders, all pointed the finger at the appraisal industry for "low appraisals" and improper use of distressed and foreclosed sales, but appraiser spoke out through Valuation Review. Also in thi sedition, REOs poised for growth in 2012, appraiser associations petition the CFPB and the pros and cons of HARP revisions.


2012 State of the Industry report highlights appraisal industry
Posted Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012
October Research, publisher of Valuation Review, and presenting sponsor ResWare teamed up to produce the third annual State of the Industry Report, October Research's most requested special report each year. 

U.S. home prices declined to late 2002 levels
Posted Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012
Lender Processing Services Inc.'s (LPS) Applied Analytics division updated its home price index (HPI) with residential sales concluded during October 2011. The LPS HPI summarizes home price trends nationwide by tracking sales each month in more than 13,500 ZIP codes.

CEO-Later, Fannie Mae: Michael Williams steps down
Posted Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012
Fannie Mae announced Chief Executive Officer Michael Williams’ decision to step down. He will continue as CEO and as a director until Fannie Mae’s board of directors names a successor, at which time he will leave the company.

SharperLending's Appraisal Firewall UCDP-connectivity confirmed by Veros
Posted Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012
Mortgage technology provider SharperLending LLC is pleased to announce that its Appraisal Firewall product has been confirmed by Veros Real Estate Solutions as operationally ready for successful submission to the Uniform Collateral Data Portal.

A 'stable' market veils fluctuation in local markets
Posted Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012
A year-over-year national price decrease in 2011 of 2.1 percent and forecast of a slight 0.2 percent gain in 2012 was reported by Clear Capital. Read on for a look at the numbers from the point of view of the local markets, not the year-overview big picture that shows a 'flat' market.

The future of Valuation Review
Posted Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012
It’s 2012, and while we’re still a couple years away from flying cars, vacations to the moon and underwater bubble cities that hasn’t stopped the techies in the Valuation Review R&D department from coming up with some very cool, very futuristic stuff for our readers this year.

'Healthy,' non-distressed market still modestly down for most of 2011
Posted Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012
Home prices in the U.S. decreased 1.4 percent on a month-over-month basis, the fourth consecutive monthly decline.

Market stagnation: No better, no worse
Posted Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012
While mortgage delinquencies at the end of November 2011 were nearly 25 percent less than the January 2010 peak, the trend toward fewer loans becoming delinquent, which dominated 2010 and the first quarter of 2011, appears to have halted.

New management takes the helm at a la mode
Posted Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012

a la mode announced that its founder and sole shareholder, Dave Biggers, is retiring from the company’s day-to-day management and a new chief executive officer and executive chairman team will be running the company.


Pending home sales hit 19-month high
Posted Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012

The positive indicators keep coming from the National Association of Realtors. The real estate association is reporting that its Pending Home Sales Index — an indicator based on contract signings — is at its highest level in 19 months.


Still flipping out: FHA extends waiver of anti-flipping regulations
Posted Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012

In an effort to continue stabilizing home values and improve conditions in communities experiencing high foreclosure activity, Acting Federal Housing Administration Commissioner Carol Galante extended a temporary waiver of FHA’s anti-flipping regulations through 2012. 


Clint Reinhardt joins Valuation Partners
Posted Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012
Valuation Partners, a national appraisal management company, hired a new vice president and national account executive who brings more than 25 years of appraisal, mortgage banking and settlement services experience to Valuation Partners.

For every two homes available for sale, there is one in the shadows
Posted Date: Wednesday, December 21, 2011
CoreLogic reported that the current residential shadow inventory as of October 2011 remained at 1.6 million units, representing a supply of five months. Read on for the full details.

Global DMS connects Nationwide Property and Appraisal services to the portal
Posted Date: Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Global DMS announced that Nationwide Property & Appraisal Services has integrated its Global Kinex appraisal review and delivery technology as the foundation of its proprietary software to ensure full compliance with the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP) program. Read on for the details.


Appraiser New Year resolutions
Posted Date: Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The New Year is approaching and appraisers across the country are making resolutions to improve their valuation services, increase their industry awareness and support the profession. Here are a few resolutions that our valued appraiser readership shared with Valuation Review.


InHouse sends lenders, AMCs into the Portal
Posted Date: Tuesday, December 20, 2011

InHouse Inc. is successfully integrating lenders and appraisal management companies to the Uniform Collateral Data Portal  in a matter of a few weeks, and without the long-term contract. Read on for the details.


New-home production rose 9.3 percent in November
Posted Date: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Production of new single-family homes and apartments rose 9.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 685,000 units in November, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department. This marks the fastest pace of housing starts since October of 2008. Read on for more details.

ACI eServices meets StreetLinks Lender Solutions
Posted Date: Tuesday, December 20, 2011
ACI integrated StreetLinks Lender Solutions with ACI's eServices, an appraisal delivery service to help ensure compliance with client/lender and investor requirements. Read on for the integration details.

The Appraisal Foundation releases green valuation video
Posted Date: Monday, December 19, 2011
The Appraisal Foundation is released a free video on its website entitled, An Introduction to Green Buildings and Their Valuation. It is divided into five sections and includes simultaneous PowerPoint presentations as well as audience questions and answers. Read on to check out the video.

November data confirms oncoming foreclosure wave
Posted Date: Monday, December 19, 2011

A spokesperson from RealtyTrac discussed the 2011 foreclosure data with Valuation Review recently, and the latest numbers from November further illustrate his point. Even though there was a 3 percent month-over-month decrease in filings and a 14 percent year over year drop, RealtyTrac believes this all equates to a renewed foreclosure wave in 2012. 


Appraisal problem? We don't think so
Posted Date: Monday, December 19, 2011
The NAHB maintains that appraisal values for land and subdivisions under development have led some financial institutions to stop lending to developers and builders, and makes them a contributing factor to the acquisition, development and construction crisis. Everyone in the real estate industry would agree that it's time to turn things around, but the appraisal industry does not agree that there is an "appraisal issue."

Nevada attorney general sues LPS for fraud, LPS responds
Posted Date: Sunday, December 18, 2011
The Nevada attorney general filed a complaint against LPS for engaging in deceptive practices against Nevada consumers. LPS strongly disputes the allegations and released its own statement on the situation. Read on for thoughts from both sides.
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