Appraisal Buzzcast

A major acquisition, a fast-growing corner of the lending world, and a reality check on commentary in UAD 3.6. Today, Hal and Jim sit down with Bill Waltenbaugh, Chief Appraiser at Nationwide Appraisal Network (now part of Stewart Valuation Intelligence), to unpack what this new chapter means for both appraisers and their clients. From the nuances of non-QM and private money lending, to the role o...

Fresh off the plane from Seattle, we’re breaking down the biggest moments from this year’s Appraisers Conference and Trade Show (ACTS) . From packed sessions on UAD 3.6 to the conversations shaping the future of valuation, we’re sharing what impacted us most, and what's next. We’re joined by industry veteran Jason Covington , who was just installed as Vice President of the National Associatio...

Staff vs. fee panel. It’s one of the longest-running debates in appraisal history, and today we’re going to address it. Hal is joined by Todd Rasmussen of MARRCH Valuations to break down the staff appraiser model, explain why he believes it’s the future of valuation, and explore what it means for quality, consistency, and the evolving demands of lenders and appraisers alike. Todd's Top 5 Ways...

As we rounded out 2025, we put out a call for nominations for our second inaugural Buzzy Awards. We wanted to once again recognize appraisers across the nation who are innovators, champions of their colleagues, tireless volunteers, and excellent, ethical professionals. In this episode, we’re introducing the winner for "Instructor of the Year". They'll discuss his journey into teachi...

As we rounded out 2025, we put out a call for nominations for our second inaugural Buzzy Awards. We wanted to once again recognize appraisers across the nation who are innovators, champions of their colleagues, tireless volunteers, and excellent, ethical professionals. In this episode, we’re introducing the winner for " Rising Star of the Year ". They'll share their journey into the...

As we rounded out 2025, we put out a call for nominations for our second inaugural Buzzy Awards. We wanted to once again recognize appraisers across the nation who are innovators, champions of their colleagues, tireless volunteers, and excellent, ethical professionals. In this episode, we’re introducing the winner for " Mentor of the Year ". They'll explore the barriers facing aspir...

It’s been a big week in Washington—and appraisers should be paying close attention. In this episode, John Russell of ValuSight Consulting joins us to break down key appraisal-related provisions in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act , including potential changes to FHA eligibility, cross-border licensing, and new pathways for trainees entering the profession. We'll also dive into the major n...

As we rounded out 2025, we put out a call for nominations for our second inaugural Buzzy Awards. We wanted to once again recognize appraisers across the nation who are innovators, champions of their colleagues, tireless volunteers, and excellent, ethical professionals. These folks inspire us, and we hope they'll inspire you, too. In this episode, we’re introducing the winner for "Lender...

In this episode of the Appraisal Buzzcast , Jim Morrison and Hal Humphreys welcome Chris Williams , President of AIMSdashboard , to break down the behind-the-scenes coordination that made the industry’s first completed UAD 3.6 appraisal possible. Chris shares how the opportunity came together, the role he played in aligning the appraiser, lender, and technology partners, and why collaboration was...

UAD 3.6 is a fundamental shift in how appraisal data is structured, collected, and delivered. But what does this actually means for your day-to-day work? In this episode, hosts Jim Morrison and Hal Humphreys sit down with Ken DeFeo of Fannie Mae and Sean Murphy of Freddie Mac —two of the key minds behind the development of UAD 3.6. Together, they unpack why the redesign was necessary, how UAD 3.6...

As we rounded out 2025, we put out a call for nominations for our second inaugural Buzzy Awards. We wanted to once again recognize appraisers across the nation who are innovators, champions of their colleagues, tireless volunteers, and excellent, ethical professionals. These folks inspire us, and we hope they'll inspire you, too. In this episode, we’re introducing the winner for "AMC of...

As we rounded out 2025, we put out a call for nominations for our second inaugural Buzzy Awards. We wanted to once again recognize appraisers across the nation who are innovators, champions of their colleagues, tireless volunteers, and excellent, ethical professionals. These folks inspire us, and we hope they'll inspire you. Between now and Valuation Expo, we’ll host one of those winners ever...

As we rounded out 2025, we put out a call for nominations for our second inaugural Buzzy Awards. We wanted to once again recognize appraisers across the nation who are innovators, champions of their colleagues, tireless volunteers, and excellent, ethical professionals. These folks inspire us, and we hope they'll inspire you. Between now and Valuation Expo, we’ll host one of those winners ever...

One of the appraisal industry’s biggest events of the year is back. In this episode, Hal and Jim are joined by Barry Phillips, incoming President of the National Association of Appraisers, to talk about the return of the Appraisers Conference and Trade Show (ACTS) this April in Seattle. Barry shares what makes ACTS different from other conferences, how the event stays relevant in a rapidly changin...

As we rounded out 2025, we put out a call for nominations for our second inaugural Buzzy Awards. We wanted to once again recognize appraisers across the nation who are innovators, champions of their colleagues, tireless volunteers, and excellent, ethical professionals. These folks inspire us, and we hope they'll inspire you. We tallied your votes and announced the 2026 Buzzy Award Winners her...

Short-term rentals are one of the fastest-growing (and most misunderstood) segments of the appraisal world. In this episode of the Appraisal Buzzcast, Hal and Jim sit down with Erik Morin, CEO of AtlasVMS, to unpack why STR appraisals are so difficult, where traditional tools fall short, and how new data-driven solutions are changing the game. Erik introduces Atlas STR Insight, a new form built sp...

What do European banking regulators have to do with appraisals written in the United States? More than you might think. In this episode, Hal Humphreys sits down with Chris Thorne , a UK-based valuation expert who has been working directly with the European Central Bank as it reviews commercial real estate lending across the Eurozone. Those reviews don’t just cover European properties. They’ve also...

Adam Winstead just made history as the first appraiser to complete a UAD 3.6 appraisal. On this episode, Hal and Jim chat with Adam about what this major shift means for the industry, how it changes your workflow, and what appraisers can expect as this new standard becomes mandatory. Adam shares firsthand insights on the challenges, opportunities, and surprises he encountered, offering a practical...

More big UAD 3.6 news just dropped. In this episode, Hal and Jim sit down with Joel Baker of a la mode | Cotality to break down what their official verification by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac really means. Joel explains how UAD 3.6 will change the day-to-day experience inside appraisal software, what appraisers should be doing now to prepare, and the roadblocks developers had to overcome along the...

We’re officially unveiling the finalists for the 2026 Buzzy Awards . In this special episode, we're announcing finalists for: Appraiser of the Year AMC or Appraisal Firm of the Year Lender of the Year Instructor of the Year Software of the Year Appraisal Content Creator Rising Star of the Year Mentor of the Year These finalists went above and beyond to move the appraisal profession forward th...

Meet the appraiser who went from old-school clipboard to full-blown tech evangelist. In this episode, Hal and Jim sit down with Kurt Rehak, Chief Appraiser and CEO of ZAP Appraisals, to talk about the rapidly shifting profession, and the new tools reshaping it. Kurt shares how the idea for the ZAP App was born, how UAD 3.6 updates influenced its design, and why appraisers who resist technology mig...

In a world obsessed with automation, AI, and “instant valuations,” Simon Blackburn has a refreshingly bold message: appraisers aren’t going anywhere. In this episode, Hal sits down with the CEO of MtgeFi to dig into why appraisers still sit at the center of the real estate finance ecosystem. Simon breaks down the staggering numbers behind daily mortgage trading, why FIRREA still matters, and how t...

UAD 3.6 is no longer some far-off deadline. It’s happening. The limited-production phase has begun, and Rocket Mortgage is gearing up to start sending actual UAD 3.6 appraisal orders out the door. In this episode, Hal sits down with Rachel Robinson of Rocket Mortgage to talk through what appraisers really need to know now. Rachel breaks down the biggest misconceptions about manufactured housing, w...

The future of appraisal just got a whole lot faster. In this episode, Hal sits down with Reggora CEO Brian Zitin to unpack one of the biggest tech stories in valuation: the push toward a true 24-hour appraisal workflow . They dig into how it works, what it means for appraisers in the field, why some folks are skeptical, and how this shift could reshape the profession over the next few years. At Th...

Today, hosts Hal Humphreys and Jim Morrison sit down with Matt Johnson of SFREP, one of the first software companies verified by the GSE's for UAD 3.6, to talk about what UAD 3.6 means from the software side of things: how software companies are preparing, what roadblocks they’ve hit, and why now might be the perfect time for appraisers to reevaluate their tools and workflows. At The Appraisa...