The Appraisal Update: The Official Podcast of Appraiser eLearning

Fannie Mae is insisting that appraisers must have objective support for their adjustments, specifically for market conditions and gross living area. Guest host Hal Humphreys talks with Tim Andersen about how critical thinking leads to objectivity and helps appraisers comply with Fannie Mae guidelines and arrive at supportable conclusions. Want to avoid getting a deficiency letter from Fannie Mae?...

One of the biggest reasons that appraisers get disciplined is failing to support land value. If you have plenty of comparable land sales, developing an opinion of the land value is simple, But what if you're an appraiser in a built-up area with no recent land sales? Listen in as Bryan and guest Marty Wagar explore other ways to support your opinion, a topic Marty covers in his new course, &qu...

Want to meet potential new clients and get more orders immediately? Come to an appraiser conference! In August, Bryan set up his mic at Valuation Expo and interviewed lots of attendees, including working appraisers, trainees, lenders, AMCs, and lots of other folks whose work intersects with appraisal services. Listen in and hear what they had to say about why they attend Val Expo and other confere...

Taston Sick is a licensed appraiser in Northern Colorado who works in the family residential appraisal business. After attending ACTS and the Appraisal Summit, he and his sister Ellie decided to make a big change in how their firm does appraisals. Listen in to hear how Taston and Ellie adopted new tech for data collection and reporting.  It was probably scary and overwhelming at the outset, but no...

We've been hearing the rumblings: Some appraisers believe the end is near for the appraisal profession. Listen in as Bryan and his guest Simon Blackburn discredit that notion. Blackburn is founder and CEO of MtgeFi , a company that forecasts mortgage trends. In the episode, he discusses his recent article, " Top 10 Reasons Appraisals Are Here to Stay and Critical to U.S. and Global Marke...

In this special edition of the Appraisal Update podcast, guest host Hal Humphreys asks economist Mark Calabria to explain what the Fed's .5% interest rate cut means for mortgage markets, homebuyers, and appraisers. Calabria is a senior adviser to the Cato Institute, former director of FHFA, and the author of Shelter from the Storm: How a Covid Mortgage Meltdown Was Averted . 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to o...

In this episode, Bryan tackles a hot topic from a practicing appraiser: the appropriate form for final inspections on new constructions for FHA loans. He provides a detailed answer based on HUD policy and also delves into a compelling "What If?" scenario that could reshape your approach. But that's not all! Bryan also shares exciting insights from his recent visit to Fannie Mae&apos...

Let's talk about change — and not the jingle in your pockets. Change is coming in the appraisal world, likely the biggest change ever for residential appraising. The new UAD is finally in sight. The train is coming. Are you getting on board or letting it pass by? Listen in as Bryan interviews someone who knows all about how we resist change and ways we can learn to adapt. In fact, he wrote th...

We've been going on and on about conferences all summer. Next week, one's actually happening. Why do folks get so fired up about Valuation Expo and the Appraisal Summit, our two premier summer conferences in Vegas? Listen in as Bryan asks several Summit attendees — both veterans and newbies — why they love coming together with their peers, and what they take away from these events. TAKE...

Valuation Expo is making waves! As Jim says, we've "Shaken Things Up." There's also an exciting new app we're introducing. Join Bryan along with guest Jim Morrison and AEL's super guru Doug Hayes as they delve into the latest updates and explain why you should attend, even if it's just for one day. Jim calls it "Vegas in a Day!" Valuation Expo 2024 Augu...

As an experienced appraiser, you've likely encountered some challenging inspection scenarios. Tune in to this episode, where Jason Covington recounts a terrifying and potentially deadly encounter with an armed homeowner. Find out how he managed the situation, and hear Bryan and Jason's post-mortem (not literal), including some practical advice for appraisers on how to avoid similar incid...

Do you need to hire a helper? You probably think you can't afford one in this market. But what if a helper could get you more business—AND was more affordable than you think? Join Bryan Reynolds and his guest, Sean Connolly of Scale Virtually, as they discuss an out-of-the-box approach to getting some much-needed help. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:    /appraiser...

So far, appraisers haven't had much guidance about how to handle short-term rental assignments. How do you appraise them? Are you supposed to estimate the income and put it on the 1007 form? Stop what you're doing (especially if you're using the 1007), because we finally have some guidance. A recent Fannie Mae Update stated clearly:  "Form 1007 cannot be used to estimate the ni...

If a review appraiser or investigator examines your appraisal report, are you confident it will stand the test? Will you be able to communicate why you did what you did? Join Bryan Reynolds and his guest Mel Black—attorney, appraiser, and AQB-certified USPAP instructor—as they explore answers to these questions. Don't miss this episode about defending your work, meeting USPAP minimum requirem...

One of the biggest challenges to becoming an appraiser is finding a supervisor/mentor. Appraisers face a similar problem when trying to upgrade from a certified residential to a certified general real property appraiser. Another major obstacle, for some, is the lack of a college degree. Could this change soon? Listen in as Bryan and his guest, Brad Swinney, Chair AQB, discuss this real possibility...

The whole eastern US is red-hot right now — and so, apparently, was one listener after Bryan's last episode. This week he apologizes to the offended party and reflects on our very human fear of change, and looks forward to our next smoking-hot conference in Las Vegas — Valuation Expo on August 19-21. Hear fellow appraisers share why they love coming together 🔥🔥🔥 With thanks to our guests,...

Do you still use a clipboard and a tape measure, or have you advanced to a laser and a tablet? Is there a better and easier way to measure than using a Disto? Listen in while Bryan speaks with Joel Baker from CoreLogic / a la mode to discuss a la mode's new Scan to Sketch app for measuring houses and dropping the results into a report. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episod...

Join Bryan and his friend and colleague Jason Covington, a first-time attendee of ICORE, as they discuss his impressions of the event. Hear whether the reality matched his expectations, and find out what he felt and took away from this experience. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:    /appraiserelearning ✅ NEED APPRAISER CE? We've got you covered: appraiserelearning...

Bryan breaks down support for a gross rent multiplier (GRM) and offers more reasoning for more why a specific number was chosen. Listen in as Bryan gives some ideas to use in your practice for supporting your opinions. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:    /appraiserelearning ✅ NEED APPRAISER CE? We've got you covered: appraiserelearning.com 🔥 STAY INFORMED with da...

Join Bryan Reynolds and his business partner Hal Humphreys for some simple, real-world examples of how to determine economic life and effective age — in less than 20 minutes! 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:    /appraiserelearning ✅ NEED APPRAISER CE? We've got you covered: appraiserelearning.com 🔥 STAY INFORMED with daily appraisal news and updates on The Apprai...

My brother rode along with me while I did a repair inspection, heard an interesting story from the homeowner (go see the video on our AEL  instagram feed) and then had a quick lunch. On the way back to Owensboro, he said, "Do you think someone is a jerk if they correct you?" And that immediately made me wonder what I was doing wrong. Listen in as my brother provides feedback to help me,...

When's the last time you got together with other appraisers? Listen in to what appraisers and aspiring appraisers have to say about learning from one another as well as the tremendous networking opportunities they discover by spending time with their colleagues. Big thanks to Summit attendees who agreed to be interviewed: Ellie McManus, Taston Sick, Kenton Sick, Sidney Loiseau, Jeff Bradford,...

In this first episode of 2024, AeL partners Bryan and Hal talk about personal triumphs and tragedies from 2023 and look forward to new courses, live events, and industry-wide policy discussions planned for the coming year. Want to attend a conference next year? Register for one or all of these: ACTS , April 20-23, 2024 Valuation Expo, August, 2024 The Appraisal Summit , September, 2024 🔔 SUBSCRIB...

The number one challenge in becoming an appraiser is finding a supervisor ... until now. Most states have adopted an alternative path to becoming a state-credentialed real property appraiser: Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal ( PAREA ). The AQB created PAREA as an alternative to the old supervisor/trainee method for logging experience. And just recently, the Appraisal Institute began...

When's the last time you spent time around a group of appraisers? Probably once a year when you take CE, and now it might just be virtual. Listen in to what appraisers and aspiring appraisers have to say about learning from one another as well as the tremendous networking opportunities they discover by getting together with other appraisers. Big thanks to Summit attendees who agreed to be int...