Jonathan Miller

Appraiserville June 1, 2018

The Term “Appraisals” Bleeds Into The Term “Evaluations”

One of the reasons the appraisal industry has been so upset with our former industry leader, The Appraisal Institute, is that they don’t realize that they are destroying the meaning of the word “appraisal” by championing lower cost alternatives to appraisals,…[Read more]

Appraiserville May 18, 2018

Rationalizing accepting $50 to $100 hybrids ’cause you’ll get volume

Here’s the sales pitch being sent to appraisers:

MCSV is currently offering a distinct hybrid product to our clients that involve a restricted report.
We would like to extend our hand – beyond the product types that you already cover, to determine…

[Read more]

Appraiserville May 11, 2018

Tindell v. Murphy, Cal. Court of Appeal (2018)

Here are the documents from the case shared by Peter Christensen, General Counsel, LIA Administrators & Insurance Services:

On May 7, 2018, the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District certified for publication its recent decision in a case entitled Tindell…

[Read more]

Appraiserville April 27, 2018

Phil Crawford Provides Updates on Appraiser Fest!

Listen to the podcast (you should be anyway!)

ASA leads opposition to TriStar Bank waiver request

That’s the headline from Valuation Review. Looks like ASA has better PR than AI National these days.

JUST IN The controversial @TriStarBank request to waive #appraisa…

[Read more]

Appraiserville April 13, 2018

The Core-Facebook-Logic Consumes Us A La Mode

This has been a tumultuous couple of weeks for Facebook. I’ve never been a heavy user of it, mostly a lurker. They constantly change navigation paths making it nearly impossible to update your settings frequently – and when you do, do you really trust them? I’ve…[Read more]

Appraiserville April 6, 2018

It’s Time to Change the Narrative

My friend and data management savant Mark Stockton penned a great article on statistics being tossed around by the major players in the valuation industry is misleading. Mark, Phil Crawford and I got to talking about this topic after reading a recent Appraisal Buzz article: Evolution…[Read more]

Appraiserville March 30, 2018

What A Time We’re Living In!

One of the great things about the changes being seen in the appraisal industry today is through the actions of appraisers themselves. Appraisers are speaking out more often and pushing their thoughts about the industry and the techniques of the profession out into the ether. And most…[Read more]

Appraiserville March 16, 2018

The Appraisal Foundation Position on Tristar Bank Waiver Request to ASC

I’ve written about the Tristar bank request many times here in Appraiserville. The first time I wrote about it, I “translated” their request letter into what I thought they were really saying. You might want to read the December 1, 2017…[Read more]

Appraiserville February 23, 2018

BREAKING: David versus Goliath Redux: Skapinetz versus Coester – Case Direction Favors Underdog

Court Refuses to Dismiss Lawsuit That Coester and His AMC Hacked Appraiser Mark Skapinetz’s Emails

My colleague and friend, Georgia appraiser Mark Skapinetz, sued COESTERVMS.COM, INC. and BRIAN COESTER in the U.S.…[Read more]

More on Tristar Bank’s Appraiser Shortage Lie to Waive Appraisals

From the Tennessee Appraiser Coalition…

In response to Tristar’s poorly conceived request to let them waive appraisals to save their customers money, falsely claiming there was a shortage of appraisers, the Tennessee Real Estate Appraiser Commission and a consortium of…[Read more]

The Second Appraiserfest Trailer Gets Released!

“THIS IS NOT AN EVENT…IT’S A HAPPENING!” November 1, 2, 3 in San Antonio Register now to take advantage of the early bird specials and get all the details of the “happening.”

The video is Phil Crawford’s long-awaited inspirational take for appraisal professionals who largely have been beaten down…[Read more]

New AQB Requirements Remove College-Level Course Requirements from Licensed Residential Candidates

This change in appraiser qualifications is effective on May 1, 2018. It is important to note that the AQB sets the minimum requirements. The 54 states and territories have to decide whether to reduce the standard or not. It is important for…[Read more]

Lori Noble Goes All Twitter On Us In Her Fight For Appraisers

Housingwire’s new issue focuses on valuation – and has as of late – consistently included the appraiser vantage point in their coverage. Thank you Housingwire.

Lori Noble was interviewed by Jacob Gaffney in the current print version, conducting a Twitter interview. Way to go Lori!

First, it was “appraisal shortage” waivers and now it may become “rural appraisal shortage” waivers

Either way, they are both misleading narratives (i.e. lies) to help the many in the AMC industry rationalize not having to pay the market rate and lobby their Congressional representatives.

It has always been challenging to find rural appraisers…[Read more]

Fannie Pulls Back Requirements on Field Reviews

Here’s the first Selling Guide Update for 2018 (h/t to Tom Allen) Fannie is waiving their requirement for field reviews on properties over $1 million.

I have some thoughts on this decision since our Manhattan housing market has a median sales price of just over $1 million. This ruling would have…[Read more]

The Fall Appraiserfest Conference in San Antonio Promises To Be The Residential Appraiser’s Counterculture Answer to The Current Dull and Boring National Norm

As the current president of RAC, I am quite proud to say that our last two annual appraisal conferences have been the best I’ve ever attended in my 31+ year appraisal career and it’s not…[Read more]

Old Guard Continues to Lead AI National Into Oblivion By Not Understanding What Happened in 2017: Jim Murrett

The latest edition of Valuation Review came out this week (I am a subscriber) and the cover story was an interview with Jim Murrett, the 2018 President. The interview quote struck me very hard because it made me sad that nothing has…[Read more]

In the Appraisal World, The Expertise Only Gets Ten Percent of Fee

An Indiana state certified appraiser based in Indiana who is also certified in other states including Georgia did an evaluation of a number of properties in Georgia. The “appraisal fee” was $250 but the AMC (Clear Capital) got $225, and this appraiser got $25 for each evaluation.…[Read more]

The Appraisal Institute Seems Hellbent On Breaking Florida’s Public Trust

As I’ve said many times here on Appraiserville, the efforts by Scott DiBiasio and AI National senior leadership to undermine residential appraisers including those that pay for membership in AI National only to keep their designations – continues to damage the profession.…[Read more]

The Appraisal Question of 2018

The Appraisal Institute is spending heavily to insert evaluations into state laws that confuse the public, dilutes the credibility of what an appraisal is and seemingly no one in their residential membership aside from a tiny sliver of wanna-be insiders or the industry at large, who are facing their own demons. Why?…[Read more]