Fannie Mae Policy Changes

When the government enacted some new rules about who is entitled to hire an appraiser to complete a market analysis on a property, there were many ramifications that were not initially considered. Now Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have some mandatory guidelines, which again will have some positive and negative impact on the real estate housing market.

One of the new requirements is banks, mortgage companies or lenders are required to receive a copy of a real estate purchase contract and all addendums associated with the contract prior to completing an appraisal report. Why this wasn’t a guideline from the beginning is beyond me. Any amendments to the purchase contract prior to the appraisal must be submitted to the appraisal company immediately.

Portions of a parcel may no longer be appraised. The current guideline states the appraised value must be for the entire parcel.

Appraisers in the past were omitting comparable sales of foreclosed homes, REO properties and short sales. The new Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines require these types of properties MUST be included in the market value of the property. This could definitely have a negative impact on our housing market.

You would think “common sense” would be considered in any new rules or guidelines. Here is another new guideline that is mandatory. If the appraiser has any financial interest in the transaction, the appraisal has to be verified by a third party who is “arms-length” from the transaction.

Any major repairs have to be considered in the appraisal. Now what a brilliant idea! The appraisal cannot be completed until these repairs are finished. Anyone ever heard of the FHA 203K loan?

If management in the appraisal company has an “employee” complete an appraisal, before management or a review appraiser can sign off on the appraisal, they must complete their own inspection on the property. Management cannot depend solely on the “employees” expertise.

Since this downturn in the real estate market, the Home Valuation Code was amended to cease “favoritism” or the “influence” of market values. Protecting the consumer was also taken into consideration. These are positive changes but I still foresee this putting a damper on the timeline that it takes to close a transaction.