Some news we have been hearing lately indicates that the worst of the recession is behind us and that the housing market is improving. No doubt many areas in the country are starting to see some improvement or at least the continuous fall in values has slowed. However, the housing market is still far from “normal” and there are a multitude of potential snags that will have to be overcome before the market can get back to anything that even resembles normal. Even the Mortgage Bankers

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Much has been written already about the circumstance where appraisers are covering greater distances than in the past in order to gain and fulfill appraisal assignments in a shrinking market. Whenever an appraiser roams over greater and greater territory, he or she needs to be concerned with one of the fundamental premises of appraising, that is, competence, especially what is called “geographic competence.” Geographic Competency is governed by the

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One of the most consistent observations FNC has been hearing lately from mortgage originators is that they are receiving appraisals from appraisers who are operating outside their regions of competence. In other words, they are appraising in neighborhoods where they don’t know the market.

As lenders know, the real value of appraisers is twofold. First, they can look at the house to assess the current condition; and second, they tend to specialize in a few markets that they know

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Blog. Such a strange and funny word. Say it repeatedly and it’s reminiscent of blah. "Blah, blah, blah." Isn’t that what a blah-g is all about? Just an electronic medium for saying what’s on one’s mind -- a venue for stream of consciousness, for random thoughts, opinions, commentary, criticisms – sometimes educational and informative, sometimes satirical or funny (e-musing, if you

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