Blog – Valuation Education

Appraiser Disciplinary Complaints: Who is Filing Them? What for?

June 1, 2018August 6, 2018

We were doing some research for a project and came up with some basic data that appraisers may find interesting about disciplinary complaints to state appraiser licensing agencies. Who files the complaints? What’s the basis? Well, here’s some data from Read More …

Appraisers Insured by LIA: Free CE Seminar in Santa Barbara on June 12

May 31, 2018August 6, 2018

For real estate appraisers insured by LIA — especially those in or near Santa Barbara:Thank you for buying your E&O insurance from LIA! We are hosting a freeCE seminar in our hometown Santa Barbara. The seminar is entitled “Hot Topics Read More …

“Hybrid Appraisals” – Speaking about the Liability Risk to Appraisers and Others at The Appraisal Foundation’s Joint Council Meeting

May 22, 2018August 6, 2018

“Hybrid appraisal” liability? I am looking forward to speaking about the subject at a joint meeting of The Appraisal Foundation’s two advisory councils — The Appraisal Foundation Advisory Council (composed of 60 non-profits and government agencies) and the Industry Advisory Read More …

Are Commercial Appraisers Entitled to Overtime? A Pending Class Action Filed Against a Bank Might Answer that Question

May 16, 2018August 6, 2018

Overtime class actions by residential real estate appraisers have ravaged large appraisal firms and management companies for the last six years. While there were a few earlier cases, the first signs that overtime litigation under the federal Fair Labor Standards Read More …

Newly Published California Case Helpful to Appraisers: Tindell v. Murphy

May 8, 2018August 6, 2018

Today, the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District certified for publication its recent decision in a case entitled Tindell v. Murphy. The case involved mortgage borrowers who sued a real estate appraiser blaming the appraiser for a purchase they Read More …

Appraisal Firms and “Hybrid” AMCs: Beware of the Dynamex Decision and Its Impact on Classifying Appraisers as Independent Contractors in California

May 1, 2018August 6, 2018

Classifying “staff appraisers” as independent contractors, rather than as employees, is a very common business practice among real estate appraisal firms. It also has become fairly common for appraisal management companies (AMCs) not only to manage the delivery of appraisals Read More …

AMCs and Lenders Fighting Over Next Generation Valuation Products and Technology

April 23, 2018August 6, 2018

The residential valuation business for mortgage lenders has been taking big steps lately toward wide scale replacement of the historical Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR or 1004) form used in mortgage lending. As this movement happens, some would-be providers of Read More …

Appraisers in Arbitration – Legal Risk?

April 9, 2018August 6, 2018

As real estate appraisers seek to diversify their services beyond traditional lending work, one of the fields I think appraisers should be looking to more is serving as an arbitrator. When disputes concern real estate interests, appraisers are well-positioned to Read More …

Classifying Appraisers as Independent Contractors – an Issue for Appraisal Firms and Maybe Some AMCs Too

February 1, 2018August 6, 2018

A hot legal issue that is more often affecting appraisal firms and similar businesses, such as inspection and field service management firms, is the classification of workers as independent contractors, rather than as employees.In some lawsuits, plaintiff workers argue that Read More …

Appraiser Overtime Class Action Against CoreLogic, Filed 12-29-17

January 31, 2018August 6, 2018

AA residential staff appraiser has filed an overtime class action lawsuit against appraisal management company CoreLogic Valuation Solutions. The appraiser is a current employee and works as a staff appraiser in Southern California. On behalf of herself and a putative Read More …