Press
Over 17% of appraisals report a value less than the contract price
Trend could indicate that home values have stabilized and/or that appraisers are taking a more conservative approach when valuing properties
ALISO VIEJO, CA (October 21, 2014) — More than 17% of appraisals on purchase transactions were found to report a value less than the value of the contract price. This is according to Platinum Data Solutions, a provider of collateral valuation and risk assessment technologies, which based this information on data collected from FreeAppraisalReview.com, the industry’s first cost-free automated appraisal quality technology designed specifically for residential real estate appraisers.
According to Phil Huff, Platinum Data’s CEO, this data could indicate that home values have plateaued, or that appraisers are simply being more cautious when valuing properties.
“When one in five appraisals is lower than the contract price, it’s worth taking a deeper delve to find out what property values are doing,” he said. “For example, it could mean that buyers are paying more than a property is actually worth, possibly because the market is starting to stabilize. On the other hand, it could indicate that appraisers are being more conservative in valuing properties, which—given the regulations they’re facing—would be understandable.”
FreeAppraisalReview.com was launched in late September, but was in beta testing for several months prior. Over 5,000 appraisers have used FreeAppraisalReview.com since mid-September 2014.
FreeAppraisalReview.com was designed to help appraisers, as well as the lenders and AMCs with which they work, to save time by identifying basic errors and omissions. Appraisers simply upload their appraisals to the free site and in just a few seconds, FreeAppraisalReview.com screens appraisals based on over 1,100 best practice rules and guidelines, and reports its findings in a clear, actionable format. In doing so, it enables appraisers to locate and correct the most common culprits of returned appraisals prior to submitting the appraisal report to the AMC (appraisal management company) or lender.
Returned appraisals are the most frequent grievance among lenders and appraisers because they drain efficiency and reduce profitability. When lenders and AMCs catch errors, they return the report to the appraiser for corrections or clarifications. This can cause days-long delays, not to mention a reduction in profit margins for everyone involved: the appraiser, AMC and lender.
“Lenders and investors would be wise to keep their eyes on trends like this,” said Huff. “If frequent lower appraised values are reflective of a stabilizing or declining market, that could present a major impediment to the quality of loans they’re transacting, selling and buying.”
About Platinum Data Solutions
Platinum Data provides technologies that help mortgage lenders, servicers, investors and appraisal management companies value collateral, and identify and manage collateral risk. Its online platform and analytical tools are being used by hundreds of companies to perform due diligence, prevent buybacks and protect billions of dollars in assets across the U.S. The company’s RealView system revolutionized the way the industry reviews appraisals, while its AVM offerings provide a truly unbiased perspective on collateral valuation. Platinum Data Solutions is based in Aliso Viejo, California and was founded in 2002. For more information, visit www.PlatinumData.com, follow @Platinum_Data or email info@PlatinumData.com.