Originally published September 23, 2026, by CBRE Research
Reprinted with permission from CBRE Research

By Julie Whelan
Head of Occupier Research, Americas

Originally published July 28, 2026, by The Appraisal Foundation
Reprinted with permission from The Appraisal Foundation

The Appraiser Qualifications Board has extended the public comment period for its Second Exposure Draft of proposed changes to the Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria .

Originally published in the June 2, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on its Single-Family Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs), the property condition standards FHA appraisers use to evaluate a property's safety, security, soundness, and marketability. FHA is asking stakeholders to identify requirements that may be outdated, overly burdensome, difficult to apply consistently, or in need of modernization to better reflect today's housing stock and market conditions. The request follows FHA's recent efforts to streamline appraisal-related requirements and signals the agency's continued interest in reviewing long-standing property eligibility standards.

Originally published in the May 26, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

A recent warning from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to mortgage industry firm Mortgage Connect highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of noncompete agreements, a development that could have implications for real estate appraisers and appraisal firms.

Originally published in the May 19, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is weighing a proposal that would let some public non-listed REITs (PNLRs) move from quarterly to semiannual reporting via a new Form 10-S. The goal is lower compliance cost, but the change may not reduce how often these vehicles need defensible real estate values.

Originally published in the May 12, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

The newly announced Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) 3.6 timeline gives the mortgage industry a transition window through November 1, 2026, during which lenders may submit either UAD 2.6 or UAD 3.6 appraisal files to the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP). Beginning November 2, 2026, however, all new submissions must be in UAD 3.6 format.

Originally published in the May 12, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

Self storage continues to reinforce its position as one of commercial real estate’s most resilient and closely watched asset classes. While the sector benefited from extraordinary pandemic-era demand, today’s market is increasingly defined by institutional investment, disciplined operations, and evolving valuation considerations.

Originally published in the April 28, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

The MISMO AVM Common Confidence Score (CCS) is a proposed industry standard for describing how much “confidence” an Automated Valuation Model (AVM) has in its value estimate for a specific property. In plain terms, CCS is meant to make confidence scores comparable across vendors, so a “75” (or whatever scale is used) means the same general level of reliability irrespective of who produced the AVM.

Originally published in the March 31, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

The BRAVE (Banking Real Estate Appraisal Valuation Exchange) standard has been released to pair the appraisal PDF with a structured, spreadsheet‑friendly data file. That consistent dataset can become a “source of truth” inside financial institutions, supporting commercial appraisal review, underwriting decisions, and portfolio monitoring throughout the life of the loan.

Originally published in the March 24, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

Two recent policy developments are shaping the future of mortgage lending—and creating an important opportunity for the appraisal profession to engage.

Originally published in the March 3, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

Questions surrounding attic inspection expectations under the FHA Single Family Housing Program have persisted for years within the appraisal profession. Although FHA has made incremental updates to its appraisal guidance, uncertainty remains as to whether attic observation is implied as a default requirement.

Originally published in the February 24, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

Fannie Mae has announced an important update to its collateral risk management framework: Collateral Underwriter® (CU®) access is now available to Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs). The stated goal of this change is to improve transparency and alignment in the appraisal review process by enabling lenders and AMCs to work from a shared view of collateral risk.

Originally published in the February 17, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

When a property moves into foreclosure and REO status, valuation becomes more than a technical exercise, it becomes a market signal.

Originally published in the February 3, 2026, issue of AI’s Appraisal Now
Reprinted with permission from AI

The National Association of REALTORS® has updated the MLS Handbook, removing longstanding policy language, some of which relates to MLS access requiring REALTOR® membership. MLSs have had the local discretion to open up MLS Participation to nonmembers dating back to the mid-1990s, so this is not new, but local MLSs are using the recent changes to reconsider their local rules and requirements for MLS Participation.

Both of the Foundation's resource panels are accepting applications through September 1st. These panels rely on a constant stream of new talent from across the profession to carry out their work to uphold public trust and advance standards of excellence. We need dedicated people like you with a heart for the profession to consider dedicating your time and skills to our work.

Check out the list below to access the application for the group you think best fits your skills and interests.

Application Deadline is July 31, 2025

The Appraisal Foundation is now accepting applications for its annual selection of new members to serve on the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) and the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB). Individuals appointed through this process will begin their term on January 1, 2026. Each appointment may be for a one-, two-, or three-year term, depending on the needs of the board.

For this selection cycle, there are up to four open seats on the AQB and up to five open seats on the ASB that are eligible for appointment or reappointment.

Appraisal Institute members impacted by wildfires in North Carolina may be eligible for emergency assistance relief funding through the Appraisal Institute Education & Relief Foundation (AIERF). If you have been impacted, you can apply for funds here. If you have any questions or need assistance with the application,  please call 312-335-4133 or email [email protected]. If the North Carolina Chapter can be of assistance, please reach out to [email protected].  

Originally published on January 21, 2025, by The Appraisal Institute for EINPressWire.

In the wake of recent natural disasters, including the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and hurricanes across the southeastern United States, the Appraisal Institute urges property owners and businesses to seek expert advice before accepting direct cash buyouts from insurance companies to settle claims. Understanding the complexities of insurance settlements requires a clear property value assessment, especially during such challenging times.

Insurance companies often offer cash settlements to expedite claims after disasters. While these offers may seem straightforward, they may not fully reflect the real value of the property or its recovery potential. The Appraisal Institute emphasizes the importance of working with highly trained and objective real estate appraisers, including SRA-designated professionals for residential properties and MAI-designated professionals for businesses and commercial properties.

In a statement, Paula Konikoff, JD, MAI, AI-GRS, President of the Appraisal Institute, underscored the value of consulting designated appraisers:

“Natural disasters create significant challenges for property owners and businesses, particularly when navigating insurance settlements. Consulting with SRA- or MAI-designated appraisers provides access to highly qualified professionals who can deliver unbiased, accurate valuations to help owners make informed decisions. These insights are critical to ensuring that settlements align with the property's true value, protecting financial interests during recovery and rebuilding.”

Originally published on December 13, 2024 by The Appraisal Institute.

A study on the use of time adjustments by appraisers conducted by two researchers at the Federal Housing Finance Agency in November contains serious flaws that misrepresent the appraisal process and further demonize the appraisal profession regarding racial bias.

The study, Underappraisal Disparities and Time Adjustments to Comparable Sales Prices in Mortgage Appraisals, contends that appraised values often fail to reflect rapidly increasing home prices in competitive markets. It further raises housing equity concerns, claiming that time adjustments are used less to cure “underappraisal” in majority Black and Hispanic neighborhoods than in major White neighborhoods. The study suggests appraisers should use automated valuation models, and lenders should randomly assign appraisal orders to mitigate bias.

For one, the assumption that appraisals should ideally mirror the pace of rising market prices oversimplifies the role of appraisers and the appraisal process. The study does not sufficiently account for the complexity of making time adjustments in markets with uneven price growth or where transaction volumes are low, limiting the availability of comparable sales.

Read More

Originally published on November 19, 2024 by The Appraisal Institute.

The Appraisal Institute is pleased to announce the release of A Guide to Appraising Religious Properties by Bradley R. Carter, MAI, a leading authority in the field of property valuation. This pivotal new book offers a comprehensive look into the field of appraising religious properties, providing invaluable insights amid the evolving landscape of real estate and religious institutions.