Washington Report and State News

The Appraisal Institute on Dec. 13 reported that through the first three quarters of this year Fannie Mae sent appraiser regulators 1,083 "tips" alleging that some appraisals submitted in conjunction with loans purchased by the government-sponsored enterprises contain "severe deficiencies."

The Appraisal Institute on Dec. 13 said it is aware of a reported uptick in lender requests for appraisers to complete Form 1007/1000 Single Family Rent Schedule, assignments that are intended to support a loan application or be layered on top of work prepared by others. The requests may be the result of consumers increasingly using rental income to qualify for a mortgage for a second home while maintaining ownership of a primary residence.

Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Mike Rounds, R-S.D., on July 27 introduced S 2692, the Portal for Appraisal Licensing Act or “PAL Act,” legislation that is identical to HR 2771, which was introduced in the House on April 20 and addresses modernization of the real estate appraisal licensing system. The Appraisal Institute has long advocated for this type of reform because it can reduce costs and simplify processes for appraisers and those who use the services of appraisers.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Appraisal and Valuation Services Office is under increasing pressure from conservation organizations to reduce turnaround times on appraisals for the acquisition of open space. In response, the House and Senate introduced legislation that allows AVSO to utilize the services of any appraiser with a valid certified general credential — with some preference given to local appraisers.

The Appraisal Subcommittee on Nov. 1 hosted its third public hearing on appraisal bias, focusing on how residential appraisals are developed and reviewed, the process for reconsideration of value for residential real estate valuations and the development of rural appraisals.

The Appraial Institute reported Dec. 13 that work continues within the federal bank regulatory and consumer protection agencies on several proposals that relate to the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 and on housing equity issues advanced by the Biden Administration.

The Appraisal Institute on Dec. 13 announced that its leadership and some staff are participating in workstreams related to housing equity issues that are being facilitated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s Project REACh, or Roundtable for Economic Access and Change.

The IRS on Nov. 20 announced that it’s seeking comments on proposed regulations that would clarify provisions in the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 aimed at preventing partnerships from claiming unwarranted tax deductions for syndicated conservation easement donations.

The Biden Administration on Oct. 27 released a plan to address the growing number of vacant commercial buildings in the nation’s cities and make it easier to convert them to residential use. This is the federal government’s first effort focused on adaptive reuse and it involves the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as public and private stakeholders.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on May 8 signed HB 1110, known as the Middle Housing Bill, which requires cities that are subject to the state’s Growth Management Act to allow multiple units of “middle housing” on any lot zoned for residential use. Related, the city of Spokane on Nov. 20 passed an ordinance that removes all density limitations for “middle housing” on lots less than two acres.

Forty-eight states have indicated that they will accept the Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal, known as PAREA, as an alternative way for appraisers to satisfy the experience requirements necessary to become licensed.

On Dec. 20, the Appraisal Institute’s Manager of State and Industry Affairs Scott DiBiasio met with the Illinois Real Estate Valuation Task Force, offering its resources and assistance as subject matter experts and thought leaders on the subject of valuation bias.

The New Jersey State Legislature adjourned its 2022-2023 session on January 9 without passing two bills intended to address “discriminatory practices in real estate appraisals.”