Search the Informed Appraiser database to find the real estate resources you need,
and check back here daily for the latest real estate and appraisal news.

Daily News Updates:

5/21/2013

Say goodbye to "Self-Contained" and "Summary" reports!
ABS 2013 Summary of Actions Related to Proposed USPAP Changes (The Appraisal Foundation)

For shame
Mass. GOP Senate candidate pays 2005 appraisal fee (Boston Globe)

“There are only two markets, ultraluxury and subsidized housing”
Sky High and Going Up Fast: Luxury Towers Take New York (NY Times)


5/20/2013

Emphasis on "Amateur"
Amateur investors tap 401(k)s to buy homes (CNN Money)

Why not just raise prices further? Seems like they're throwing away money.
Builders hold lotteries for eager new homebuyers (CNN Money)

An understatement, perhaps
Manhattan Real-Estate Market in 2013 Is ‘Insane’ (New York Magazine)


5/17/2013

Largely due to the drastic reduction in new construction
Retail Rent Growth Finally Takes Root Across U.S. Metros (CoStar)

It all comes down to the appraisal
Home appraisals no longer derailing sales (CNN Money)

The short: Improvement in labor market could have outsize effect on housing market
The Long and the Short of Household Formation (Ritholtz.com)

Too soon to tell
Is Generation Y a ‘Game Changer’ for Housing? (WSJ Blogs)


5/14/2013

Tricky call when your fundamentals are based on historical numbers
Rebound, Not Bubble: Home Prices Still Undervalued (Trulia)

A sign of the times
The New Luxury Kids' Rooms (Wall Street Journal)

Very opportune time for credit-worthy borrowers
Competing Like Maniacs…for Your Loan (GlobeSt.com)


5/13/2013

A bit of a downer, though the WTC rebuilding was obviously never about the bottom line
World Trade Center site sits empty as rivals lease up (Crain's)

An utter disgrace - but who really expected anything more?
The insanity of the independent foreclosure review settlement (HousingWire)

Movin' on up . . . . to a deluxe apartment in the sky
The Stratospherians (NY Times)


5/10/2013

Spot on.
The Housing Mirage (TIME)

Good, now please don't try to "fix" this!
Loan officers, banks tighten FICO standards (HousingWire)

The fallout from the housing crash continues to shape the way people think about their homes
Diminished Housing Wealth Effect Keeps Pressure on Fed (Bloomberg)


5/9/2013

So, the economics change when you can't rely on being subsidized by taxpayers? No kidding.
Multifamily GSE Lending Reform: Potentially Disruptive and Inherently Valueless (CoStar)

"Multifamily is a bit too pricy"
Industrial Real Estate Investors Lining Up to Tap Improving Warehouse Market (CoStar)

Will this work? A formidable challenge, given the highly local nature of real estate.
AI Joins Global Property Standards Coalition (Appraiser News Online)

A step in the right direction?
FHFA Limiting Fannie and Freddie Loan Purchases to "Qualified Mortgages" (FHFA)


5/8/2013

Could become a more versatile tool for real estate mapping
Google Maps to Unveil Brand New Interface, Report Says (Mashable)

More noise needs to be made about this. It's a problem, and it won't solve itself.
Help the Fed Get Out of the Mortgage Business (American Banker)

Plus, a shorter name takes less time and ink to write/print . . .
The Shorter Your First Name, The Bigger Your Salary (Business Insider)


5/7/2013

Consolidation is a great idea in concept, but is far easier said than done. National MLS, anyone?
Are statewide MLSs the answer to Zillow, Trulia, realtor.com? (Inman News)

It's 2005 all over again (not really, but are we heading that way?)
Flipping Homes to Increase as Prices Rise (GlobeSt.com)

Increasing number of commercial projects in the pipeline
When Architects Work, Construction Follows (CoStar)


5/6/2013

NO! That something goes up in value does NOT make it an investment - certainly not if it merely tracks inflation.
Rejoice! Your House Is An Investment Again (Forbes)

"...people would still buy - and buy big - if they could" - Sure, and they'd also fly if only they had wings.
Homeowners', Renters' Regrets Reveal Many Aren't Prepared For New Home (RealtyTimes)

Still not great, but definitely much better than before
Underwater Mortgages Drop to 9 Million as Home Prices Rise: Report (TheStreet.com)


5/3/2013

Seems everyone is a VP these days
Brokers with false titles must now toe the line, regulators say (The Real Deal)

Great infographics with historical perspective on the jobs picture
April Employment Report: 165,000 Jobs, 7.5% Unemployment Rate (Calculated Risk)

Bond bubble, credit bubble, housing bubble, student loan bubble....
Waiting for the bond bubble to pop (CNNMoney)


5/2/2013

"We need to eat up a lot of excess space from the last cycle."
Office Demand Still Catching Up With Job, Business Growth (CoStar)

Enjoy the dancing, or worry about the music stopping?
ONCE BURNED: Low Rates, Cheap Capital Raise Concerns Over Possible Return of Bubble-Era Pricing (CoStar)

“I have long been convinced that the current run up in home prices is a false high....”
Banks Now Walking Away From Homes (Appraiser News Online)

Sounds about right
Fannie Mae: Long Road Ahead for Housing Recovery (Appraiser News Online)

Attitude is everything
Survey: Appraisers Mildly Optimistic on State of Housing Market (U.S. Appraisals)


5/1/2013

"...a bubble is one thing you don't see when you're in it. You only see it after it occurs."
Boost in Home Prices Doesn't Equal Bubble (CNBC)

Market dynamics can be highly nuanced, even at the local level
It’s Not What You Think (Warburg Blog)

Is that necessarily a bad thing?
Familiar Tune: Homeownership Falls to 1995 Levels (WSJ Developments)

This is a challenege not merely for housing, but for the economy in general
Housing's Big Challenge: $1 Trillion in Student Debt (CNBC)


4/30/2013

AMEN!
A Down Payment On The Next Mortgage Collapse (Larry M. Elkin)

Important not to take the numbers at face value
Five Takeaways From the Latest Case-Shiller Report (Wall Street Journal)

Change happens, eventually
Today’s Dream House May Not Be Tomorrow’s (New York Times)

Ever adjusted a comp for being haunted?
Stambovsky v. Ackley (Wikipedia)


4/29/2013

You can't stop hemorrhaging with a band-aid
Despite Improvement in Loan-Mod Defaults, Report Raises Alarms (WSJ Blogs)

If investors are pulling back, what does that tell you about the trajectory of the market?
Investors No Longer in the Driver’s Seat (Real Estate Economy Watch)

We would do well to read the tea leaves
The drawn-out impact of quantitative easing on real estate (Dr. Housing Bubble)


4/26/2013

It's more than possible
Is it Possible Home Prices Are Rising Too Fast? (Video - Wall Street Journal)

It's about time that the playing field was leveled. Good news for the retail property sector.
Retail Real Estate Cheers Momentum for Online Sales Tax On Capitol Hill (CoStar)

"In some cases....underwriting standards have loosened to the point that some bankers won't take the risk."
'Goofy Pricing' Driving Some Banks Away from CRE Deals (CoStar)

Perhaps, but we should me more worried about ruinous gov't policies blindly pushing homeownership at any cost
A Nation of Renters: Should We Be Worried That Fewer Americans Own Homes? (TIME)


4/25/2013

Key word: Fundamentals
Signs The Housing Market Is Starting To Head South (Seeking Alpha)

How quickly we forget....
Down Payment Rules Are at Heart of Mortgage Debate (NY Times - Dealbook)

The regulatory pendulum oscillates between too loose and too strict, never just right....
Banks: New Mortgage Rules May Negatively Impact Lending (Appraiser News Online)

Up 33% from 2011
Commercial, Multifamily Mortgages Totaled $244.2 Billion in 2012 (Appraiser News Online)

"....Nearly 4 million more single-family homes rented in 2012 than in 2005"
Rents for Single-Family Home Flatten as Investors Saturate the Rental Market (Forbes)


4/24/2013

Let's not forget about all of those existing homes sitting around
New home sales edge higher (CNN Money)

When they build, they overbuild
Washington Faces Apartment Glut After Boom: Real Estate (Bloomberg)

Here's to hoping the engine doesn't crack!
The Housing Market: Not Your Analyst’s Oldsmobile? (Wall Street Journal)

Ever appraised a 50,000 SF home?
You could be the Queen’s neighbor for $380M (The Real Deal)


4/23/2013

Excellent perspective by Robert Shiller
Before Housing Bubbles, There Was Land Fever (NY Times)

New homes don't have to contend with being saddled by delinquent or underwater homeowners
Sales of New Homes in U.S. Climb 1.5% to 417,000 Rate (Bloomberg)

Positive news on the delinquency front, but still far from being back to normal
Bad Mortgages Hit Lowest Level Since 2008 (Wall Street Journal)

Can't buy a home that's not for sale....
Homes Sales Begin To Slip As Buyer Demand Outpaces Supply (Forbes)

An optimistic reading of the latest numbers
No, The Housing Comeback Is Not Taking A Pause (Business Insider)

"...the real question....is whether the next generation of homebuyers will view the process in the same way and even want homes."
Fannie Mae economist: Housing recovery faces rough road ahead (HousingWire)


4/22/2013

How quickly we forget! The inmates are already back to running the asylum.
Re-inflating the bubble (NY Post)

Just a "pause", or perhaps something more?
Existing Home Sales Fall as Prices Rise Most Since 2005 (CNBC)

May be brewing? It's already at full boil.
San Francisco Housing Bubble May Be Brewing, Says New Report (Huffington Post)

"The agency maintains real prices are currently overvalued by 10 percent."
Fitch: Recent Price Gains May Not Be Here to Stay (DSNews.com)


4/19/2013

$2,000/month for 250 SF in Manhattan
Planning for the Even Tinier Apartments of NYC's Future (Curbed NY)

They were even more bullish in 2006 . . . .
Americans are Increasingly Bullish on Housing Market (Mortgage News Daily)

Good for employment but certainly not going to boost housing prices
Construction Job Growth Expected to Improve Overall Unemployment (DSNews.com)

Valid points, to say nothing of the risk of rising interest rates
3 reasons the housing recovery may not last (CNNMoney)

Back to normal by 2016? Does anyone even remember what a "normal" housing market looks like?
Fannie: Housing Recovery 'More Robust' Than Anticipated (Realtor Magazine)


4/18/2013

Warehouse demand often seen as a leading indicator for general economic strength
Don't Look Now But Warehouse Demand Off to Strongest Start Since 2008 (CoStar)

Heading in the right direction
Recovery in CRE Pricing Continues in February (CoStar)

The didn't need to be - the values themselves were excessive
Study: Loan-to-Value Ratios Not Excessive During Housing Boom (Appraiser News Online)

Most in the range of $300-$600
Foreclosed Borrowers to Finally Get Payments (Appraiser News Online)

A billion here, a billion there....
FHA Actually May Require a Bailout (Appraiser News Online)


4/17/2013

Things were bound to cool down eventually, it's part of the cycle
What Do Slowing Improvements in Fundamentals Mean for the Multifamily Sector? (National RE Investor)

"....soaring between 25% and 30% in just the last three months"
Bullish developers set fire to NYC land prices (Crain's New York)

Like all powerful tools, Excel must be wielded with great care
How to avoid making an Excel mistake like Rogoff and Reinhart (Quartz)


4/16/2013

It's all about the monthly payment
Why Rising Interest Rates Could Eventually Curb Price Gains (WSJ Blogs)

"The appraiser who was completing 400 appraisals a month in Texas still has his license."
Interview: Appraiser Who Brought Down Countrywide (OREP)

Superb analysis - "A large home....is a manifestation of wealth, not a creator of it."
Can We Afford Another Housing Boom? (Wall Street Journal)


4/15/2013

As with most bubbles, we won't really know until it's too late
Reports Burst Housing Bubble Concerns (DSNews.com)

Musical chairs is a good analogy
Underwater Borrowers, Homebuilders Keys to Easing Inventory Squeeze (Huffington Post)

"....the number stands despite a government that has gone out of its way to make the stocks worthless."
In the Markets, at Least, Fannie and Freddie Still Astound (DealBook)


4/12/2013

Some good common-sense tips
How to Run a Successful At-Home Appraisal Business (Appraisal Institute)

Classic real estate supply/demand cycle dynamic - overbuilding is to be expected
Raise the Yellow Flag: Apartment Construction Now a Concern in Many Markets (John Burns RE Consulting)

With a glut of multifamily invetory coming online, it's unsafe to assume rents will continue this climb
Rents and the Housing Recovery (Altos Research)

In springtime, no less
ROSENBERG: It Looks Like Demand For US Housing Is Cooling Off (Business Insider)


4/11/2013

A step closer towards normalcy
Foreclosures returning to pre-housing bust levels (CNN Money)

Lots of numbers to chew on. Appraiser quantity down, quality up.
AI: Certified Appraisers at All-time High (Appraiser News Online)

"Reviewers were required to answer as many as 16,000 questions to finalize a file review"
Bank Regulators Accused of Foreclosure Review Errors (Appraiser News Online)

Are things really so different this time around, or are we headed for another meltdown?
CRE Liquidity: Too Much, Too Little or Just Right? (CoStar news)


4/10/2013

"But without Fannie and Freddie, there would be no viable housing market." There would be, eventually - it would just look VERY different from the existing one.
Saving Fannie and Freddie Mac (Popular Economics Weekly)

Interesting mortgage/appraisal industry analysis by Jack Guttentag, professor emeritus at the Wharton School.
Will shutting down captive reinsurance affiliates reduce the cost of mortgage insurance to borrowers? (NewsObserver.com)

Is their confidence justified?
Consumers Remain Confident in Housing Market (Realty Times)


4/9/2013

It's true, the 30-year mortgage is an anachronism that may be doing more harm than good
Kill the 30-Year Mortgage (Bloomberg)

An impressively rigorous - and rather compelling - analysis of what is really going on
KEITH JUROW: The US Housing Recovery Is A Mirage And A Serious Delinquency Crisis Is Coming (Business Insider)

A less than compelling counterpoint (from someone who makes a living in mortgages)
Carrington's Sharga: We are not creating another housing bubble (HousingWire)

Ultimately, nobody really knows for certain what the future holds
Experts debate the strength of today's housing market (HousingWire)

Deed restrictions can have unintended consequences
At High-Priced Corner, a Building Forlorn (NY Times)


4/8/2013

3%-4% rather than 7%-8%. That's a BIG difference.
Home-Price Gains May Be Overstated (Wall Street Journal)

"Everybody feels better but nothing has happened other than the Fed hitting its keyboard.”
Colony’s Tom Barrack Sees Bubble in U.S. Housing Market (Bloomberg)

"A market value analysis by a qualified local appraiser before listing is worth every penny"
Home Appraisals for Sellers (AOL Real Estate)

Unlikely to see any drastic changes anytime soon
Is the Mortgage Interest Deduction Really Safe in Washington? (RealtyTrac)


4/5/2013

"Cautiously Optimistic" = they don't really know where things are headed
Economists Cautiously Optimistic as Home Prices Rise (ABC News)

With lots of new product coming online and a weak employment market, this is not surprising
RealPage Reports Slower Rent Growth (GlobeSt.com)

Has the single-family investment rental trend peaked?
Higher inventory causes rental rates to fall flat (HousingWire)

Interesting retrospective about NYC's first co-op building
An Innovation, Packed With Artists (NY Times)

Don't forget the investors!
3 Groups of Buyers Who Are Buying Now (RealTrends.com)


4/4/2013

As they well should
Americans Exit the Housing Crisis with New Appreciation for Renting (The Niche Report)

Very convenient timing for Fannie and Freddie
Fannie and Freddie Reform Threatened by Profits (The Niche Report)

SHOCKER! NAR favors gov't subsidies that keep home prices inflated at taxpayers' expense
Opinion: Keep Home Owners’ Tax Deductions (houselogic)

Rarely do people expect the status quo to change for the worse before it actually does
Study: Mortgage Securitizers Failed to See Housing Bust (Appraiser News Online)

Great, now that's all cleared up. No way this could possibly result in more confusion, right?
Georgia Adopts Rules for Evaluation Appraisals (Appraiser News Online)


4/3/2013

The stigma is not what it used to be
Distressed CRE: It’s a Seller’s Market (CoStar)

This cannot be repeated often enough
FHFA to Congress: Scale Back Support of Mortgage Market (Appraiser News Online)

So is that a good thing, or a bad thing?
Home Prices Growing As Fast As Before The Housing Collapse: Case-Shiller (Forbes)

Sounds like something out of Australia
'Boomerang Buyers' to Make Strong Comeback This Year (Realtor Magazine)