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| Critics say new home-appraisal rules drive down values |
| Starting Feb. 15, mortgage brokers will no longer be able to order appraisals on loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Read More... |
| Source: USA Today |
| reported 01/22/10 |
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| Appraiser: Cost and Income Approaches Can Help Lenders Identify an Overheated Market |
| Appraisers are getting kicked yet again for the financial mess in the mortgage industry. But two other approaches appraisers can use may help identify an overheated market: The cost and income approaches.
Read More... |
| Source: Modesto Bee |
| reported 01/14/10 |
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| HUD taps Marshall & Swift for REO Costing Data |
| The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD), Office of Single Family Asset Management (SFAM) will use Marshall & Swift’s cost estimator data and solutions to provide repair, replacement, maintenance or improvement costs on Federal Housing Administration (FHA) housing units, as a pilot initiative. Read More... |
| Source: Marshall & Swift |
| reported 12/11/09 |
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| Former Fannie Officer: In 2005 home market values were 61% higher than home replacement costs |
| House values are still above a natural and sustainable equilibrium point based on a number of factors. One in particular is the relationship of market value to replacement cost value. Read More... |
| Source: National Mortgage News |
| reported 11/19/09 |
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| Online repair estimation program from Marshall & Swift helps lenders control REO challenges |
| Marshall & Swift (M&S) has created a Web-based repair cost program specifically for use by Realtors, appraisers, lenders, and others in the mortgage servicing industry. Repair Cost Express (RCX) responds to the need to estimate repairs on the growing number of residential properties now in or entering the real estate foreclosure market. Read More... |
| Source: Managing REO |
| reported 11/17/09 |
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| Getting Serious About Your House and the Market |
| Real estate experts recommend that homeowners do as Mr. Calandriello did and attend nearby open houses to see how their homes compare in size and amenities. But be realistic about what truly adds value and perhaps consult the Marshall & Swift Residential Cost Handbook, which professional appraisers use to assess how much, say, a fireplace or three-car garage is worth. The $300 tome is available in some business school libraries, but you can also pay $10 to use the SwiftEstimator at swiftestimator.com, which lets you do an item-by-item calculation of the value of your home. Read More... |
| Source: New York Times |
| reported 11/06/09 |
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