“He directs thousands of appraisals to a small handful of appraisers who will appraise properties at values requested by Horowitz’s broker and lender clients” That’s what Fastapp’s president alleged under oath about the AMC’s founder. In part 1 of this story, we saw the accusations made by Fastapp’s founder Horowitz Read more…
“I can shop it around . . . someone can get me the $900,000 you need . . . give me a heads up earlier next time if you want a guarantee . . . delete this email once you respond.” That is allegedly part of an email from an Read more…
I had the pleasure to do an impromptu interview of the CEO/founder of one favorite clients about the subject of non-USPAP evaluations. Deb Clark, MAI is the CEO/founder of Eval.com. What she’s done is crack the code on how appraisers and appraiser-owned firms can profit from non-USPAP evaluations. The interview was Read more…
California’s AB 5 – the anti-independent contractor law – was “overturned” for appraisers by a new exemption created under the fix-it bill AB 2257. It went into effect last September, but . . . the problem is that many appraisers and appraisal firms in California misunderstand the exemption it created from Read more…
I am offering my 7-hour CE class Hot Topics and Myths in Appraiser Liability live via Zoom on March 11, 2021, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (AK). The offering of this class is specifically and only for Alaska appraisers. I’ve enjoyed teaching prior classes in both Anchorage and Juneau and wish that I could come again Read more…
If you’re a California, Idaho, Oregon or Washington appraiser, please join me and my special guest former California BREA Chief Jim Martin for a presentation of a new appraiser CE class: Six Recent Appraiser Lawsuits (and the Lessons from Each). Approved for three hours of appraiser CE in California, Washington, Oregon Read more…
The Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board (LREAB) has followed through on its previously signaled plan to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court of a key Federal Trade Commission (FTC) determination against it in the FTC’s price-fixing case. On January 22, 2021, LREAB filed a Petition for a Writ Read more…
How do deals come together for the sale of appraisal firms and appraisal management companies? Many of the biggest deals have resulted from the work of my investment banking friends John Guzzo and Jason White at the firm Berkery, Noyes & Co., LLC. So, it was fun to write an article with them about the Read more…
The New Jersey assembly member who introduced an appraisal anti-discrimination bill last week has introduced a second bill with more detailed requirements to be imposed on appraisers, appraisal management companies (AMCs) and real estate agents/brokers – including a requirement that they provide sellers of residential property with a pamphlet about Read more…
Update: A new bill (A-5185) has been introduced in NJ on this same subject with more detailed requirements. A new article has been posted here. New Jersey has become the second state in which legislation has been introduced this year to address current allegations of discrimination in residential appraising. Introduced Read more…