I don’t want to be handed my independence, I want to take it back.  The politicians and the banks are putting us under management for PROFIT.  

I have been an honest appraiser since the beginning, and my family and I are getting punished for the bad appraisers.  How can management companies charge the home owners $500.00-$600.00 per appraisal and pay us half or less?  They reduce our fees and make us sign contracts, or there is no work.  Many an ”old time appraiser” has said, “they hate management companies and they would never work for one”.  I understand this, but for the new to newer appraisers trying to get ahead and experience, sometimes there is no other way.  I have tried to branch out but these areas are filled by the “old timers”.  

How do we come together?  How do we take back our business?  We need to come together at this time.  We can’t let the politicians and the banks tell us what we are to get paid, so they can pocket the rest.  There are still a few big banks (rhymes with Smells Hargo) who pressure you in the direction they see fit.  We all sit in our homes complaining, lets strike, lets not accept the work for a day, LET US STAND UP.

I know this has nothing to do with Appraisals or even the Real Estate industry for that matter.  But it does have to do with your Business. 

I’m sure there are a lot of you who have small 1 or 2 man shops that you run your appraisal company with.  I’m sure one of your biggest fears would be…  losing all of your data.

Well I have a solution that I think is one of Microsoft’s best kept secret for the Small or Home-Based Businesses.  It’s called “Windows Home Server.” IMHO it has got to be the best product they have ever made for anyone that is concerned about their data or even someone who just wants to be able to backup those precious family photos and not have to worry about a tape drive or an external hard-drive.

Here are their “Features at a Glance” from Microsoft’s Website.

The Server comes with 2 additional pieces of software.  One is the “Connector”, that is used to install on whatever machine you want to have connected to the Home Server.  The other is a “Restore CD”, this is used in the event you need to restore a computer.

I recently had to use the Restore CD on one of my machines after I had tried to install a version of Linux that went terribly wrong.  Being the first time I ever used this I wasn’t sure how it was going to work.  I stuck the Restore CD in and rebooted the machine.  As a precaution I deleted all partition that were on the system (I don’t recommend this,  But I know what I’m doing, really I do ;-)  ).  I proceeded to follow the onscreen instruction to restore my machine.  Within about 5 hrs I had my machine right back where i left it.  All of my documents, pictures, programs… Everything.  It was like I never messed it up to begin with.  It was great.

I now use the home server to backup ALL of my computers (4 in all).  I’m not sure why Microsoft does not advertise this more, but I can tell you it’s well worth the money spent.

Check it out over at Microsoft, “Windows Home Server“

No Decreases From Current Level 
 
Washington, DC – The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) has transmitted to the Federal Register a final Examination Guidance—Conforming Loan Limit Calculations. The final Guidance addresses the handling of decreases in the house price data used to set the conforming loan limit as well as procedural matters relating to calculation of the limit that determines the size of mortgages eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Based on comments received in two public comment periods, OFHEO is issuing a final Guidance that provides that the conforming loan limit would not decrease from its current level of $417,000 in 2009 and subsequent years. However, the conforming loan limit will not increase until cumulative increases in house prices exceed cumulative decreases since the $417,000 limit was first reached.

“This revised Guidance responds to the comments that we received and OFHEO’s belief that stability in the mortgage market is very important,” said OFHEO Director James B. Lockhart. “Not decreasing the limit will eliminate potential operational and implementation issues. This announcement has no impact on the temporary increase in the conforming loan limit for high-cost areas recently established in The Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008, which expires on December 31, 2008,” Lockhart said.

The conforming loan limit is adjusted annually through a calculation of year-over-year October changes to the level of home prices based on data from the Federal Housing Finance Board’s (FHFB) Monthly Interest Rate Survey (MIRS). As many commenters suggested, the small and voluntary MIRS price survey is volatile, which is another reason for this guidance to emphasize stability. Pending GSE reform legislation would allow the selection of a broader and more comprehensive price index.

For the purpose of simplification, the new Examination Guidance also provides that increases in the conforming loan limit will be rounded down to the nearest $100, instead of the present $50.

Link to Guidance

Source: OFHEO

I know there are supposed to be changes coming. I don’t know what exactly those changes are going to mean for the appraisers as of yet but what I do know is that although every “appears” to be running scared, no one really is. There are cries for help from the lenders losing money and cries for help from the homeowners losing their homes, and cries for help from the PMI companies, and appraisers who are honest and want some protection, and the list just goes on and on, but the AMC’s are still calling and asking who can do the jobs the cheapest and the fastest, and the rouge appraisers are still sending their trainees out to do these jobs as poorly as possible, and no one wants to pay a little more to make sure the job is done right the first time and the end result is not what everyone is crying about…

How can they keep on crying when they keep on doing what they were doing before this all happened and nothing changes? The same appraisers who came in high on all the appraisals that are inflated and in foreclosure are doing the really bad REO appraisals and are destroying the foreclosure market and short sale market for the lenders, leaving houses on the market for over a year because of inflated, poorly done appraisals and BPO’s (which is a whole different ball of wax)…

Does anyone have any input here?

Julie

Sedona, AZ

But Albert’s experience, interest and knowledge does not stop with the real estate industry. Currently, Albert is a member of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and, in past years, held chairmanships for various civic projects, vice-president positions and a president within two local Jaycee organizations.

Albert also has creative interests, such as, advertising, art, design & layout, marketing, photography and writing as well as previous advertising and publishing experience through a local Jaycee publication, a Chamber’s magazine, the creation of Mobile Bay Monthly magazine (part-owner for the first two issues, then sold) and, for over 10 years, in charge of program advertising, copy and publishing for a local celebrity golf tournament.

Albert is currently interested in writing a few real estate, or related, articles. And, hopefully, the goal of completing a novel before “the grim reaper comes a knockin’ at the door!”

Albert would enjoy your comments, thoughts and article or novel suggestions. You may email at AlbertCheney@comcast.net. Also, Albert would like for you to visit his residential appraisal web site, http://www.CheneyAppraisalServices.com/, for various informational topics and web links for daily use. It is updated periodically so please keep as one of your favorites and visit it often. Thank you very much!

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