ACTION ALERT: Call Congress About Fannie/Freddie’s Risky Appraisal Waiver Program

ACTION ALERT: Call Congress About Fannie/Freddie’s Risky Appraisal Waiver Program

Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae have embarked on programs that waive appraisal requirements in first purchase and refinance transactions, using propriety models and generally unreliable data from MLSs and public records for collateral risk decision making.

According to Fannie & Freddie, this is being done to lower costs and shorten closing time for consumers. While Fannie Mae has indicated the appraisal waivers will represent only 5 percent of their loan portfolio, Freddie Mac has thus far being unwilling to provide estimates, indicating that as much as one-third of their portfolio may be offered appraisal waivers.

These programs will create unnecessary and unacceptable risks for taxpayers and homeowners, and they come at a time when markets are at all-times – when risk mitigation should be tantamount.

Congress is once again turning housing finance reform, and as they deliberate, they should hear from appraisers on why appraisal waivers are a bad idea and a risk to taxpayers.

Please click here and insert your zip code in box to retrieve the contact info for your Members of Congress, and talking points for your call.

ICAP (and 35 other industry groups) signed a Letter To The Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Over The New Appraisal Waiver Programs

ICAP along with 35 other industry groups signed a letter to the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs to raise concern over the new appraisal waiver programs recently implemented by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae (the “Government Sponsored Enterprises.”)

The letter states that these programs will create unnecessary and unacceptable risks for taxpayers and homeowners, and they come at a time when markets are at all-time highs – when risk mitigation should be tantamount. The letter calls on the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to prevent the Enterprises from implementing the appraisal waiver programs until they can demonstrate the appraisal waiver program:

• is consistent with safe and sound operation of the Enterprises;
• does not bring harm to the consumer, especially the affordable housing sector;
• is properly monitored by FHFA and tested with independent appraisals; and
• integrates proper safeguards to prevent fraud.

The letter recognizes that the Enterprises have, since 1994, been exempted from appraisal requirements established by Congress on the basis that their requirements exceeded those established by Congress and that they would continue to make responsible decisions.  These new programs call this privilege into question.

Click here to read the letter