OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — a la mode, the nation’s largest provider of software and technology to the people who power the mortgage transaction, has completed expansion of its headquarters here to accommodate a new data center and customer service department. The new data center houses more than 100 servers dedicated to a la mode’s Mercury […]
The Appraisal Foundation has developed a web-based survey of practitioners in the appraisal profession, which it has sent some 60,000 of you. Many of you have received the e-mail, but those who haven’t, or who have yet to take a few moments to provide your input, the Appraisal Foundation urges you to do so. “As […]
A hot topic lately in our e-mail and phone correspondence with customers and noncustomer appraisers, on Internet message boards, Yahoo! “user groups” and Internet e-mail lists has been appraisal technology provider sponsorship of conferences promoting Automated Valuation Models (AVMs), as well as dues-charging appraiser advocacy associations becoming involved with establishing standards for AVM usage in […]
An alliance of the Appraisal Institute, the International Association of Assessing Officers (subject to its board’s approval) and a Collateral Risk Assessment Consortium representing mortgage lenders has been formed to “enable mortgage and other industry players to apply automated valuation models [AVMs] to the mortgage origination process with greater confidence,” according to a press release. […]
Your agent website needs to convey information and impressions visually. Homebuyers and sellers looking for a listing agent can see a static list of properties in the local paper. When they browse the Web, they need to be reeled in by a visual, interactive experience. Your website needs to tell them that you take technology […]
Fannie Mae released its proposed new 1004 form last week, as you probably heard from us (or from someone who heard from us). Those of you who have gone over it have tended to not like what you see, though you’ve identified some positives. First, we need to mention that in our extra! e-newsletter letting […]
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — From the floor of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers Annual Convention and Exposition here, a la mode, the nation’s largest provider of software and technology to the people who power the mortgage transaction, debuted its Mortgage XSites websites for mortgage professionals. Mortgage XSites are rich with useful business tools, […]
Last week, we asked you to share with your fellow appraisers how you’re dealing with historically high gas prices. Twice as many of you wrote to say that you’re increasing fees and/or adding long trip surcharges, than said you’re not modifying your fee. But many of you are instead (or in some cases, also) paying […]
The Association of Appraiser Regulatory Officials (AARO) last week made available on its web site an opinion of the federal court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in the case of Fidelity National Information Solutions, Inc. (FNIS) et al. v. Sinclair. As the link makes the rounds on Internet message boards, e-mail lists and the […]
Another valuation-themed e-mail newsletter, perhaps your second favorite, last week devoted its entire space to a defense of AVMs (automated valuation models) by the Collateral Assessment and Technologies Committee of the Real Estate Information Professionals Association (REIPA). The committee consists of the nation’s largest AVM developers, including AVMax, Basis100, Countrywide, DataQuick, Fidelity National Financial, First […]
