Many hundreds learn Aurora, debate future of profession at successful Winter Convention

Our second annual Winter Convention in Las Vegas January 16-18 was an incredible success. Click here for a roundup. We want to thank all attendees, all the exhibitors, VIPs like former HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo, 2005 National Association of REALTORS® President Al Mansell, "visiting professors" like Henry Harrison, who taught an acclaimed seminar on the new Fannie Mae forms, and Jeff Jones, whose network security classes are favorites, the staff of the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, and everyone else who made the event so great.

One appraiser joined us all the way from Australia and was impressed with the event. He sent us a letter he wanted us to pass along to our readers that you can read here (PDF).

Aurora is the star
The event focused on the ways Aurora can save you time and effort, make you more productive and earn you more business. We announced a couple significant changes to Aurora, specific to the way it interacts with Appraiser XSite websites, which we'll detail in an upcoming e-mail.

Classes like Formfilling Shortcuts, Photo Management and Net.X Technology, Report Management, Digital Files and Archiving, Contact Management and Client Communications and Comparables and MLS Integration drilled down on the most useful and timesaving features of Aurora. Special Hands-On sessions were all full to capacity, allowing hundreds of appraisers to get even more intensive instruction on Aurora.

"The cornerstone of the entire process"
Secretary Cuomo praised the appraisal profession as the linchpin of the housing economy in his keynote address Monday. He learned as head of HUD that the health of the housing sector depended on two things: Americans' confidence in the broader economy, and their trust in the home buying and mortgage process. Appraisers deployed to protect the integrity of the mortgage lending process are absolutely essential to the latter, Cuomo said.

"You're not as effective as you could be in Washington," Cuomo said. "As a collective, you're strong. And by the way, as a collective, you're right." Cuomo was remarking about the introduction at the Convention of a new group called the Appraisal Advocacy Coalition (see below).

Concluding with a brief question and answer period, Cuomo's speech drew a standing ovation from the hundreds gathered in the main ballroom of the Rio. You can view the keynote address by clicking here for streaming video (be sure you're online).

Advocacy effort takes off
The Appraisal Advocacy Coalition was publicly unveiled at the Convention even though the official kickoff of the organization will not be until later this quarter. Hundreds visited the AAC booth in the Convention exhibit hall, though, expressing enthusiasm.

And nearly 500 attended a panel discussion over Tuesday's lunch where Jennifer Sides, a la mode's General Counsel, Ben Harris, Director of Public Affairs and Tim Vining, an appraiser from Washington state who sued for copyright infringement and won a large settlement, discussed the need for a more effective voice in Washington.

You can learn more about the AAC, which is an independent, non-profit organization, by visiting www.appraisaladvocacy.org.

See you in Orlando
Our second annual Technology Convention will be held in Orlando June 5-7, 2006. Watch this space for registration information, and plan ahead – these conventions sell out early! Thanks again to all who made it a success.