I subscribe to this great online publication called Entrepreneur.com where many great articles and videos are posted with helpful tips on managing your own business. A lot of folks in the mortgage and real estate industry are, in a sense, “working for themselves” as many of the careers are commission driven. I found the “Turning Tweets into Customers” segment very interesting as many of us still have questions about how to use twitter to its fullest potential on a professional level.

Here are some quick and simple tips:
• Talk about specifics to your business.
• Talk about things not related to your particular business but that interest your customers.
• Manage your twitter schedule.
• Understand your customer’s experience as it pertains to your business and convey it online.
• Be consistent.
• Always twitter specials and deals.
• Convey quick facts
• Have Fun

Twitter is a great tool to stay out there on a continuous basis. It doesn’t have to be a difficult social media project to manage. Keep it simple and have fun and relate to your customer base. Follow us on twitter!

If you’re in the lending industry, you have definitely heard by now how AppraiserLoft closed their doors, leaving thousands of appraisers unpaid for the work they completed. Are you one of those appraisers? If so, this will surely rub salt into your wound! Aman Makkar, former CEO, and Scott Stokas, former executive of AppraiserLoft, have released a YouTube video announcing plans to start a new business in the used car industry. It seems as though cheating people out of tens of thousands of dollars has not slowed them down or hurt their pockets. At Nationwide Appraisal & Settlement Network, we always pay our hard-working appraisers within 30 days of completing the report…come join our team!


http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/11/ceo-shuttered-appraisal-firm-now-car-biz/

If you’re an active appraiser in today’s real estate world, there is a good chance you’re feeling burnt out. AppraiserNews poses the question, is the burn out due to actual appraising, or to appraisal management companies and all the regulations that go along with them? With AMCs forced to have different appraisal instructions to satisfy each individual client, it’s forcing appraisers to spend hours longer on each individual report. At Nationwide Appraisal and Settlement Network, we make it a priority to work with both our clients and appraisers to help alleviate unnecessary time spent making revisions. What do you think about Nationwide Appraisal & Settlement Network…do you feel burnt out, or are you happy with us?

http://www.appraisernews.com/current-issue/

Have you ever wished there was a blueprint for adding energy efficient items to a residential valuation? The Appraisal Institute has made your wish come true! They have released the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum as an optional addendum to Fannie Mae form 1004. Thus far, properties with green features rarely received the analysis and possible contributory value they deserve, in part due to the limited knowledge of reporting and analyzing these features. This new form allows appraisers to identify and describe a property’s green features in a clear, organized way. This will make it easier for the reader of the appraisal report to understand, also.

http://www.valuation-digital.com/valuation

According to J.D. Power and Associates’ annual U.S. Primary Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study, borrowers satisfaction with primary mortgage lenders has increased over the past year. The results of the study showed a direct correlation between increased satisfaction and increased market share for lenders. How’s that for motivation to provide excellent customer service as well as a great product?

http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/ano/

CoreLogic has introduced AppraiserSuite, a product that combines multiple listing service (MLS) and public record data in a single online workspace for appraisers, review appraisers, underwriters and quality control personnel. This subscription-based platform provides direct access to the MLS data in many of the top U.S. markets, with more than 66 MLSs participating. AppraiserSuite provides details on the subject property, comparable properties, historical transaction information, tax data and other property and market area characteristics, highlighting inconsistencies between MLS and public records. If you’re an appraiser, you’re probably familiar with CoreLogic primarily for the reviews they provide on appraisal reports, where a rebuttal is required. AppraiserSuite could be your new best friend, not only conveniently combining information for you, but also giving review appraisers more detailed and reliable information to base their review opinion on.

http://appraisalnewsonline.typepad.com/appraisal_news_for_real_e/

The Appraisal Practices Board (APB) of the Appraisal Foundation has released a first exposure draft for residential appraising in a declining market. This has been a controversial topic over the last few years. Many appraisers are thankful this guidance has finally come. How is a declining market defined? Are short sales or REOs credible comparables? Where can I find support for adjustments on condition of sale? These plus many other questions are answered in this draft.

https://appraisalfoundation.sharefile.com/d/sbdb218d49bc48c6a

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announce HARP changes to reach more borrowers. FHFA Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco says they have identified several changes over the last two years that will make the Home Affordable Refinance Program accessible to more borrowers with mortgages owned or guaranteed by the GSEs. This program is the only refinance program that enables borrowers who owe more than their home is worth to take advantage of low interest rates and other refinancing benefits. If you are one of the many homeowners in this position, this is definitely worth looking into.

http://www.fhfa.gov/webfiles/22721/HARP%20release%20102411%20Final.pdf

It’s here! The 2012-13 Edition of USPAP has been released. With four major changes to the standards, appraisers nationwide will no doubt be studying this new edition to remain compliant. The changes will take effect January 1, 2012, so be prepared!

http://appraisalscoop.com/

Fannie Mae’s unlimited access to taxpayer funding expires at the end of 2012, but the GSE says it will have enough public funds to continue operations at that time. This would be a great for everyone. Since the government began giving Fannie Mae taxpayer aid in 2008, the GSE has pulled $104.8 billion and has paid back only $14.7 billion in the form of dividends. The sooner Fannie Mae can stand on it’s own again the better…the government can’t afford to keep putting itself further and further in debt.

http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/ano/newsletter/DisplayNwsLtrArticle.aspx?volume=12&numbr=19/20&id=15973