3.6 Crunch Time

[Alsie35]

COPILOT:

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What 3.6 has become -

By mid‑2026, the “3.6 ecosystem” is basically:

- A half‑implemented standard that changes depending on which lender you’re dealing with
- A QC algorithm that flags things that aren’t errors
- A data‑capture monster that wants more input but gives less clarity
- A workflow disruptor that forces appraisers to do extra work for no added valuation accuracy
- A stress multiplier that pushed many appraisers into early retirement

It’s not just a bad update — it’s a structural mutation of the entire appraisal pipeline.
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Why appraisers call it an “abomination”

Because it:

- Breaks old workflows
- Doesn’t replace them with anything stable
- Forces appraisers to guess what the form wants
- Creates more revision loops
- Makes lenders think they’re getting “better data” when they’re actually getting more noise

It’s the perfect storm of over‑engineering + under‑testing + zero field reality.
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Appraisers are dealing with a creature that shouldn’t exist, but somehow does — and it’s hungry.

 

[Joe Flacco]

There's a drop down under Graph. Select "Other" and name it whatever you want. I just grabbed a screenshot of his example, but you can add docs as well. You can add multiple too. So if you had 3 graphs you could add them individually or all together in one document.

Assume there will be some guidance from clients on what they do and don't want to see in those fields, but in reality they will probably be ignored just like most of our addenda.

It should be like this. Word processor boxes that expand to as long as it needs to. You can format, put photos, charts, text, tables. spreadsheet, whatever you want.

 

[Joe Flacco]

It's stupid to have to add an image of text. That means you have to save the text outside of the report. If you need to make changes, then you have to go to your outside word processor or spreadsheet, make changes, and then copy and paste it in. Plus, the text is not as crisp if you copy a image of text and paste it in versus if you write the text in the software.

 

[Airstream]

Some things in the 3.6 make sense. Other things are just nonsensical. It isn't going to make bad appraisers good appraisers. Skippy will still live. And the extra data such as height of the front stoop, heights of ceilings, etc are in large part a waste of time. Yes, good quality homes have 9' ceilings, but I just did a really base twin home with 9' ceilings. And we don't have that data in the MLS or assessor data. So what is the point? There is little doubt that data mining is what the GSEs are doing, and they stuck stuff like this in to add to their information. I see no other reason at this point.

And I looked at the Wintotal program today with regard to the grid. It all has to be hand calculated. Who wants to do that with 6 comparables which in a rural area I often have to do!!

And as to addenda I really have little addenda. The only significant addenda I would have is to explain the neighborhood or market. But when I see appraisers stick in their addenda all the adjustments they make my eyes roll. I have done a lot of reviews, and frankly it is miserable to read all that nonsense!!! When I trained appraisers I always told them no BS. No one wants to read it. My economics instructor said, "Write a 20 page report in 5 pages." And that is my philosophy when it comes to reports.

 

[Vermonter]

It's stupid to have to add an image of text. That means you have to save the text outside of the report. If you need to make changes, then you have to go to your outside word processor or spreadsheet, make changes, and then copy and paste it in. Plus, the text is not as crisp if you copy a image of text and paste it in versus if you write the text in the software.

I get what you're saying, but every appraiser putting different photos, text, spreadsheets, graphs, etc in that field is antithetical to the uniformity 3.6 is trying to achieve.

You can still add all that stuff, it's just going to be separated out under each section and labeled. Not in a separate document.

 

[Airstream]

I get what you're saying, but every appraiser putting different photos, text, spreadsheets, graphs, etc in that field is antithetical to the uniformity 3.6 is trying to achieve.

You can still add all that stuff, it's just going to be separated out under each section and labeled. Not in a separate document.

And that is a good thing. When I did reviews I hated going through reams of addenda. It should make it easier to read.

 

[glenn walker]

What are you saying? That the GSE's got jealous so they added the layers of additional pages plus, nonsensical data entries that has nothing to do with value so they could one up appraisers?

No but while sitting adjacent to the Underwriters and listening to them chatter about why appraisers added so much crap they didn't want to read or when doing reviews where the numerous comments please see attached addendum became very old and irritating.

 

[glenn walker]

The basic lesson on day one to newbies was keep it short and simple to avoid going down rabbit trails and getting endless stips and reviews.

 

[George Hatch]

It's stupid to have to add an image of text. That means you have to save the text outside of the report. If you need to make changes, then you have to go to your outside word processor or spreadsheet, make changes, and then copy and paste it in. Plus, the text is not as crisp if you copy a image of text and paste it in versus if you write the text in the software.

The more raw data and math and calcs and transfers you're using the bigger the report file size. In the case of the MC worksheet my raw data downloads can run as big as you want. I set the default for the MC worksheet at 900 lines because I figured no "market segment" analysis using 2yrs of listings would ever get that big, but if someone wanted to they could just copy/paste to expand.

In the case of the neighborhood analysis I used I didn't automate that math because it only takes about 5 minutes to run 5 queries and retype that summary; and I'm not doing enough SFRs and SFR lots and such every year to justify the effort or deal with that much data in my report file. That summary grid is in my report file itself. Which you can also do in a wordprocessor. And which I would expect you could do in the appraisalware's wordprocessor.

 

[Surf Cat]

But when I see appraisers stick in their addenda all the adjustments they make my eyes roll.

The AMC's started that nonsense....

My addendum got so complicated that I had to create a template for PVC Murcor.... "appraiser to state this, appraiser to state that..... appraiser to explain how zzz adjustment was derived, appraiser to use living room photo without cat on the couch". On and on to the point of ridiculousness. They are the ones who wanted it.

Prior to AMC's, my addendums when I needed the extra space, had bolded headings, space between sections, was in the order of the form.... neat and concise.