Aloft Appraiser Toolkit

[Mejappz]

It is my understanding that after the sale, AloftU was sheltered, but at the ti

Whether or not Aloft sold off portions of their business is irrelevant; what matters is that the GSEs are actively partnering with a private entity in shaping the training of appraisers, which raises valid concerns about neutrality, control, and undue influence in a supposedly independent valuation profession.

 

[Mejappz]

1. They have been listed as an education provider in my state for several years.
2. How would I know anything about personnel matters at company where I do not work?

The issue is the explicit collaboration with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as clearly stated in their own announcement:

We are privileged to collaborate with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on this crucial endeavor…”

 

[Alsie35]

Before I used ANY tool I would make sure that I understood, and I mean truly understood, how it works.

Over the years I have seen several "appraiser tools" that used techniques that were not consistent with basic appraisal principles, and I would not use such tools. Unfortunately, some just accept the output without understanding what drives the output.

And this is why some of us "tech dinosaurs" actually prefer "doing the math" ourselves, even though it takes more time. (Its amazing what a proprietary Excel spreadsheet and a calculator can still accomplish. )

I look forward to incorporating that work into whatever new system I come up with for the UAD 3.6, with the understanding that it will take mucho more time without the equivalent fee raise.

It is what it is. I will be doing 1/2 the work I do now, but the amount of time spent I expect to (at the very least) remain constant. That's the plan, anyway ...

 

[Mejappz]

And being state-approved does not negate concerns about potential conflicts of interest arising from their partnership with the GSEs. Hence, Miss Heather.

 

[Mejappz]

Heather Sullivan’s move from heading up education at Aloft to a key role at Fannie Mae is a textbook example of the revolving door between private appraisal education and the very institutions that set the rules. When someone goes from shaping how appraisers are trained to helping decide GSE policy, it blurs the line between independent education and regulatory control. It raises real concerns about whether GSEs are starting to dictate not just the rules—but how appraisers are taught to follow them.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Estimate site value by subtracting the depreciated cost of improvements from the sale price.

I'd rather estimate the site value and subtract from the sale price to get the improvements. Then I can apply the depreciation to determine if functional or external obsolescences are present.

 

[DWiley]

The issue is the explicit collaboration with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as clearly stated in their own announcement:

We are privileged to collaborate with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on this crucial endeavor…”

And what exactly is the "issue" with that? The GSEs knew that appraiser education would be needed, and there was an RFP process for entities to submit proposals for working with the GSEs on that education. Any education provider was free to submit a proposal. Aloft was chosen from those that submitted.

That training is now available to anyone willing to go through the required process to get it. The AI, McKissock, Appraiser e-Learning and others are using that training. The GSEs did that so educational providers could have accurate content without the cost of each one developing their own 7-hour material. The GSEs also hosted train-the-trainer sessions to prepare the instructors to present the material correctly.

A "mini" version (~4 hours) is also posted on the GSEs' we sites for anyone who wants an overview without paying for CE.

 

[djd09]

Current Board Members​

The ASB is composed of five to nine members who are appointed by the BOT and may serve up to eight years. Activities of the Board are directed by the Chair, who is appointed by the BOT for a one-year term.

Nicholas Pilz, Chair
Timothy Hansen, Vice Chair
Michelle Czekalski Bradley
Patricia Dillon
Alan Hummel
Anjanette Hutson
C. Zachary Meyers
Heather Sullivan

 

[DWiley]

And being state-approved does not negate concerns about potential conflicts of interest arising from their partnership with the GSEs.

Are you suggesting that when they needed to develop education for appraisers, the GSEs should have sought out an entity other than an appraiser education provider?
Who would you have suggested?

 

[Mejappz]

And what exactly is the "issue" with that? The GSEs knew that appraiser education would be needed, and there was an RFP process for entities to submit proposals for working with the GSEs on that education. Any education provider was free to submit a proposal. Aloft was chosen from those that submitted.

That training is now available to anyone willing to go through the required process to get it. The AI, McKissock, Appraiser e-Learning and others are using that training. The GSEs did that so educational providers could have accurate content without the cost of each one developing their own 7-hour material. The GSEs also hosted train-the-trainer sessions to prepare the instructors to present the material correctly.

A "mini" version (~4 hours) is also posted on the GSEs' we sites for anyone who wants an overview without paying for CE.

Let’s not pretend the existence of an RFP makes this clean. The issue isn’t that education was needed—the issue is who controls the message, how that message is being distributed, and what that means for independent appraisers.

Yes, Aloft was chosen through an RFP. Yes, McKissock and others now use the same curriculum. But that’s exactly the problem: the GSEs are no longer just writing policy—they’re scripting the educational content, selecting who gets to teach it, and even training the instructors on how to deliver it.

This isn’t education. It’s institutional programming dressed up as professional development.

And let’s talk about Heather Sullivan—someone who was responsible for developing Aloft content that many appraisers found to be conceptually weak, overly simplistic, and heavily tied to promoting Aloft’s own tools. She wasn’t known for strong appraisal analysis or valuation insight—she was known for promoting her company’s platform. And now she’s in a position of influence at Fannie Mae, helping shape national policy?

That’s not just a conflict of interest—it’s a competency concern. When someone whose primary background is brand-aligned training materials ends up in charge of collateral risk decisions, it raises serious red flags about both qualification and intent.

This is about more than CE hours. It’s about systematic influence. The GSEs now dominate not just what appraisers must do, but how they’re taught to think—and who gets to teach them. That should concern anyone who still believes in the idea of an independent valuation profession.