No one is saying hybrid or desktop appraisals can’t be done in Florida. They can, but they still have to be done in a way that complies with Florida law. That’s the part people keep skipping over in these discussions.
Florida Statute § 475.612 allows someone who isn’t a licensed appraiser to contribute work to an appraisal, but only if that work is supervised and approved by the appraiser signing the report. So if the appraiser has no idea who collected the data, didn’t train or direct them, and has no way to verify their methods or qualifications, then they really can’t claim to be in compliance, even if Fannie or Freddie says it’s acceptable for their purposes.
That’s the core issue. Just because a GSE accepts a certain product doesn’t mean it meets state law requirements for licensed professionals.
I know there are people on the forum who like to pick and choose which rules or laws they want to follow, depending on whether it fits their preferred narrative. But unless and until the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board issues new guidance, those are the laws we’re bound by. We may not like them, but we’re still required to follow them if we want to keep our licenses.
So no, the question isn’t whether hybrids or desktops are legal in Florida. The question is, can they be completed in a manner that complies with Florida’s supervision requirements? If the answer is no, then the format isn’t the problem. It’s how the assignment is being executed.