BPO Fight Upcoming in PA

[ARRE]

I just wanted to inform everyone on this site that PAR is looking to open up RELRA in PA to permit agents and brokers to complete BPOs for uses other than currently permitted by PA law. If any of you are interested in learning more, I would suggest you might want to contact your local AI chapter as all PA chapters are working together to strategize our next moves in a concerted effort. Also, if you are a member of PAR, they are bringing this proposal forward at the next meeting on 10/1 at the Harrisburg Hilton at the general meetings for member input. We must make our voice heard!! I belive the best way to accomplish this is to come up with a unified plan and have appraisers provide a focused message on why this is NOT in the best interest of the public trust to have advocates provide value opinions while not representing their client's interest.

Thanks.

 

[Hank Outlaw]

I just wanted to inform everyone on this site that PAR is looking to open up RELRA in PA to permit agents and brokers to complete BPOs for uses other than currently permitted by PA law. If any of you are interested in learning more, I would suggest you might want to contact your local AI chapter as all PA chapters are working together to strategize our next moves in a concerted effort. Also, if you are a member of PAR, they are bringing this proposal forward at the next meeting on 10/1 at the Harrisburg Hilton at the general meetings for member input. We must make our voice heard!! I belive the best way to accomplish this is to come up with a unified plan and have appraisers provide a focused message on why this is NOT in the best interest of the public trust to have advocates provide value opinions while not representing their client's interest.

Thanks.

It will be interesting to see how this goes in PA. It just passed in NC (Google SB521, now SL 521), with only one question raised in the house when this was up for a vote in the senate. It seemed that there were only a handful of appraisers that expressed any concern, or interest in fighting this bill in NC. There were at least two appraisal organizations that either did not vehemently oppose this action from what I've read, or seemed to be non-existent on this issue.

I suggest you contact all of the PA colleagues you can and get on this ASAP, and have all appraisers contact their elected officials to explain the implications of this bill.

One of my concerns (among many) is the use of this product by [some] folks that apparently can't even measure a house correctly, or at least properly report the heated square footage (above and below grade)... i.e., not distinguishing the basement finished living area from the above grade finished / heated living area... not to mention choosing comparable sales vs. picking sales to meet the desired number.

Best wishes on PA... hope it turns out better than it did in NC. Hopefully there will be NC Real Estate Commission rules in effect that agents doing BPOs have to learn how to measure a house and properly report the square footage, AND do a proper market analysis.

Hank O.

 

[SANDY]

Well well well, I hate to tell ya I told ya so but ----------------------------------

 

[SANDY]

Maybe the "famous appraiser" will help ya!

 

[PLCG]

Sandy - care to explain?

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

If our state is an example, the NAR and other groups are pushing for these changes and they are succeeding. We had a BPO bill passed only a few years ago but with the help of some real estate people turned politicians, we were steam rolled even in the face of public opposition by our state appraisal board. NAR outnumber appraisers...It was only a few years ago that they also managed to carve out a niche for brokers who did estate appraisals. They are exempt from appraisal regulations.

 

[Riick]

Hate to tell you but there was a court case many years ago about this when
PA appraisal board tried to stop use of BPO except as called for in PA law.(( For listings ))
Net result - FAIL.
What to expect of opposition to NAR's whim ---- You guessed it: Fail

 

[Meandering]

I have been asked to help with this.

Here are my inital thoughts.

Most appraisers agree that BPOs hurt homeowners, but can't prove it.

Appraisers need that proof.

Once you have the proof, Appraiser organizations need to partner with other organizations such as AARP, NAACP, Social Worker groups and other social organizations to plead their case and present the proof.

If, and I do mean if, appraiser organizations did this, instead of running around looking for credit for being the heros, it could happen.

The only way to defeat legislation to to massively portray public disapproval which shows that you can sway voting decisions.

10 appraisers at a meeting does nothing, unless 10 appraisers can back it all up with votes.

There needs to be better organization of appraisers, nationwide, to fight this in all states.

Whining about the incompetence of the large voting block that NAR has, will not defeat this legislation, that has been proven over and over again as each state falls victim to the issue.

I am preparing some papers, if you have thoughts, email me.

appraisermarion at yahoo

 

[Meandering]

Hate to tell you but there was a court case many years ago about this when
PA appraisal board tried to stop use of BPO except as called for in PA law.(( For listings ))
Net result - FAIL.
What to expect of opposition to NAR's whim ---- You guessed it: Fail

We are all familar with this case, and lord knows a great advocate for appraisers was lost with the passing of George Sinclair, may he rest in peace.

But if you read the final judges ruling and decision, the state did not loose this case. BPOs are still illegal in PA.

The state lacks enforcement, but, lucky for those that research and read, they may just now, have the tools and the financing for that enforcement.

All we need do now, is put it on paper and show them how it can work, along with gathering the grass roots support.

.

 

[SANDY]

Sandy - care to explain?

The NAR and their local affiliates are making a major push to allow realtors to provide valuation services for more than just listing purposes ie.. they are preparing and beginning to take action to bite off a new slice of the market for valuing real estate that has traditionally been performed by professionals called appraisers.

And they have some pretty powerful sell-out traitor appraisers that are willing to help them do it in exchange for power, fame and appointed positions of authority and influence.