Client portal indicates my comments violate fair lending

[Vermonter]

Fair housing does matter.
However when certain general words like school, average, good, and such are targeted by lender as possible bias words, appraisers need to know when they use it could indeed be bias.
For the unWoke, best they not use it.

Since we all know you have no idea what you're talking about, please get copilot to explain to us how the use of the word "school" in appraisal report impacts fair housing?

 

[djd09]

average is a mathematical term...

 

[Fernando]

Since we all know you have no idea what you're talking about, please get copilot to explain to us how the use of the word "school" in appraisal report impacts fair housing?

That's my point. Lender sees these possible bias words to them and want appraiser to review its context in use of that word in the report.

 

[Fernando]

average is a mathematical term...

In a high end neighborhood, an average house would be superior in a low end neighborhood. It's all relative.

 

[sputnam]

I was gong to state my exact words but client may see it and Fernando will be exposed.
One example would be like "Several blocks to high school....".
What's wrong with that? Didn't say walking distance.

Instead say '0.3 miles' or something. A lot of the 'bias' concerns can be solved by being more precise... and making sure you are being factual.

 

[Raine]

I've had reports kicked back asking why I didn't mention the school down the street and if it has any affect blah, blah, blah, so I have to waste my time pointing out that I can no longer use the word "school" without being accused of potential bias. They never really did give us any guidance on locations near schools or "houses of worship" which is another forbidden term after church was banned, without it getting flagged for bias.

AMC/Stewart Valuation had a melt down over "Northminster Presbyterian Church" located adjacent to Subject property.....asked me to remove all c - - - ch words from report!!! and change to "Non-Residential Gathering Place"......I changed to "House of Worship" and left Northminster Presbyterian Church on the arial map. I fully expected to get a revision to blur/edit the church name on the map....I also made many comments in the report on how not clearly identifying (using exact name) of all adjacent properties could be MISLEADING.

 

[hunterjmen]

Those portals flag anything that sounds like a neighborhood judgment. I usually keep it super factual (condition, comps, market activity) and avoid wording that could hint at demographics - saves a lot of headaches.

 

[ucbruis]

Those portals tend to over-flag stuff. I usually stick to strictly property-related notes and skip broader neighborhood wording - it saves a lot of back-and-forth later.

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Fernando must be in Europe sparing them to death this week.

 

[Carnivores]

Yeah those automated flags can be overly sensitive. I’d just stick to objective stuff (condition, comps, market data) and avoid anything that could sound like you’re describing the people or demographics.