Comp Checks and FHA, where to send

[Joshua Fookes]

If you fall under the Santa Anna Home Ownership Center jurisdiction (all of California and 7 other states), here is contact information where to send comp check requests that clearly indicate a property is for FHA.

They don't want loan officers bringing the sub-prime tactics into FHA. So, if/WHEN you receive a request for a comp check and the request says FHA. Send your documentation here:

Bobbie Borland
US Department HUD
Santa Anna Federal Building Room 7015
34 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Anna, CA 92701

If you have it in digital format:

email it to:

bobbie. l . borland @ HUD . gov(remove the spaces)

If you need to call her for any questions:

714-796-1200 X 3453

I told her that I have been receiving requests from people for comp checks on FHA loans, and that it seems to have increased dramatically since the sub-prime meltdown last year. She said she will investigate all cases that have documentation. She will not do anything if there is no evidence. So SEND HER THE EVIDENCE.

She said she was glad that I called and that I could share her contact information with other concerned appraisers.

Let's put an end to this comp check business on FHA for good! If you do comp checks, you are going against FHA criteria as an FHA appraiser. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU CALL IT OR HOW YOU DO IT. You are not allowed to discuss value with ANYONE involved in a FHA loan, unless it is the underwriter and they are seeking clarification AFTER you have performed the appraisal.

Josh

 

[Randolph Kinney]

Thanks. Any schedule for the HOC to give appraisers a course?

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

This is wonderful, Joshua!

I would love to have a contact like that in each HOC. There is NO doubt that the Santa Ana HOC is the best on things like this.

 

[Joshua Fookes]

record phone conversations too. She will accept transcripts of the conversation. Save the audio in case they need it later.

Josh

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Please keep in mind that reporting everything at www.MortgageFraudWatchList.org is where multiple agencies, including law enforcement and mortgage fraud investigation firms, can find out who's doing what. Reporting an incident to just one agency rarely does anything.

 

[RSW]

I had another MB call me from FL last Wednesday and wanted to know if I was FHA approved. I told him yes, and of course his next responce was, "I have a property in Knoxville." I stopped him right there and told him I did not do comp checks and asked him if he knew it was against FHA's rules for him to make such a request. I know I should have gotten the address from him and turned it over to Pam. It just makes me so $#@%$ mad when I get these type of requests.

 

[Brad Pack]

If you fall under the Santa Anna Home Ownership Center jurisdiction (all of California and 7 other states), here is contact information where to send comp check requests that clearly indicate a property is for FHA.

They don't want loan officers bringing the sub-prime tactics into FHA. So, if/WHEN you receive a request for a comp check and the request says FHA. Send your documentation here:

Bobbie Borland
US Department HUD
Santa Anna Federal Building Room 7015
34 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Anna, CA 92701

If you have it in digital format:

email it to:

bobbie. l . borland @ HUD . gov(remove the spaces)

If you need to call her for any questions:

714-796-1200 X 3453

I told her that I have been receiving requests from people for comp checks on FHA loans, and that it seems to have increased dramatically since the sub-prime meltdown last year. She said she will investigate all cases that have documentation. She will not do anything if there is no evidence. So SEND HER THE EVIDENCE.

She said she was glad that I called and that I could share her contact information with other concerned appraisers.

Let's put an end to this comp check business on FHA for good! If you do comp checks, you are going against FHA criteria as an FHA appraiser. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU CALL IT OR HOW YOU DO IT. You are not allowed to discuss value with ANYONE involved in a FHA loan, unless it is the underwriter and they are seeking clarification AFTER you have performed the appraisal.

Josh

When did I approve this, as Bobbi works for me?

Let me address/clarify a couple of things.

1) Please note the correct spelling of "Santa Ana".

2) While I don't necessarily disapprove of using Bobbie as a point of contact (POC) for this issue, one can also send such documentation to anyone on my staff - as it ultimately ends up on my desk. Posting her contact information does not concern me, as long as people do not bog her down with questions that could/should be answered by the DE Underwriter, or, could be obtained by attending an FHA training course.

3) It is very important to include the appropriate FHA case number with the complaint.

4) Do not, under any circumstance, send us a recorded conversation (as alluded to in a subsequent post). There are both state and federal laws that prohibit that sort of conduct. The Department neither encourages nor condones any disregard of state or federal law.

Mr. Fookes - I'm happy to read you have developed a good working relationship with Bobbi and hope it continues. I rely on her often. I appreciate your diligence/passion for assisting the SAHOC in minimizing risk to the FHA mortgage insurance programs.

Regards,

Bradley A. Pack
Chief (Appraiser), Technical Support Branch
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Santa Ana Homeownership Center

 

[CANative]

3) It is very important to include the appropriate FHA case number with the complaint.

They don't get the case assigned until they have been guaranteed a value. Some even say this. Other's just hang up on us.

 

[Brad Pack]

They don't get the case assigned until they have been guaranteed a value. Some even say this. Other's just hang up on us.

As a former independent fee, FHA Fee Panel and FHA Roster appraiser, do you really think you are telling me something I have not known/experienced for years? If one does not have the proof to back one's allegations...

 

[Michigan CG]

Mr. Pack,

It is wonderful having someone like you post on this forum.

It is also wonderful having a person who has been "in the trenches" working in the government who knows about "real life experiences".

Is there a way to find out who all the contact people are in the different states or regions?

Is it against FHA guidelines to ask for comp checks?

I have had seven comp check requests in a month for FHA (keep in mind that comp checks are illegal in Michigan) and because I would not do so got zero orders.

One in particular remains in my mind, it was in a neighborhood that I looked at when house shopping before I bought my house this February. The estimated value was $250,000. In my mind I KNOW nothing in that neighborhood is worth $200,000.

Someone did the appraisal I am sure, and that particular house wasn't worth $180,000. I do not want my tax dollars (and everyone else's) to be paying for these properties in a year or two.

If there is any way you can help us it would be greatly appreciated.