New URAR Demo

[Fnbpos]

I have had the opportunity to start going through a demo of the New URAR. While not nearly complete with my analysis, its appears so far to be a giant step backwards for the appraiser. With an assit from Chat GPT, i present my opening opinion:

Position Statement: Efficiency Concerns with Cloud-Based Dynamic URAR Platforms​

As the redesigned Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR) and UAD 3.6 move into limited and broad production, many appraisers have serious concerns about the efficiency of the new cloud-based, dynamic platforms being demonstrated by appraisal software vendors.

While the intent of a dynamic form is to modernize reporting and provide the GSEs with structured, consistent data, the current implementations appear to eliminate core workflow efficiencies that appraisers rely upon to produce credible reports within a reasonable time frame. Specifically:

1. No Carry-Forward of Data
   • Information entered in one section does not automatically populate into other relevant fields, requiring redundant manual entry.
2. Lack of Automatic Calculations
   • Functions such as room counts, gross living area totals,, and depreciation calculations — which have been automated for decades — must be manually input.
   • COST APPROCAH MUST ALL BE CALCULATED MANUALLY
3. No Access to Canned Comments or Text Libraries
   • Appraisers depend on standardized, pre-written narrative content to maintain consistency and save time. Current demos lack this feature.
4. No Templates for Pre-Filled Data
   • Most reports contain 90–95% identical boilerplate (intended use, scope of work, limiting conditions, neighborhood characteristics). Without templates, appraisers are forced to retype this content for every assignment. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ENTRIES IN THIS REPORT THAT WILL HAVE THE SAME ANSWER 90+% OF THE TIME - ALL MUST BE MANUALLY ENTERED.
5. Increased Manual Entry Burden
   • Instead of streamlining the process, current designs appear to require more keystrokes and clicks than legacy form software, moving productivity backwards.

---

Impact on Practice​

The absence of these time-saving tools will significantly slow down report production, increase appraisal costs, and introduce opportunities for human error. In an environment where turn-times and efficiency are critical, removing automation and templating is counterproductive.

---

Requested Features​

To ensure the new URAR platform serves both the needs of the secondary market and the practical realities of appraisal practice, the following features are essential:

• Data carry-forward and field-linking across all relevant sections.
• Built-in math and auto-calculation functions for common appraisal workflows.
• Robust canned comment / narrative library support.
• Report templates with pre-populated static data.
• Local or cached versions of the form to reduce dependence on continuous manual input in the cloud.

---

Conclusion​

Modernization should not mean a return to typewriter-level workflows. While the redesigned URAR provides the GSEs with a more structured data set, appraisal software must evolve to preserve — and ideally enhance — appraiser efficiency. Without these tools, the burden of “modernization” falls disproportionately on the appraiser, to the detriment of the entire valuation process.

 

[Tom D]

And just practice the 1st few pages. 1 question, drop down list, pick answer, then save that page. It was agonizingly slow, head screaming no no no to get 1 question answered. And how many pages are there to answer.
You're also not looking at the form, but slow mo work.

 

[Essexfenwick]

Rates are dropping. Refi market starts nobody is gonna have time for this nonsense.

I'm not even going to lift a finger for at least a year.

 

[J Grant]

No matter how much pushback from appraisers and possibly lenders, I doubt the GSEs would admit this is a giant fuster cluck and change it. Though, it would be quite easy for them to do so - they can add the data fields they want to the existing forms in Software.

Assuming it goes ahead, my impression is that no matter what adaptations software companies make, this will add 20% to 60% more time for the appraiser due to onerous demands at the inspection and reporting, added to clunky functionality. If appraisers are not able to raise fees and get longer turn times, I can not predict what the outcome will be.

Only one of my clients has updated their panel via email so far, with the message that they do not anticipate changing to UAD 3.6 until the 3rd quarter of 2026. Perhaps clients wish it would go away as well.

 

[Dublin ohio]

I have had the opportunity to start going through a demo of the New URAR. While not nearly complete with my analysis, its appears so far to be a giant step backwards for the appraiser. With an assit from Chat GPT, i present my opening opinion:

Position Statement: Efficiency Concerns with Cloud-Based Dynamic URAR Platforms​

As the redesigned Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR) and UAD 3.6 move into limited and broad production, many appraisers have serious concerns about the efficiency of the new cloud-based, dynamic platforms being demonstrated by appraisal software vendors.

While the intent of a dynamic form is to modernize reporting and provide the GSEs with structured, consistent data, the current implementations appear to eliminate core workflow efficiencies that appraisers rely upon to produce credible reports within a reasonable time frame. Specifically:

1. No Carry-Forward of Data
   • Information entered in one section does not automatically populate into other relevant fields, requiring redundant manual entry.
2. Lack of Automatic Calculations
   • Functions such as room counts, gross living area totals,, and depreciation calculations — which have been automated for decades — must be manually input.
   • COST APPROCAH MUST ALL BE CALCULATED MANUALLY
3. No Access to Canned Comments or Text Libraries
   • Appraisers depend on standardized, pre-written narrative content to maintain consistency and save time. Current demos lack this feature.
4. No Templates for Pre-Filled Data
   • Most reports contain 90–95% identical boilerplate (intended use, scope of work, limiting conditions, neighborhood characteristics). Without templates, appraisers are forced to retype this content for every assignment. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ENTRIES IN THIS REPORT THAT WILL HAVE THE SAME ANSWER 90+% OF THE TIME - ALL MUST BE MANUALLY ENTERED.
5. Increased Manual Entry Burden
   • Instead of streamlining the process, current designs appear to require more keystrokes and clicks than legacy form software, moving productivity backwards.

---

Impact on Practice​

The absence of these time-saving tools will significantly slow down report production, increase appraisal costs, and introduce opportunities for human error. In an environment where turn-times and efficiency are critical, removing automation and templating is counterproductive.

---

Requested Features​

To ensure the new URAR platform serves both the needs of the secondary market and the practical realities of appraisal practice, the following features are essential:

• Data carry-forward and field-linking across all relevant sections.
• Built-in math and auto-calculation functions for common appraisal workflows.
• Robust canned comment / narrative library support.
• Report templates with pre-populated static data.
• Local or cached versions of the form to reduce dependence on continuous manual input in the cloud.

---

Conclusion​

Modernization should not mean a return to typewriter-level workflows. While the redesigned URAR provides the GSEs with a more structured data set, appraisal software must evolve to preserve — and ideally enhance — appraiser efficiency. Without these tools, the burden of “modernization” falls disproportionately on the appraiser, to the detriment of the entire valuation process.

Whose software was it?

 

[Fnbpos]

The software is ACI - been with them since 1986 . They will say... 'its a demo - we wlll work it out " I find it hard to believe the software designers actually consulted with any appraisers on this. This is a return to filling out an appraisal on a typewriter - I'm amazed this has been allowed to happen.

I will continue to run this demo - but so far, this is the worst possible situation - i cant think of a worse outcome short of filling out the forms in pencil.

The software company that produces a NON-CLOUD version of the new URAR with all the features, short-cuts, templates and canned comments of the current forms and then develops a method to transfer that finished appraisal into a CLOUD version will be the winner here.

The whole goal of the software companies should be saving appraisers time - the opposite is currently in front of us.

 

[J Grant]

The software is ACI - been with them since 1986 . They will say... 'its a demo - we wlll work it out " I find it hard to believe the software designers actually consulted with any appraisers on this. This is a return to filling out an appraisal on a typewriter - I'm amazed this has been allowed to happen.

I will continue to run this demo - but so far, this is the worst possible situation - i cant think of a worse outcome short of filling out the forms in pencil.

The software company that produces a NON-CLOUD version of the new URAR with all the features, short-cuts, templates and canned comments of the current forms and then develops a method to transfer that finished appraisal into a CLOUD version will be the winner here.

The whole goal of the software companies should be saving appraisers time - the opposite is currently in front of us.

The software companies had no choice - the GSEs imposed this on them.

 

[DWiley]

I have had the opportunity to start going through a demo of the New URAR. While not nearly complete with my analysis, its appears so far to be a giant step backwards for the appraiser. With an assit from Chat GPT, i present my opening opinion:

Position Statement: Efficiency Concerns with Cloud-Based Dynamic URAR Platforms​

As the redesigned Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR) and UAD 3.6 move into limited and broad production, many appraisers have serious concerns about the efficiency of the new cloud-based, dynamic platforms being demonstrated by appraisal software vendors.

While the intent of a dynamic form is to modernize reporting and provide the GSEs with structured, consistent data, the current implementations appear to eliminate core workflow efficiencies that appraisers rely upon to produce credible reports within a reasonable time frame. Specifically:

1. No Carry-Forward of Data
   • Information entered in one section does not automatically populate into other relevant fields, requiring redundant manual entry.
2. Lack of Automatic Calculations
   • Functions such as room counts, gross living area totals,, and depreciation calculations — which have been automated for decades — must be manually input.
   • COST APPROCAH MUST ALL BE CALCULATED MANUALLY
3. No Access to Canned Comments or Text Libraries
   • Appraisers depend on standardized, pre-written narrative content to maintain consistency and save time. Current demos lack this feature.
4. No Templates for Pre-Filled Data
   • Most reports contain 90–95% identical boilerplate (intended use, scope of work, limiting conditions, neighborhood characteristics). Without templates, appraisers are forced to retype this content for every assignment. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ENTRIES IN THIS REPORT THAT WILL HAVE THE SAME ANSWER 90+% OF THE TIME - ALL MUST BE MANUALLY ENTERED.
5. Increased Manual Entry Burden
   • Instead of streamlining the process, current designs appear to require more keystrokes and clicks than legacy form software, moving productivity backwards.

---

Impact on Practice​

The absence of these time-saving tools will significantly slow down report production, increase appraisal costs, and introduce opportunities for human error. In an environment where turn-times and efficiency are critical, removing automation and templating is counterproductive.

---

Requested Features​

To ensure the new URAR platform serves both the needs of the secondary market and the practical realities of appraisal practice, the following features are essential:

• Data carry-forward and field-linking across all relevant sections.
• Built-in math and auto-calculation functions for common appraisal workflows.
• Robust canned comment / narrative library support.
• Report templates with pre-populated static data.
• Local or cached versions of the form to reduce dependence on continuous manual input in the cloud.

---

Conclusion​

Modernization should not mean a return to typewriter-level workflows. While the redesigned URAR provides the GSEs with a more structured data set, appraisal software must evolve to preserve — and ideally enhance — appraiser efficiency. Without these tools, the burden of “modernization” falls disproportionately on the appraiser, to the detriment of the entire valuation process.

I have been testing some software for a couple of weeks now, and it has all the features you cite as “missing.” After showing the huge errors in past GPT “analysis” I would hope people would take posts like the OP with a large grain of salt.

 

[Fnbpos]

I dont have a problem with the form and the information required. The problem is how UN-USER friendly the software is when producing a report. What kind of software doesn't even provide math calculations - not a single shortcut to be found - i even have to enter my name manually or select from a drop down menu into every report. That is absurd to say the least.

 

[Fnbpos]

I have been testing some software for a couple of weeks now, and it has all the features you cite as “missing.” After showing the huge errors in past GPT “analysis” I would hope people would take posts like the OP with a large grain of salt.

Which software you testing.... I've tested the form personally - not leaving it to CHAT GPT