Fannie Mae guideline relating to Comparable Sales-
Selection of Comparable Sales
The appraiser is responsible for determining which comparables are the best and most appropriate for the assignment. Fannie Mae expects the appraiser to account for all factors that affect value when completing the analysis. Comparable sales should have similar physical and legal characteristics when compared to the subject property. These characteristics include, but are not limited to, site, room count, gross living area, style, and condition. This does not mean that the comparable must be identical to the subject property, but it should be competitive and appeal to the same market participants that would also consider purchasing the subject property. Comparables that are significantly different from the subject property may be acceptable; however, the appraiser must describe the differences, consider these factors in the market value, and provide an explanation justifying the use of the comparable(s).
Comparable sales from within the same neighborhood (including subdivision or project) as the subject property should be used when possible. Sale activity from within the neighborhood is the best indicator of value for properties in that neighborhood as sales prices of comparable properties from the same location should reflect the same positive and negative location characteristics.
Fannie Mae does allow for the use of comparable sales that are located in competing neighborhoods, as these may simply be the best comparables available and the most appropriate for the appraiser’s analysis. If this situation arises, the appraiser must not expand the neighborhood boundaries just to encompass the comparables selected. The appraiser must indicate the comparables are from a competing neighborhood and address any differences that exist. The appraiser must also provide an explanation as to why he or she used the specific comparable sales in the appraisal report and include a discussion of how a competing neighborhood is comparable to the subject neighborhood.
If a property is located in an area in which there is a shortage of truly comparable sales, either because of the nature of the property improvements or the relatively low number of sales transactions in the neighborhood, the appraiser might need to use as comparable sales, properties that are not truly comparable to the subject property. In some situations, sales of properties that are not truly comparable may simply be the best available and the most appropriate for the appraiser’s analysis. The use of such sales is acceptable as long as the appraiser adequately documents his or her analysis and explains why these sales were used. (For additional information, see B4-1.3-03, Neighborhood Section of the Appraisal Report. For specific information concerning the selection of comparable sales for manufactured home appraisals, see B4-1.4-01, Factory-Built Housing: Manufactured Housing.)
When describing the proximity of the comparable sale to the subject property, the appraiser must be specific with respect to the distance in terms of miles and include the applicable directional indicator (for example, “1.75 miles NW”). The distance between the subject property and each comparable property is to be measured using a straight line between the properties.
