The Impact of D.O.G.E. on the Appraisal Profession

[J Grant]

Please show me where Trump called appraises that do GSE work part of the swamp.

I did not say he literally called them that .... I said that is likely his view of us.

 

[shrubberyvaluation]

I did not say he literally called them that .... I said that is likely his view of us.

Based on what? The swamp is unelected beauracrats. We are not running the show of government, not even close. I think you are too invested in the propaganda you read. Are you part of the government that undermined Trump and the American people during his first term?

 

[togatour]

Did not DJT claim in his NY trial where he was accused of inflating values to obtain better loan terms that the lenders have appraisers to help them do due diligence on the value for securing the loans? Which were all paid back.

Maybe we need DA Brag to investigate any NY homeowner who submits a ROV on an appraisal they receive where they are looking for a HIGHER value and better loan terms. Even go back a few years and charge them, no matter if they are current on their loan obligations or have already paid them off.

If they give their loan officer a value on the application that is higher than the appraisal, have Judge Marchon throw the book at them.

 

[RCA]

I agree with you. It will b every difficult to do though. Lot's of Government Service Employee's GSE's work within the military stateside and overseas. Many are in Admin roles and there can be cuts there. government employees have a union. They maybe could give early retirements and not hire a replacement. Possibly they could consolidate and close some small military bases. Fort Wolters Texas is still owned by by the feds. So I ask AI about Fort Wolters, if it was still active? I attended US Army Flight School there. here is the reply:

No, Fort Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas is not active, but it is a popular drive-through site and historical park:


Current use
The site is now an industrial park with a variety of uses, including a training center for the Texas Army National Guard, a branch of Weatherford College, and a District Parole Office. The Civil Air Patrol also uses the site for Airman Leadership School.
So the above could be sold , but it is still being used.

So around the country there are many military bases that are still in use for training and Unit locations.

So could some of these be closed and sold to the public or corporations, etc? Yes I suppose so. Senators and congress members would not go along with it because many of their constituents aka voters work at these bases. Businesses near these bases rely on the individual service members spending on the local economy.

I think this is to big to fix.

To conclude this above is a small sample of the enormous problem.

Well I often ask ChatGPT, Claude or Grok-2 questions about real estate or appraisal logic of analysis and they often come back with simplistic run-of-the-mill media opinions. And then I know enough to suggest some alternative - and then they usually say something like: "That is a great idea. ...." - and go on to elucidate on the possibilities. In other words, they have a tendency to follow down dead-end alleys until they reach the end, then stop. So, try to suggest something different and see where you get.

Example with Grok-2:

ME: To save money, could a number of military bases be shut down and sold?

.... long discussion ----

Grok-2 Conclusion: "In summary, while shutting down and selling military bases could lead to savings, the process is entangled with strategic, economic, and political complexities. Any decision would need to balance immediate financial benefits against long-term strategic impacts and community welfare."

ME: How about reducing expenditures on advanced jets like the F-35 and tanks like the Abrams, that can be easily destroyed by drones and missiles, and replace them with lower-cost alternatives that in reality work just as well or better?

... long discussion ....

Grok-2 Conclusion: "The conversation involves balancing cost-saving measures with maintaining military effectiveness, readiness, and strategic signaling. While there's a clear interest in exploring lower-cost alternatives, especially in light of drone warfare's effectiveness and the high costs associated with advanced platforms, any shift would require careful consideration of military strategy, technological evolution, and international security dynamics. The ongoing discussion suggests a potential move towards a more mixed force structure that includes both advanced and simpler, less costly systems, tailored to specific operational needs."

Me: Would this latter change save money?


Grok-2 Conclusion: "The potential for savings exists, but it's not straightforward. The actual savings would depend on how well the military can transition to these alternatives, the strategic effectiveness of the new platforms in various combat scenarios, and managing the political-economic landscape surrounding military procurement. A balanced approach where high-cost platforms are complemented by more cost-effective systems might be the most practical way forward, allowing for both technological edge and budgetary efficiency."

Me: What about the Pentagon failing audits nearly every year and not being able to explain $820B in expenditures for 2023? Doesn't this indicate an area where better accounting would lead to money savings?

Grok-2 Conclusion: "The Pentagon's consistent audit failures and the inability to explain substantial portions of its budget do indicate a clear area for potential savings through better accounting. However, realizing these savings would require a significant overhaul of financial management practices, investment in modern accounting systems, and a cultural shift towards transparency and accountability within the DoD. This would not only save money but also enhance the public's trust in military spending."

Me: