Was just told to remove "places of worship"

[Tawfik Ahdab]

It took a myriad words for J to finally reach this:

House of worship = religious facility.

Took a while. Hosanna!

 

[J Grant]

I got flagged for this: "[City Name] is a diverse urban center and includes several neighborhoods and districts such as Downtown [City Name], REO Town, Old Town, Southside, Eastside and Westside." The city assessor "joked" that they were going to turn me in to the State Board of Review for the use of "urban" and "diverse. Ironically, the property was in a zoning area known as "Urban Flex" and it has the following description: Commercial Flex buildings provide opportunities for diverse building types - to accommodate a diverse range of uses - in medium density urban environments while retaining a building facade that supports the downtown character. You can't make this stuff up; the Board of Review wouldn't have done anything but still...

Why do appraisals write stuff like this??

Stop talking about the PEOPLE - diverse or otherwise. Stop talking about neighborhoods - that word is on the do not use list ( even though neighborhood appears on the form

zoning labels are what they are and exempt from review such as we are subject to.

How hard is this - I dont' get it.

 

[WestMichiganCG]

Why do appraisals write stuff like this??

Stop talking about the PEOPLE - diverse or otherwise. Stop talking about neighborhoods - that word is on the do not use list ( even though neighborhood appears on the form

zoning labels are what they are and exempt from review such as we are subject to.

How hard is this - I dont' get it.

The idea is to highlight non-homogenous development within a city pertaining to zoning ordinances and allowable uses. This specific section of analysis pertained to different allowable building types and uses and was completed to highlight the importance of comparable selection. This was part of a multi-page market analysis. I think eliminating bias is important but banning words, especially when they are utilized in an appropriate manner, gets tedious. The report was checked for bias words; this was just missed. I started utilizing AI to check my reports for bias words or bias and nothing was flagged in this report. It's important to note that there is a difference between bias words and bias. I don't think the profession is going in a positive direction when I can run a word search script on every appraiser's reports and threaten them with legal action. Just my two cents.

 

[J Grant]

The idea is to highlight non-homogenous development within a city pertaining to zoning ordinances and allowable uses. This specific section of analysis pertained to different allowable building types and uses and was completed to highlight the importance of comparable selection. This was part of a multi-page market analysis. I think eliminating bias is important but banning words, especially when they are utilized in an appropriate manner, gets tedious. The report was checked for bias words; this was just missed. I started utilizing AI to check my reports for bias words or bias and nothing was flagged in this report. It's important to note that there is a difference between bias words and bias. I don't think the profession is going in a positive direction when I can run a word search script on every appraiser's reports and threaten them with legal action. Just my two cents.

I don't like it either, but not using certain words or talking about the diverse people or using other references wrt people is frowned on in lender work. So either comply or don't; do lender work. IDK, maybe some appraisers have never held another job??
I used to sell Real Estate. Real estate agents study fair housing law, and there are certain things they are taught and tested on, such as what they can and can not say or write. BIG FREAKING DEAL. I worked in advertising, and similar applies. I can not think of a field that intersects with the public where some form of protocol is absent.

On our own time, everyone can act like a jerk or say whatever they/we want -

 

[George Hatch]

This is not a free speech issue nor is anyone being asked to lie in an appraisal. It's not the govt telling appraisers what using this term is against the law. It's lenders - who are sensitive to their exposure to getting sued or sent up to HUD or their regulators and are telling appraisers they cannot use appraisal reports that might cause such problems for them. Their lawyers are trying to exercise some defensive judgement.

"meaningful and not misleading to the users of appraisal services".

Meaningful is a judgement that the users will be making. These users decide what SR1/SR2 and related are meaningful to their decision making.​

Not misleading means being honest (obviously) but that also includes avoiding untruths by omission.​

 

[Fernando]

Special use facility?

I've used "house of worship" for years. Haven't been called out on it yet. That said, I'm currently not working for AMC's.

I can't recall using "house of worship". There aren't that many around here and if there are why mention it.
When subject is adjacent to church property then I might have used the word church or its name. Never had a problem.

 

[WestMichiganCG]

I don't like it either, but not using certain words or talking about the diverse people or using other references wrt people is frowned on in lender work. So either comply or don't; do lender work. IDK, maybe some appraisers have never held another job??
I used to sell Real Estate. Real estate agents study fair housing law, and there are certain things they are taught and tested on, such as what they can and can not say or write. BIG FREAKING DEAL. I worked in advertising, and similar applies. I can not think of a field that intersects with the public where some form of protocol is absent.

On our own time, everyone can act like a jerk or say whatever they/we want -

It wasn't for lender work. Different client and it was for litigation purposes.

 

[Fernando]

Across my commercial property was a vacant building.
Retail store moved out and years later, the tenant seems to be religious related.
Not sure what it does.
It has all windows blocked and I don't see "customers" coming in and out when I'm there.
Best not to call it a place of worship since I don't know what they do.

 

[Surf Cat]

Everyone has me on block so I found a work around to unblock their block. I don't have anyone on block because I like to be irritated and fight with cranky appraisers it keeps them ready to go fight with their last few client's.

LOL.......I don't get the blocking thing...it's a internet forum.....Geez, if it's that bad, don't log in and drink alone.

 

[Surf Cat]

It took a myriad words for J to finally reach this:

House of worship = religious facility.

Took a while. Hosanna!

I'll take the credit.....I pressed her!