Why Blurring Of People In Photos When Sex, Religion, And Race Are Not Appraisal Factors

[MMing5000]

Sex, Religion, and Race are not appraisal factors (not on the sales grid for adjustments) so why the requirement for appraisers to blurr people images in the photos?

Are the blurring of people images in appraisal photos meant to deter, avoid or eliminate unfair lending practices by the Lender that may be biased on sex race or religion? ... if this is the reason for such a requirement, is request by Lenders to blurrout a person's shoe ot leg in the photo a mindless request by the underwriter or the reviewer who simply does not understand the intent of the photo guidline?

Is the blurring of photo guidelines intended only for peope on subject's property , or is it also meant for comp photos and street photos?

Can anyone provide a link for such FNMA guidelines ... i haven't been able to find it.

 

[Renee Healion]

It is not from the GSEs. It is Fair Lending.
Here is a source: https://www.FDIC.gov/regulations/compliance/manual/4/iv-1.1.pdf

The lenders want to be able to say they could not possibly have discriminated because they had no clue from the appraisal report contents as to the borrower's race, etc.

Now if you read it and find out where there is a basis for having to blur out a pet cat in the photo, let me know, because I have not found it.

Just blur away to avoid the stips. And be glad you have a blur function since the first time it seemed ridiculous to me was an elderly man in a recliner on oxygen in the middle of the place. Was not going to ask him to move.

 

[Riick]

What's really necessary, so that the appraiser remains unbiased, is for the inspection to be made blindfolded.
Eyes open, who knows what you might see that would influence you.
Oh... appraiser must not see any photos of the property, or neighborhood, either.

 

[Restrain]

Having worked for a bank and had the bank reviewers come in and pull the appraisals, they really do look at the photos and comments for ANY HINT of bias or violations of Fair Lending. Violations can cost a bank millions in both compliance fees and lost business.

Been around for decades.

 

[ucbruin]

Staff was told that any accusation of bias due to racial/religious/gender/sexual orientation/etc. could prevent the bank from opening up new branches or closing old branches....

In those days all photos were film, no blurring feature....

I'm always curious how appraisers who work in areas such as downtown LA/NY/BOS/etc. handle exterior photos with hundreds of people walking about...

 

[Don Clark]

Staff was told that any accusation of bias due to racial/religious/gender/sexual orientation/etc. could prevent the bank from opening up new branches or closing old branches....

In those days all photos were film, no blurring feature....

I'm always curious how appraisers who work in areas such as downtown LA/NY/BOS/etc. handle exterior photos with hundreds of people walking about...

Good question. I have read many excerpts from the Fair Housing Law and regulation, and in my state the Real Estate Board of the state(VREB) (Not a Realtors Board) has been appointed to investigate fair housing complaints in the state of Virginia, all complaints from any source. I have taught the course that Realtors are required to take. I am state Certified to teach all Real estate and Real Estate Brokerage courses for pre-licensure and license renewal as well as all appraisal pre- licensure courses except USPAP(I did not renew a year ago). Nowhere in all of those courses is there any indication that blurring of photos, or not taking photos with religious symbols in them, ;people in photos, etc., ad infinitum is a violation of the Fair Housing Law or considered to be discrimination or unlawful. People live in houses and adorn them as they see fit, and walk the streets or occupy their yards as they will. We cannot create an artificial society, we merely are the inspectors of such housing, the property being inspected, and the things that are at it or around it. And, you can quote me if you wish. I do not blur photos.

 

[Carlos Danger]

I have always avoided taking pictures with people in them. Does anyone know if Clickforms has a blurring tool?

 

[Elliott]

When I had my one hour meeting with the Regional FHA Appraisal supervisor, 35-years ago, this is what he told me. "And we don't want people in the photos, that's because a FHA appraiser had to do a final inspection on a house and the borrower found out and the borrower who was [ethnicity redacted] was so proud of his first home that he insisted his family, wife, seven kids and dog, all line up in front of the house for the Front photo of the house, from tallest to shortest, and the UW told the appraisal staff, "I don't want people in the photographs because its an influence I don't want to deal with." " Made sense to me. Also told me to take photos of the rear of the house (another story) and not to risk your life when you ran into drugs (another story).

 

[James Micozzi]

Staff was told that any accusation of bias due to racial/religious/gender/sexual orientation/etc. could prevent the bank from opening up new branches or closing old branches....

In those days all photos were film, no blurring feature....

I'm always curious how appraisers who work in areas such as downtown LA/NY/BOS/etc. handle exterior photos with hundreds of people walking about...

I just take the street scene and send it in with the report. I could care less about people, dogs, trucks, etc. in the street photos. Only once did I have an underwriter ask take another street photo without people or moving cars present in the photo. I told him that since the property was located on Lexington Ave and E. 43 Street in Manhattan, the only time there would be no people or cars would be NEVER!!

 

[CANative]

Because no one wants to get into trouble with anyone and all lenders, their QC drones and many, if not most, appraisers are wienies who do as they are told so that they can get mo money.