WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 15, 2008) – The Appraisal Institute is set to host the first-ever Collateral Matters Congress, an industry-wide event dedicated to improving the overall quality of collateral valuation practices in residential mortgage lending. The congress, which will be held from March 9-10, 2009, at the Park Hyatt in Washington, D.C., will address concerns regarding current collateral valuation practices and explore ways to develop best practices improvements and reforms.

"We are excited about the tremendous opportunity the Collateral Matters Congress provides to our members, the Appraisal Institute and leaders in the field of residential real estate to make a difference," said R. Wayne Pugh, MAI, President of the Appraisal Institute. “We are seizing this opportunity to lead with a goal of strengthening one of the most important functions in mortgage lending – collateral valuation"

The two-day congress will feature leaders from virtually every quarter of the mortgage lending process. Among those invited to attend are the following: government agency officials and critical federal and state policymakers, association leaders, primary and secondary market mortgage lenders, consumer groups, and leaders of the real property appraisal profession, among others.

"We believe that a united effort to strengthen and improve the quality of collateral valuation processes and practices in residential mortgage lending is essential in these difficult economic times," explained Jim Amorin, MAI, SRA, 2009 president of the Appraisal Institute. "The best way for leaders to collectively develop meaningful solutions is to have candid conversations about current processes and practices that beg for industry attention and reform."

To learn more about the Appraisal Institute’s Collateral Matters Congress, visit: www.appraisalinstitute.org/membership/meet_events.aspx. For additional information, contact Bill Garber, Director of Government and External Relations for the Appraisal Institute, at 202-298-5586.