Appraisal Institute News

Jun 02, 2021 12:30 PM

US Office Lease Growth Stalls Year-over-year While Vacancies Rise, Data Reveals

The average U.S. office lease rate was up just 0.2% year-over-year in April while the vacancy rate in the top 50 office markets hit 16%, according to data released May 24 by commercial research firm CommercialEdge. The data also showed that more than two-thirds of office space under construction is in urban submarkets.

May 26, 2021 12:30 PM

House Passes Legislation Addressing FHA Appraisals

The House on May 18 passed HR 3008, the Homebuyer Assistance Act, legislation reintroduced by Reps. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., and Van Taylor, R-Texas, that would amend the National Housing Act and allow state-licensed appraisers to perform appraisals for mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The legislation would require compliance with existing appraiser education requirements.

May 26, 2021 12:30 PM

FHFA Submits Proposed Plan for Underserved Markets

The Federal Housing Finance Agency on May 19 published its proposed 2022-24 Underserved Markets Plan that outlines how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will serve the manufactured housing, affordable housing preservation and rural housing markets through increased liquidity of mortgage investments, MReport reported. The Duty to Serve also aims to facilitate a secondary market for low-income financing.

May 19, 2021 12:30 PM

IRS to Resolve "Significant Number" of Easement Claims

The IRS is expected to resolve a “significant number” of court challenges regarding tax deductions for conservation easements, with settlement offers involving the payment of taxes, interest and penalties, Bloomberg reported May 11. The IRS is cracking down on allegedly exaggerated easement deductions, investigating 28,000 taxpayers and challenging $21 billion in deductions from 2016 through 2018.

May 19, 2021 12:30 PM

OCC Launches Review of its own Regulations

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which regulates the nation’s banks, is launching a review of its own regulatory standards, Michael J. Hsu, acting Comptroller of the Currency, announced May 10. As part of the review, the OCC is looking into capital, leverage, and liquidity regulations; the “disproportionate impact” of the pandemic on rural and minority communities; and risks associated with climate change.

May 19, 2021 12:30 PM

Senators Push CFPB to Reconsider Delaying Implementation of Qualified Mortgage Rule

Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) sent a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau urging it to reconsider a plan to delay implementation of the General Qualified Mortgage Final Rule, HousingWire reported May 12. The senators noted that the Finale Rule is important because it provides an “appropriate balance” between providing consumer protection and making mortgage credit available.

May 12, 2021 12:30 PM

Proposed Real Estate Tax Could Hit Smaller Investors: Report

President Biden is seeking higher taxes on real estate transactions with gains of more than $500,000 — so-called 1031 exchanges where investors defer paying taxes on real estate by rolling profits into their next property — but experts worry about the effect on smaller investors, in particular, CNBC reported May 3. The taxes would help fund the $1.8 trillion American Families Plan.

May 12, 2021 12:30 PM

Judge Tosses CDC Eviction Moratorium, Puts Ruling on Hold

A federal judge on May 5 threw out the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s national moratorium on residential evictions, but agreed to hold the ruling while the government works to reverse the decision on appeal, Reuters reported. The judge said that a moratorium on evictions was not part of Congress’ intent to allow the CDC to help individuals during the coronavirus.

May 12, 2021 12:30 PM

Hospitality Sector Expected to Improve Over Summer as Part of Slow Recovery: Data

The occupancy rate for hotel properties remains flat, but the sector is expected to pick up once consumers start traveling this summer, according to analytics firms STR and Trepp, MBA NewsLink reported May 4. The number of hospitality properties delinquent on their loans or in some form of forbearance has declined, although the sector is expected to face a slow recovery.

May 05, 2021 12:30 PM

FHFA Low-income Refi Option Includes Appraisal Credit

The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced April 28 that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will implement a new refinance option for eligible low-income borrowers that is expected to save them $100-$250 per month. An appraisal credit of up to $500 from the lender will be included if a borrower doesn’t qualify for an appraisal waiver.

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AI News

US Office Lease Growth Stalls Year-over-year While Vacancies Rise, Data Reveals

House Passes Legislation Addressing FHA Appraisals

FHFA Submits Proposed Plan for Underserved Markets

IRS to Resolve "Significant Number" of Easement Claims

OCC Launches Review of its own Regulations

Senators Push CFPB to Reconsider Delaying Implementation of Qualified Mortgage Rule

Proposed Real Estate Tax Could Hit Smaller Investors: Report

Judge Tosses CDC Eviction Moratorium, Puts Ruling on Hold

Hospitality Sector Expected to Improve Over Summer as Part of Slow Recovery: Data

FHFA Low-income Refi Option Includes Appraisal Credit