OCAP ANNOUNCES EDUCATION EVENT

• What triggers a State and FBI investigation of appraisers and agents,
• Who’s being investigated for fraud in Ohio,
• The names of people, you may know, who have been convicted of fraud,
• Defining real estate fraud, mortgage fraud, and lender pressure,
• Learn how to make small changes in your business that will reduce your risk,
• Understand and recognize a fraudulent transaction,
• Computers are now being employed to locate fraudulent transactions by agents - learn how it works,
• Learn how to avoid fraud and stay safe.

Has your OCAP membership expired?!?! Click the renewal image below to renew your OCAP membership today!!!

2011 OCAP Instructor of the Year Larry McMillen

Certified USPAP instructor and long term appraisal educator Larry McMillen was named the Ohio Coalition of Appraisal Professionals Instructor of the Year for 2011. “Mac” was presented with a plaque noting the appreciation of the organization at the Cincinnati OCAP meeting. Larry has been a contributor to OCAP since inception, instructed the UAD class in Columbus in June, and is a regular contributor at the Cincinnati meetings.Check out the photo by clicking here!!!

Tom Francis hands over the Presidency to Steve Papin

2011 Ohio Coalition of Appraisal Professionals president Tom Francis Jr. was honored at the December meetings in Columbus and Cincinnati. Tom oversaw a year of membership growth, served as host of the June education event that became one of the largest appraisal events in Ohio, and personally attended nearly every chapter meeting in 2011. Tom represented OCAP on the developing AMC law mandated by Dodd Frank, interacting with politicians and industry parties from all sides to be sure the interests of appraisers are considered. As immediate past president in 2012 Tom is committed to OCAP’s role in the legislative process and the goal of OCAP to provide a common voice for the appraisers of Ohio.Check out the photo by clicking here!!!

OCAP has lost a great member and friend, Barbara Miller

MILLER, Barbara A., age 66, of Centerville and formerly of Oakwood died Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 at her residence. She was a self employed residential real estate appraiser, a former member of The Appraisal Institute, a member of the Ohio Coalition of Appraisal Professionals, St. Paul Lutheran Church, and the Junior League of Dayton. Surviving are her husband, George “Rick”; 2 daughters Emily Miller of Centerville and Molly (James) Frame of Cohasset, MA.; 2 grandchildren, Riley and William Frame; sister, Judith (David) Horobin of Cincinnati; sisters-in-law, Diane Wallace of Providence, RI., Anne (Tim) Snyder of Cape Coral, FL., and Ellen Miller of Miamisburg; and several nieces and nephews. Barb was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Evelyn Wallace and twin brother, Bruce Wallace. Friends may call at Schlientz & Moore Funeral Home, 820 Miamisburg Centerville Rd. from 4 to 7 PM, Wednesday, Dec.14. Funeral services 10:30 AM Thursday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 239 Wayne Ave. with Pastor Robert Miller officiating. Burial will be at David’s Cemetery. If so desired memorials may be given to PAN Foundation, P.O. Box 221858, Charlotte, NC 28222, Hospice of Dayton, or St. Paul Lutheran Church. Condolences may be sent to www.SchlientzandMoore.com

Disclosures, Certifications, and Addendums

October in Cincinnati found 40 appraisers from Cincinnati and Dayton together to share ideas on the UAD and review disclosures. Click the link to obtain a word document with disclosures, certifications, and more that was created by collecting examples from appraisers around the state. The document is broken down by topic, including several that are UAD related. Be sure to read the “disclosure on disclosures” at the top of the document. The OCAP board hopes you find this information helpful. Watch your email over the next few days as a power point on the UAD topic will be posted soon Click here to obtain the document

NAR Calls for Ban on Indemnification Clauses

On August 11, 2011, the National Association or Realtors (NAR) sent a letter to federal regulators in support of the independence of appraisers and requested a ban on indemnification clauses. Please read the attached copy of this letter or go to Click here to obtain the document

OCAP Announces opportunity for Group Health Insurance

We are excited to announce a relationship for you our members of OCAP, access to a preferred broker for health benefits. The majority of our members have their own business, and need access to health coverage. This broker has communicated with certain health carrier’s to help get coverage for you, and they have access to underwriters so that if you are having some health issues, they might still be able to get you coverage. The insurance companies would like for anyone who is interested to complete the application for health insurance then have it in with the broker by August 10th. There can be a 5 to 8 week underwriting time, especially if they have to negotiate with the underwriter’s on your behalf. Any questions on the program please feel free to contact Ty Lucas at Surety Bonds & Insurance Agency 614-761-2700 or Mike Christy at Consortium Financial Group. 614-302-4441. All underwriting or customer service questions can be directed to Tiffany Kennedy at 614-795-4442.

As promised at the UAD class... the interactive Property Questionnaire!

In order to meet the requirements of the Uniform Appraisal Dataset you will need more detail on your subject property than ever before. The UAD calls for breaking down all improvements in the kitchen and bathroom completed in the prior 15 years. How will you be sure you obtain the correct information?

Thanks to OCAP members Christine Sandusky and Vicky Dunn one way would be to use the interactive property questionnaire attached to this email. They took the time to make a detailed review of the UAD and the questionnaire matches up a sequence of questions with a focus on the kitchen and bathrooms, but also allowing for other improvements and asking about the HOA and FSBO information necessary on many appraisals.

How to use this is up to you. You can print a version and take it with you to appointments. The intention of the form was to be an easy to use interactive document that could be emailed as an attachment to the listing agent or owner, completed, and sent back to the appraiser. In this case you will need to develop appropriate comments for your email to inform the agent or owner why this information is necessary and the importance of a prompt response.

Say thanks to Vicky and Christine when you see them and send feedback to the OCAP web site on your experiences.

Haven't joined OCAP yet? No problem... take advantage of our 2nd half of 2011 membership for only $50. That will provide support for the rest of this year and we will ask you to renew in January. click on the "sign up" button. Watch for future information on how this questionnaire can be used in your relationship with your local MLS system.

OCAP Holds Record Setting Event

When an organization is only 2 year old, it is not hard to set a record. With that said, the OCAP event held June 21, 2011 at the Fawcett Center in Columbus was far and away the biggest OCAP event yet. In fact, it may be one of the best appraiser attended events in the State of Ohio in 2011.

Combine a great location, timely information, affordable cost, and free lunch with one of the nation’s top appraisal instructors and what do you get? You get 140 attendees!

Special thanks to Larry McMillen and Sally Carothers for course materials and instruction and to all of the appraisers that helped make this a successful day.

One important lesson learned…. And if you were there you will know exactly what I mean. We will improve the registration and sign in process next time.

Live Valuation Article on Best Practices by our own Steve Papin!!

Working with AMCs

Let us review the evolution of the residential appraisal industry and the residential appraiser over recent years, and how the appraisal management company fits into today’s business model. Starting with the adoption of the 2005 series of secondary market appraisal forms, the appraisal report began to expand. The transition toward more detail and documentation was under way. With advances in technology came more questions from lenders and reviewers who now had their own comparable database and wanted us to comment on why we didn’t use every sale that appeared in public record.

Click here to read the full article

Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the four-year statute of limitations

Ohio Appraisers received good news this week when the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the four-year statute of limitations period in which to sue an appraiser under Ohio law should start running as of the date of the report NOT when the client discovers alleged appraisal problems and the full extent of its alleged damage.
Click here to read the full article

Real Estate Appraisers Nationwide

Real Estate Appraisers nationwide are asking the Federal Reserve Board to clarify Customary and Reasonable Fees. The petition represents thousands of licensed and certified appraisers in the United States. The petition requests the Board take action to publicly reiterate the prohibitions contained in the Dodd Frank Act against the reliance on any survey, conducted by any party, which unlawfully includes AMC fees and purports to use them as the basis, in part or in whole, for establishing the thresholds for reasonable and customary appraisal fees. In addition to public guidance, the petitioners’ request that the Board act promptly and effectively investigate complaints involving allegations of the blatant violations of these prohibitions as stated.

Please join OCAP in support of this document and sign the petition at the link below: http://www.petitiononline.com/CnR2011/petition.html About the Ohio Coalition of Appraisal Professional (OCAP) OCAP is a professional organization of Appraisers practicing in the state of Ohio. The mission of OCAP is to act as an independent, nonprofit, unbiased advocate for accurate and effective appraisal practice and service which leads to confidence by real estate participants, supports sound lending practices, and ultimately the best in consumer protection.

A reality Check for the Appraisal Industry by Ron Stickelman, Jr., MRICS,SRA

A few weeks ago I visited an old appraiser friend at his office in a nearby city. Like me, he owns and operates a moderately successful regional operation. This office, once the spawning ground for some the best appraisers in the state is now virtually empty. The only occupants are a small team of processors and my friend who sits behind a massive computer monitor, talking into a headset while the stock prices run silently on a TV in the background. Wondering through this office in search of a cup of coffee I came across the “appraiser workroom.” Battered metal filing cabinets lined the walls, between shelves lined with ancient MLS books, long-expired flood maps, defunct binding machines and standing proud in the middle, a vast tall solid wooden table. The table was scarred, chipped, etched, colored and marked by time; a symbol of collaborated individualism that was and may never be again.
Click here to read the full article

OCAP Employment Opportunities

Please be sure to visit the Employment page of the OCAP website to view opeings available. All you need to do is hover over opportunities in the top hand navigation and then click Employment or you can click the link to view opportunities Employment Opportunities Page!!!