On March 31, 2022, NAR sent a letter to the White House and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) providing comments to the Biden Administration’s Action Plan to Advance Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE Action Plan) created by the Interagency Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE Task Force).
NAR developed these comments under the guidance of a work group made up of members from NAR’s Real Property Valuation Committee and Fair Housing Policy Committee. Overall, NAR is supportive of many of the recommendations in the PAVE Action Plan including those related to increasing consumer education and awareness of appraisal bias, improving data collection and research on appraisal bias, and creating quality controls for the use of automated valuation methods (AVMS) in developing property values.
While NAR is supportive of improving diversity in the appraisal profession, there is concern that reducing education requirements in an effort to bring in a wider diversity of appraiser trainees could adversely impact the quality of appraisals going forward. Focus should be on exploring alternative paths to becoming an appraiser that do not sacrifice the quality of appraiser education and training.
At this time NAR does not support a legislative proposal to change the current governance structure of the appraisal industry. The current oversight of appraisal standards and appraiser education under the Appraisal Foundation allows for the implementation of new requirements to improve transparency, increase public participation, and provide engagement with consumer focused groups. NAR suggests the Administration work with the Appraisal Foundation to continue current initiatives to improve diversity and develop new initiatives and partnerships as well.