20% down, 800+ credit score, and even the city thinks the house is worth double what it's being bought for!

I recently had a purchase transaction where I ordered the appraisal from JP Morgan Chase's approved appraiser list. After receiving the appraisal and turning it into the lender, Chase ordered a second appraisal and kindly let me know that i get to pay for that one too! You can only imagine my excitement, gosh that's $300 bucks less in my pocket....YIPPIE!

Chase and other lenders are no longer standing behind their approved appraisers. They are questioning the appraisal, ordering reviews, asking for additional comps, even if you use their "approved" appraisers they list in their website.

5/3 Bank & Chase are now looking to have all loan officers wholesale and retail order appraisals blindly through their preferred appraisal vendor company. Supposedly doing this will make the fear of a stretched or not so accurate appraisal disappear and the loans fly through underwriting. Basically this removes the loan officer from ordering the appraisal from any one they may know and having any type of influence on the outcome of the value.

Now I can understand the banks desire to ensure an uninfluenced appraisal value, but come on! The loan I wrote about above was a purchase of a condo for $175,000. The appraisal came in at $180,000, the SEV was $149,000 (do the math, that means $298,000 value from the city), and was ordered from a Chase approved appraiser!!! Oh yea did I mention the borrower has a credit score over 800, a LTVof 80% and a debit ratio of 38% total back end ratio!!!

I suppose I'm just angrily ranting since I just lost an extra $300, but this appraisal review process should be reserved for loans and properties more deserving.

Dan Litvin www.AdvantageLendingCorp.com