How Low-ball Appraisals Are Limiting the Housing Recovery
Overly conservative appraisal standards are holding back many real estate transactions
By Rachel Koning Beals October 4, 2011
There is plenty of blame to go around after a robust housing market swelled to a bubble and then deflated. Fingers point to impractical consumers, overzealous lenders, and yes, the appraisers whose signature on a home's value helps close or kill the deal.
Before the credit crisis, some appraisals seemed to be mere formalities; that attitude helped fuel the boom days. Now, overly conservative appraisal standards-many unfairly calculated, some observers argue-may be holding back the housing recovery.
