Fannie, Freddie OK Appraisal Deal

New code will discourage inflated appraisals for home mortgages
By Jim O'Neill,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 4, 2008 8:20 AM CST
Fannie, Freddie OK Appraisal Deal
NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo speaks to the media at his office, Wednesday, Nov.7, 2007, in New York. Cuomo announced that his office has sent Letters of Notice and Demand including subpoenas and demand for an independent examiner to the nation's two largest financiers of home mortgages, Fannie Mae...   (Associated Press)

The nation’s two largest backers of home loans have reached a deal with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo that could help eliminate inflated mortgage appraisals, the Wall Street Journal reports. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have agreed to buy mortgages only from banks that follow a new code of conduct requiring independent appraisals.

Analysts say inflated appraisals were a major contributor to the housing collapse. The new code prohibits lenders from using in-house appraisers or appraisal management companies they own, and mortgage brokers will be barred from selecting appraisers. Fannie and Freddie will begin using the code January 1, and will create an agency to monitor the standards. (More Freddie Mac stories.)

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