appraisals

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Trial Considers Eric Trump's View on Appraisal

Witness: President's son figured townhouses would go for $1K per square foot

(Newser) - The spotlight at Donald Trump's civil fraud trial turned Thursday to the former president's son Eric, with documents and testimony suggesting the scion envisioned a "lofty" value on a suburban New York golf course where the family business proposed building luxury townhouses, the AP reports. The trial...

A Win for Couple Who Alleged Racial Bias in Home Valuation

Paul Austin, Tenisha Tate-Austin settle lawsuit with appraisal company, hope to bring change

(Newser) - A Black couple who said the value of their California home increased by almost $500,000 when they had a white friend stand in as the owner have settled a lawsuit with the appraisal company. Paul Austin and Tenisha Tate-Austin of the San Francisco suburb of Marin City will receive...

Black Couple 'Whitewashed' Home, Saw Appraisal Jump
Black Couple 'Whitewashed'
Home, Saw Appraisal Jump
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Black Couple 'Whitewashed' Home, Saw Appraisal Jump

Paul Austin and Tenisha Tate-Austin are suing their California appraiser, alleging racial bias

(Newser) - A couple in California suspicious that their home appraised way under value because they're Black say they put their theory to the test by effectively "erasing" themselves from the home—and that what they discovered warrants the fair-housing lawsuit they filed this week against their appraiser. The San ...

Appraisals Are Still a Big (but Different Kind of) Mess

Conservative appraisals killing many sales, say experts

(Newser) - Just as overly generous property appraisals fueled a bubble that led to the housing bust, now overly stingy appraisals are keeping the American economy in the doldrums, reports the Wall Street Journal . The problem is causing increasing disputes over valuations, with sale cancelations jumping to 16% in June from 9%...

Etching Found in U Bathroom a Rembrandt

Catholic University exhibits its mystery picture

(Newser) - When the president of Catholic University saw the signature "Rembrandt" on a tiny framed portrait he had found tucked into his bathroom cabinet, he showed it off to visitors, but it didn't seem plausible enough to consult an appraiser. Years later, the university finally had the picture appraised, and...

Cruise Ship Art Dealer Faces Class Action

Promising deals, gallery sold works at grossly inflated prices

(Newser) - Park West Gallery in Southfield, Mich., claims to be "the world's largest art dealer," flogging more works than the major auction houses through its sales on half a dozen cruise lines. But while the onboard auctions promise "good investments," the New York Times reports that Park...

Fannie, Freddie OK Appraisal Deal
Fannie,
Freddie OK Appraisal Deal

Fannie, Freddie OK Appraisal Deal

New code will discourage inflated appraisals for home mortgages

(Newser) - 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...

SEC Probes WaMu Home Loans
SEC Probes WaMu Home Loans

SEC Probes WaMu Home Loans

Investigators focus on charges that appraisals were inflated

(Newser) - Washington Mutual, one of America's largest mortgage lenders and the biggest savings and loan in the nation, is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, reports the Wall Street Journal. Regulators suspect some WaMu mortgages were based on inflated appraisals. WaMu, bloodied by the subprime mortgage crisis, lost $348...

8 Stories