What do European banking regulators have to do with appraisals written in the United States? More than you might think.

In this episode, Hal Humphreys sits down with Chris Thorne, a UK-based valuation expert who has been working directly with the European Central Bank as it reviews commercial real estate lending across the Eurozone. Those reviews don’t just cover European properties. They’ve also included loans secured by U.S. real estate, pulling American appraisal reports into the global regulatory spotlight.

Chris breaks down how the ECB evaluates valuation quality, what its on-site inspections look like, and what kinds of issues regulators are finding in real-world appraisal reports. From misunderstandings about market value and highest and best use, to misuse of the cost approach, asking prices, and special assumptions, the conversation reveals how seemingly small appraisal decisions can have big regulatory effects.

This episode is a timely reminder that valuation is no longer just local… it’s global.

At The Appraisal Buzzcast, we host weekly episodes with leaders and experts in the appraisal industry about current events and relevant topics in our field. Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch our episode premieres every Wednesday!

You can find the video version of this podcast at http://www.youtube.com/@TheAppraisalBuzzcast or head to https://appraisalbuzz.com for our breaking news and written articles.

Adam Winstead just made history as the first appraiser to complete a UAD 3.6 appraisal. On this episode, Hal and Jim chat with Adam about what this major shift means for the industry, how it changes your workflow, and what appraisers can expect as this new standard becomes mandatory. Adam shares firsthand insights on the challenges, opportunities, and surprises he encountered, offering a practical roadmap for navigating UAD 3.6.

At The Appraisal Buzzcast, we host weekly episodes with leaders and experts in the appraisal industry about current events and relevant topics in our field. Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch our episode premieres every Wednesday!

You can find the video version of this podcast at http://www.youtube.com/@TheAppraisalBuzzcast or head to https://appraisalbuzz.com for our breaking news and written articles.

More big UAD 3.6 news just dropped. In this episode, Hal and Jim sit down with Joel Baker of a la mode | Cotality to break down what their official verification by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac really means. Joel explains how UAD 3.6 will change the day-to-day experience inside appraisal software, what appraisers should be doing now to prepare, and the roadblocks developers had to overcome along the way.

Join us for a UAD 3.6 Bootcamp in Orlando: https://appraiserelearning.com/product/uad-3-6-bootcamp-orlando-fl-march-4th-6th/

Psst... vote for this year's Buzzy Award winners by December 31st: https://appraisalbuzz.wufoo.com/forms/2026-buzzy-award-finalists/

At The Appraisal Buzzcast, we host weekly episodes with leaders and experts in the appraisal industry about current events and relevant topics in our field. Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch our episode premieres every Wednesday!

You can find the video version of this podcast at http://www.youtube.com/@TheAppraisalBuzzcast or head to https://appraisalbuzz.com for our breaking news and written articles.

We’re officially unveiling the finalists for the 2026 Buzzy Awards. In this special episode, we're announcing finalists for:

• Appraiser of the Year
• AMC or Appraisal Firm of the Year
• Lender of the Year
• Instructor of the Year
• Software of the Year
• Appraisal Content Creator
• Rising Star of the Year
• Mentor of the Year

These finalists went above and beyond to move the appraisal profession forward this year. From UAD 3.6 trailblazers and servant leaders to creative voices and mentors changing lives, they represent the very best of the industry. Tune in, celebrate your peers, and see who made the cut. THEN, cast your vote on who the WINNERS should be at the link below.

Vote for this year's winners: https://appraisalbuzz.wufoo.com/forms/2026-buzzy-award-finalists/

At The Appraisal Buzzcast, we host weekly episodes with leaders and experts in the appraisal industry about current events and relevant topics in our field. Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch our episode premieres every Wednesday!

You can find the video version of this podcast at http://www.youtube.com/@TheAppraisalBuzzcast or head to https://appraisalbuzz.com for our breaking news and written articles.

Meet the appraiser who went from old-school clipboard to full-blown tech evangelist. In this episode, Hal and Jim sit down with Kurt Rehak, Chief Appraiser and CEO of ZAP Appraisals, to talk about the rapidly shifting profession, and the new tools reshaping it. Kurt shares how the idea for the ZAP App was born, how UAD 3.6 updates influenced its design, and why appraisers who resist technology might be doing themselves a disservice. If you’re wondering what the next decade looks like for valuation professionals, this conversation is your roadmap.

At The Appraisal Buzzcast, we host weekly episodes with leaders and experts in the appraisal industry about current events and relevant topics in our field. Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch our episode premieres every Wednesday!

You can find the video version of this podcast at http://www.youtube.com/@TheAppraisalBuzzcast or head to https://appraisalbuzz.com for our breaking news and written articles.

In a world obsessed with automation, AI, and “instant valuations,” Simon Blackburn has a refreshingly bold message: appraisers aren’t going anywhere. In this episode, Hal sits down with the CEO of MtgeFi to dig into why appraisers still sit at the center of the real estate finance ecosystem. Simon breaks down the staggering numbers behind daily mortgage trading, why FIRREA still matters, and how technology fits into the bigger picture. He also shares where new opportunities are opening up through hybrid assignments, direct lender work, and a surprisingly bright future for trainees.

At The Appraisal Buzzcast, we host weekly episodes with leaders and experts in the appraisal industry about current events and relevant topics in our field. Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch our episode premieres every Wednesday!

You can find the video version of this podcast at http://www.youtube.com/@TheAppraisalBuzzcast or head to https://appraisalbuzz.com for our breaking news and written articles.

UAD 3.6 is no longer some far-off deadline. It’s happening. The limited-production phase has begun, and Rocket Mortgage is gearing up to start sending actual UAD 3.6 appraisal orders out the door. In this episode, Hal sits down with Rachel Robinson of Rocket Mortgage to talk through what appraisers really need to know now.

Rachel breaks down the biggest misconceptions about manufactured housing, what they've already put in place for the UAD rollout, the internal hurdles they’ve overcome, and how appraisers can get prepared before those first orders hit their inbox.

At The Appraisal Buzzcast, we host weekly episodes with leaders and experts in the appraisal industry about current events and relevant topics in our field. Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch our episode premieres every Wednesday!

You can find the video version of this podcast at http://www.youtube.com/@TheAppraisalBuzzcast or head to https://appraisalbuzz.com for our breaking news and written articles.

The future of appraisal just got a whole lot faster. In this episode, Hal sits down with Reggora CEO Brian Zitin to unpack one of the biggest tech stories in valuation: the push toward a true 24-hour appraisal workflow. They dig into how it works, what it means for appraisers in the field, why some folks are skeptical, and how this shift could reshape the profession over the next few years.

At The Appraisal Buzzcast, we host weekly episodes with leaders and experts in the appraisal industry about current events and relevant topics in our field. Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch our episode premieres every Wednesday!

You can find the video version of this podcast at http://www.youtube.com/@TheAppraisalBuzzcast or head to https://appraisalbuzz.com for our breaking news and written articles.

Today, hosts Hal Humphreys and Jim Morrison sit down with Matt Johnson of SFREP, one of the first software companies verified by the GSE's for UAD 3.6, to talk about what UAD 3.6 means from the software side of things: how software companies are preparing, what roadblocks they’ve hit, and why now might be the perfect time for appraisers to reevaluate their tools and workflows.

At The Appraisal Buzzcast, we host weekly episodes with leaders and experts in the appraisal industry about current events and relevant topics in our field. Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch our episode premieres every Wednesday!

You can find the video version of this podcast at http://www.youtube.com/@TheAppraisalBuzzcast or head to https://appraisalbuzz.com for our breaking news and written articles.

Big news in UAD 3.6 land! Just a month after his last appearance on the show, we invited back Jake Lew, CEO of AIVRE, to give us an update so major we couldn’t wait to share. Jake digs into what it means to be the first software provider approved for UAD 3.6 by the GSEs, the pressure that comes with blazing the trail, and how appraisers should prepare as the new format rolls out. If you want the inside scoop on what’s changing (and what’s coming next), listen in.

See the full press release here: https://appraisalbuzz.com/aivre-first-appraisal-software-approved-by-gses-for-uad-3-6/

At The Appraisal Buzzcast, we host weekly episodes with leaders and experts in the appraisal industry about current events and relevant topics in our field. Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch our episode premieres every Wednesday!

You can find the video version of this podcast at http://www.youtube.com/@TheAppraisalBuzzcast or head to https://appraisalbuzz.com for our breaking news and written articles.