Home Value Determined by Tax Assessment?

From the FFIEC FAQ on Appraisals and Evaluations:

25. Does a tax-assessment value from the local taxing authority constitute an evaluation? Can a loan officer who approves and/or recommends a loan conduct an evaluation if the market value that the officer develops in the evaluation does not exceed the tax-assessment value?

Answer: A value from the taxing authority alone is insufficient to be considered an evaluation. An evaluation report should include calculations, supporting assumptions, and, if utilized, a discussion of comparable sales. If tax assessment information is used as part of an evaluation, the regulated institution should document the facts and analysis used to demonstrate that there is a valid correlation between the assessed values of the taxing authority and the property’s market value. In addition, an evaluation should describe the real estate collateral, its condition, and its current and projected use.

A regulated institution should ensure that an individual who performs an evaluation is independent of the loan production function. Simply restricting the size of a transaction to less than the tax-assessed value alone does not comply with the agencies’ appraisal regulations or the interagency guidelines, which address standards of independence. (See "Independence of the Appraisal and Evaluation Function" in the interagency guidelines.)

First published on BankersOnline.com 7/09/07