According to research done by the highly acclaimed show Mythbusters, stressed out drivers consume up to 1/3 more gas than their relaxed counterparts.  The next time this episode (entitled ‘Exploding Stake') airs is August 17^th at 9pm (PST?). 

As Real Estate professionals, we certainly drive and quite possibly more than the average citizen.  Driving stress free can make us safer and happier drivers. 

And so by not driving full of 'hot air', we can save some gas and be ambassadors of the road.

Oh what fun... a guilt ridden Eco-Test for everyone -

Give yourself 2 points for each question that you can (honestly) answer yes to.  If you try, but fail to meet 100% of the question, give yourself 1 point.  Grade yourself as if you were in school again, 90-100 = A as in Absolutely ECO, 80-89 = B as in Brilliant effort, 70-79 = C as in Could use some work, 60-69 = D as in Do better! and 0-60 = F as in...  Failed :

•1)      I recycle on a regular basis

•2)      I line dry my clothes

•3)      I compost

•4)      I use non-gas transportations whenever possible

•5)      I carpool

•6)      I conserve water  (shorter showers, wearing your jeans twice in a row, etc)

•7)      I unplug appliances if they are not being used

•8)      I have incandescent light bulbs

•9)      I have a garden

•10)  I buy locally as much as possible

•11)  My vacations are within 50 miles of home

•12)  I do not water my lawn

•13)  I have a water barrel or cistern water system

•14)  I have solar panels

•15)  My heat is set below 68 degrees in the winter and above 77 degrees in the summer

•16)  The walls of my home are completely insulated

•17)  My house is no larger than 500 SF per occupant

•18)  I use a push mower (no lawn?  Give yourself two points)

•19)  I shop at thrift stores

•20)  I do not buy new cars

•21)  I go to recycling centers for building supplies

•22)  If I go to a coffee shop, I bring my own refillable container (if you don't go to coffee shops, you most definitely get a point for this question)

•23)  I take reusable cloth bags to the grocery store

•24)  I live within 5 miles of my work

•25)  I work from home whenever possible

•26)  My house was ‘used' when I bought it, or I rent

•27)  My car gets at least 28 miles per gallon (give yourself two points if you own a hybrid or electric car)

•28)  I live in an urban area where I can walk or bike to most of the activities in my life

•29)  I have a farm that supports part of a local community

•30)  I give litterbugs the stink eye

•31)  I buy produce at farmers markets

•32)  I cook non-processed meals

•33)  I use(d) cloth diapers for my children (you get three points for having no children)

•34)  I reuse water bottles (if you drink water out of the tap, take two points)

•35)  I try to commute outside of ‘rush hour' whenever possible

•36)  I take mass transit

•37)  I have energy efficient appliances in my house

•38)  I talk to others about conservation

•39)  I have gone paperless at work (if you have a boss that won't hear of such a ludicrous thing, give yourself one point)

•40)  I have opted to alternative energy with my utility company

•41)  I receive and pay all of my bills online  

•42)  I do not order the newspaper or magazines

•43)  I do not have a ‘chatzky' collection (plastic figurines, snow globes, ceramic dolphins, stuffed tigers, etc)

•44)  I shut off areas of my house that are not being used to conserve energy

•45)  I use eco friendly products

•46)  I properly dispose of batteries, oil, etc

•47)  I re-purpose items rather than throwing them away

•48)  I buy organic whenever possible

•49)  I do not own a paper plant

•50)  I .... (create your own bonus answer and post it below)

My score?  60 - That would be a D- !!! ... And I created the darn test!  I hope you all are doing better than I am.

I received this announcement after the show had gone live.  I'm sure they will post the show for viewing later, but currently my computer isn't taking too kindly to their web site.  If anyone has heard, let us know how it went.

Per a la mode, inc pop up:

Tune in tomorrow to hear Dave Biggers discuss the HVCC!

When: Thursday, July 31st at 4PM EST
Where: http://www.mytechnologylawyer.com/radio
Participants: Dave Biggers, Chairman of a la mode
                   Marco Ruiz, Ruiz Appraising (www.ruizappraising.com)
                   Scott Draughon, Host

In tomorrow's segment of the MyTechnologyLawyer radio show, Dave and Marco will discuss the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) and the impact it has on the appraisal industry as well as the overall economy, along with what we can do to change it. They will answer listeners' questions and cover why the HVCC, as written, could cause irreparable harm to the country's already struggling real estate and mortgage industries, and how it might impact appraisers, mortgage brokers, and other industry professionals. Find out about the simple steps you can take to prepare for the HVCC and related industry developments.

Feel free to submit your questions beforehand by sending an e-mail to Scott Draughon at radio@mytechnologylawyer.com. Or, you can call in toll free 866-685-7469 during the show.

To learn more about the HVCC, visit www.appraisalpress.com for our full library of articles, stats and letters addressing the situation.

1-800-ALAMODE • www.alamode.com • info@alamode.com

Every time I get an order from an Appraisal Management Group I'm reminded of the HVCC's proposal to make AMCs the go-betweens for lenders and appraisers.  The idea behind this is to reduce lender pressure and coercion in finance transactions.  Pardon my military, but Whisky Tango Foxtrot?

 I'd like to share some excerpts that come straight from the mouths (er, emails) of AMCs :

•  "Please advise if the borrower's estimated appears to be unobtainable prior to scheduling." [Hmmm... shouldn't you just say ‘comp search'?]
• "Please remove the supplemental addendum from the report." [Thank you for saying please...  NO.]
• "For future reference, we need to have the reports without invoice" [I'm not sure I feel comfortable with that.]
• "PLEASE COMMENT IN REPORT, "Appraiser is completing the cost approach section solely upon the request of the client. The cost approach figure was based upon inspection of public records and, as such, the comparison approach would be considered the more reliable value."  [Please don't put canned statements in my mouth]
• "you are allowed to make changes and consider information after the effective date of the report." [why bother with a comment here?]
• "comments found on the supplemental addendum noting revision requests should be kept separate from the report." [but then how will the reader know why changes have been made?]
• "Per ERC Guidelines, this adjustment is always to be a lump sum adjustment" [this would be your client's guidelines, not ‘ERC Guidelines]
• "If we can not get a hold of your office to confirm that the inspection has taken place we will be faxing out new forms titled 'STATUS UPDATE REQUEST FORM'. These must be filled out and faxed back" [Now there's a time saver]
• "I am in the middle of a mess right now." [you and me both, sister]
• "ABC Company is the client in this case and you can answer them directly." [Ummm... no, YOU are my client and I cannot correspond with them at all]
• "One of my coworkers is able to remove the pages" [Wha wha what??? Note to self, always number pages!]
• "We reassigned it to another appraiser. " [Could it have been my attitude or requirements for living wage fees?]
• "We are anticipating a significant increase in business due to the 2009 Legislation" [ARrrrgGGGhhh!!!]

But wait, there's more!  In general I have experienced a higher communication breakdown with AMCs over lenders, more (yes, I said MORE) pressure, status calls from multiple AMC employees (who don't check their emails?...  because that is where I send status info), general real estate knowledge barriers and for all this... a smaller pay check.

 Now... is it really a stellar idea to call AMCs the ethical answer?

 I can't predict the future, but I bet the industry is going to lose some darn good appraisers if this is their only option for finance and refinance appraisals.

As the industry collectively bite their nails these days, I find more and more odd requests coming from underwriters.   This last request I just can't seem to wrap my head around and so I thought perhaps my peers and other underwriters out there could assist.

This is in regards to relocation appraisals.  I am quite accustomed to adding an absorption rate adjustment forcasting adjustment to the sales in the sales comparison grid, but now one client is asking for absorption rate adjustments in the active competing sales grid.  Now, at first I just rolled my eyes and thought ... ‘whatever' .... and then I started thinking about all of the extraordinary assumptions that would have to made on active competing sales.   Basically the appraiser would have to assume that 1) the seller is willing to adjust their sales price to the market over time and 2) the seller actually intends to sell their house (ie: they didn't just list it on a whim because they were approached by a Realtor who told them they could get $xxx,xxx amount for the property) and  3) the seller is willing to ride out the market for the entire formula of the absorption rate time period that the appraiser has derived.

 Those are three big assumptions.... Too big for me to justify making absorption rate adjustments forcasting adjustments on these competing active listings...

 Appraisers, have you run across this yet?  I am rolling around ideas for a new standard addendum statement as to why this new concept is so fallible it is a moot point.  But perhaps I'm missing something.  Underwriters, if you ask this of appraisers, what answers are you hoping to gather from it? 

A fellow appraiser of mine is at a loss.  He's been debating with one of the big banks how on earth an appraiser is to apply a remaining economic life value to a condo. 

Below are some excerpts from his correspondence with the big bank:

"As this is a condominium form of ownership, it is impossible for the appraiser to place an "Estimated Remaining Economic Life" for the defined air space of the subject or for the common elements and limited common elements for this condominium project. There is no "life" or "economic life" associated with this type of ownership in the form of common element and limited common elements. This project consists of many condominium units as well as several buildings, recreation areas, etc, all of which has a common element or limited common element form of ownership."

And so this appraiser calls HUD for enlightenment.  In return, he was given permission by a HUD representative to have the underwriter of the big bank call him so that he could confirm this appraiser's original argument. It can't be done.

The appraiser then referenced the Oregon Real Estate Agency web site which states:

"A condominium generally consists of condominium units, limited common elements and general common elements. Each is defined within the declaration, the document recorded to create the condominium, and depicted on the condominium plat. Generally, the condominium unit is a specifically designated interior space with fixed boundaries within a structure. All other portions of the condominium which are not units - including the ‘bare land' underneath the unit - are considered common elements. Such improvements as common parking, lawns, swimming pools or recreation buildings are examples of general common elements. If a common element such as a patio, garage or storage closet is limited to use by a specific condominium unit owner, it is then a limited common element. These definitions are necessarily general in nature and may not include all examples of a condominium unit, general common element or limited common element."

In short, you cannot put a value on air space... or can you?

According to the big bank, this has been done by other appraisers and their having a hard time figuring out why this appraiser is being such a pill.

What I want to know, is which one of you is doing this and how is it justified in writing? 

Here is the second assortment of appraisal-related posts that were not posted in the AR appraiser forum.

The first blog with such content can be  found here for your reference.

Check your appraisal by Marc Brinitzer

The accuracy of drive by appraisals by Larry Ellis

FHA Loan Appraisals & Probate Appraisals by Rick Sarouk (if you look through his blog, he has other appraisal posts, too!)

Pre-Listing Appraisals by Tom Horn

HVCC opinions by Orlando Valero

A Realtor's frustration with appraisal values by Ron Coluccio

The ‘three types of appraisals' according to Brad Papa

Appraiser's being the ‘second buyers' by Jesse Clifton

What happens when the appraisal is lower than the offer price by Linda Lane-White

How to contest the assessed value of your home by Johnny Davis

Getting an appraisal through underwriting in today's market by Stephanie McCarty

An underwriters point of view by D. Bass (read D.'s other posts too!)

Understanding the appraisal by Debbie Jensen

The importance of the appraised value in the lending process by Michael Mapes

Another shady appraiser story by Stella Barbour (I hate to hear them, but I think it's good to remind all of us that they're still out there)

Pointers on how to obtain your dream home even after an appraisal came in under offer price by Kate Ford

Appraisal values, assessed values and getting a home sold by Alan Barker

Listing a home at a pre-appraised value by Joshua Jarvis

Is this our destiny in 2009?  by TruClose Financial Services

If you're an appraiser, interested in appraisal or the appraisal process, please don't hesitate to become a member of the appraisers forum (if of course you are not already).

Today I took a few moments to find some properties in my own neighborhood where there is still money to be made in the art of ‘flipping'. 

 I singled out a few properties in the area where some investment gurus have made some minor to major changes and are still coming out ahead even in this debatable housing market slump. 

This property was sold for $240,000 9/07 and is now pending at $350,000 (as of 5/08). 

 Before

      After

This property was sold for $220,000 7/07 and again for $346,500 1/08.

      Before

      After

This property was sold for $230,000 6/07 and again for $374,800 2/08.

      Before

      After

This property was sold for $220,000 7/07 and again for $390,000 11/07

 Before (this property sold in '0' days, so don't blame the Realtor for not taking photos :-) )

       After

This property was sold for $306,000 1/08 and is now an active listing at $410,000

      Before

      After

I wanted to demonstrate a few of things with this post:

• The market is not as bad as everyone may think
• Interior pictures are important to the appraiser, buyer and other agents
• A coat of paint and some staging never hurt the sale

Update 7/11/2008

I couldn't resist adding this house now that it's finally active on the market.  The transformation is incredible (sold for $229,000 listed for $449,900):

Before:                                                                     After:

North Portland: the seedy part of Portland by reputation.  Now I'm not saying that any part of Portland was ever ‘scary' by big city standards... I mean this is the city where even the thugs need coffee before they get about their business.  But North Portland was always considered the ‘affordable' area.  That ‘cute bungalow... tree lined streets... boarded up storefront' kind of charm.  Then came gentrification which was shortly followed by the rather irritatingly trendy name ‘NoPo'. 

This is my home.  I have never had such a crush on an area.  It oozes character and charm and craziness and diversity. 

Below are 100 reasons why I love my North Portland (in a sort of quasi alphabetical order). 

Adidas World Campus:  Reborn from the old Kaiser Hospital facility is the Adidas World Campus.  This facility can be credited for bringing in quite a few restaurants to the Overlook neighborhood.

Affordable Housing:  This is not for everybody's comfort level.  But affordable housing is important in an area where many of the old time residents feel like they're being pushed out due to increased housing costs (see: gentrification).  The Housing Authority of Portland has helped out The New Columbia with some green building features and the new Humboldt Gardens.

Auto Mechanics & Repairs:  It amazes me that I have found not one, but two great mechanics in the area.  GerBrock Automotive on Killingsworth has the most honest folks I've ever encountered at a car specialist and they don't mind if I bring my dogs into the office.  Emerald's Automotive has been great to work with and the people are genuinely nice. For lack of a better place to put lawn mower shops, I'm going to put the two I've been to here.  Jay's Lawn mower and chainsaw has that gritty down home feel while Gary -n - Johns Lawn Mowers and More is clean as a whistle (likely because they don't do in house repairs).

Churches & Temples:  I love church architecture.  My dream has always been to live in one.  The Red Sea Church is a new church in the hood.  It has quickly grown acclaim due to its draw of young folks.  The other church that I will note is  the Bethel Lutheran Church.  I love its old school architecture and it has what appear to be apartments in the back.  The one thing I always note when I walk by them is that there is a neon sign with the word ‘Namaste' which is a Hindi greeting which translates something to the effect of ‘I respect you'.  How cool is that?  The last religious structure I'm adding has been out of commission and vacant since it severely burned in the mid-80's.  It is the North Portland Masonic Temple which was recently purchased from Ethos by McMenamins but still sits boarded up.  I know it will be reliving its grandeur again one day.

Delta Park - This place sounded like it was much more interesting until it flooded in 1948.  Back then, it was Vanport and included housing barracks, an amusement park and plenty of shipyard history.  Today it houses a strip mall, a defunct horse race track and the noisy Portland International Speedway

Education: North Portland Library which just completed a $20,000,000 renovation a couple of years back is gorgeous!  The library is said to be haunted to boot. Speaking of upgrades and renovations, the Portland Community College Cascade Campus  has grown to at least twice the capacity as it was a decade ago and has given a boost to the Piedmont neighborhood.  Ethos Music Center is a newer occupant in North Portland but has received several national awards for its efforts to thwart the lack of music in the areas public schools.  The University of Portland sits proudly on the Willamette Bluff. 

Entertainment: The St. Johns Cinemas is a turn of the century small two story theatre.  If you don't like the movie playing at St. Johns, you can walk over to the St. Johns Theater & Pub.  Both serve up brew and pizza with your $2-$5 movie.  Much to the dismay of the school teachers that work across the street, The Fat Cobra Video & Arcade just moved in a couple of years ago.  If you'd rather see live action, you can go to the Dancin' Bare.  For healthy entertainment try Yoga Shala North  or the Blue Sky Wellness Studio   

Environmental: I'm always pleasantly surprised that even with our cities grand emphasis on recycling, the North Portland Recycling Center is always busy. The Rebuilding Center keeps Portland recycling trash and sells it as someone else's treasure.  I could peruse the isles of used toilets and hinges for hours.  Sadly, I'm not joking.  I love this place (which is their motto).

Historic Places:  I'm enamored with The Palmer House , the Victorian House offers a venue for weddings and a spectacular Christmas light display.  The McMenamin brothers have purchased several historic buildings and turned them into restaurants, pubs and venues in North Portland.  The Chapel Pub is a recently converted funeral home and crematorium (I still can't bring myself to order a pizza there), the White Eagle Saloon which has a cozy atmosphere, live music and a sleeping hostel above the restaurant.  The St. Johns Pub and Theatre used to be a world fair pavilion.  You must visit the ‘dome room' there which is made of wood.  The Kenton Firehouse serves as a meeting hall for Kenton and surrounding neighborhoods.  The Interstate Firehouse has been turned into an art gallery and performing arts center . One of Portland's very first ‘Street of Dreams', Gainsborough Subdivision was built in North Portland.  These homes are much more modest than those in today's modern houses, but their charm cannot be denied.  The Falcon Apartments have been updated and the basement set up with artist studios.  And if mid-century kitch is more your style, you best bring your camera to the corner of North Denver and Interstate Avenue to snap a photo of Portland's only Paul Bunyan statue.

Hospitals: Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Emanuel Legacy Hospital renowned for it's children's healthcare.

Hotels & Motels:  Jantzen Beach and Delta Park have run of the mill hotels, but nothing beats the charm of the optional rent-per-hour motels on Interstate Avenue.  Before MAX took up two+ lanes of Interstate Avenue, it was a haven for weary truckers and Interstate Avenue was once littered with semi-trucks while their occupants snoozed at places like The Viking and The Monticello Motel.  There are also budget hostel-like rooms available at The White Eagle.

Jantzen Beach - This island is most frequented by weary Vancouver commuters who would rather shop than sit in their rush hour traffic.  It is home to a small slurry of business offices, condos, upscale houses and houseboats.  Still, I think the best part of the island is the historic CW Walker Carousel.

Neighborhoods: Kenton, Overlook, Humboldt, Piedmont, St. Johns, Arbor Lodge, Boise, Elliot  and the ever-hopping Mississippi District as well as (fore-mentioned) Jantzen Beach, Delta Park

Non-Profits:  The Blackrose Collective Bookstore & Freecycle

Parks:  I know no other name for it than the unofficial name ‘The Dog Bowl'.  With graffiti-ed out ‘No off leash dogs' sign, it is the perfect to take your pooch... off leash.  Located under the most beautiful bridge in the world, the St. Johns Bridge is Cathedral Park.  In the park you can catch the (now annual) Portland Pirates Festival at the end of summer.  And in late August you can participate in the Providence Bridge Pedal that's last leg is over the St. Johns Bridge.  Peninsula Park & Rose Garden is nice anytime of the year, but when the roses are in bloom, it is simply spectacular.  Toggling between North and Northwest Portland is also Sauvie Island Wildlife Preserve... its like heaven with a pumpkin patch and corn ‘maze'.

Restaurants: Oh my... where to start -

Breakfasts - If you like kitschy breakfasts with random chicken and car art throughout, try Beaterville, fast diner food with a diverse ever-friendly community feel there is the Overlook Restaurant.  Looking for something lighter? How about coffee the new Blend?  Or Madrona Hill Café.   I'm under the impression that the Albina Press is a spot to see and be seen.  And what food genius thought up selling waffles out of a cart? You must try Flavour Spot!

Lunch - Mio Sushi is in my humble opinion one of the freshest most affordable sushi places in town, Fire on the Mountain Hippies and hot wings... with something like 50 different sauces, how could you not love this place?  DiPrima Dolce bakery has sandwiches great for lunch and boy do the locals know it. Eddies Flat Iron Pizza and absolute favorite!,  Eddie's was born out of an old ice cream distribution building that still run the areas ice cream trucks.  Missippi Pizza also has some  pretty tasty pizza coupled with live music throughout the week.  The ever famous Widmer Brewery ... mmmm hefeweizen! .  The surprisingly placed hoity toity Mint Restaurant which honestly, I've never been to, but it used to be this great little Ethopian Restaurant that served honey beer.   Thai Ginger Previously El Burrito Loco, Boulevard Tacos Por Que No? have $2.50 tacos to die for.

Dinner - Sal's Italian Kitchen serves the best East Coast style pizza in town  according to our finicky pizza eating NJ friends.  Encantu has actual New Mexican cuisine (although with a grandmother  residing in NM, I can tell you it tastes nothing like Furr's Cafeteria! Whew!), Equinox ... I would have never believed that tacos with mashed potatoes are so delicious! I was skeptical when the opulent Roux went in down the street.  I thought our quaint neighborhood was not ready for the price tag, but the food more than makes up for it and it's a pleasure to have them around.  The Lovely Hula Hands falls under the same ‘opulent' category.  It has once again proven me wrong.  Portlanders love their fine foods!

Desserts: Pix Patisserie is a dessert specialty shop with scrumptious beer floats!

Drinks - Alibi; one of the last honest tiki bars around and what goes with tiki?   Karaoke of course!  On weekends, Sagittarius serves up a mid-morning ‘hangover helper' drink and all breakfast dishes are served with tator tots!  Similar to Sagittarius vibe (but with more Bloody Marys and less tots) is The Florida Room.  If you're missing the massive grease and PBR, you can jump over to Yorgo's Bar & Grill .  I believe there are three liquor stores in NoPo.  Although I do like the cleanliness and suggestions I have gotten from the Kenton Liquor Store, my favorite will always be the Interstate Liquor Store with thanks to the lovely folks that work there.

Shopping:  North Portland Tool Library.  Oh my gosh, how cool is this?  If you are a NoPo resident, you can go check out a tool... for free!  Absolutely brilliant.  New Seasons , You can pick up the most obscure movies at Videorama (and be sure to go to the  Flavour Spot cart in the parking lot while your there... see above under restaurants).  Neil Kelly .  The Mississippi district has a frenzy of new shops going in.  One of my new favorites is Salty's Dog & Cat Shop.  Not only is the name enticing, but it's like walking into someone's living room when you visit The Naked Sheep Knit Shop.  A recent addition to NoPo's shopping scene is Blue Moon Camera & Machine which specializes in archaic photo supplies (ie: film only) and paper developing.  Regardless of their Luddite attitudes towards the digital age, this store is busy.

Swan Island - It's the industrial area of Portland  controlled by  The Port of Portland.  Where the trains and ships pass and the semi-trucks come and go.  On a still night, the not so distant sounds of train and ship whistles are strangely lulling. 

Sauvie Island & Linnton- Now the locals will say that these two areas are not part of North Portland or not (they might even call them North of Portland, but they are both still in the designated city limits).  Linnton is officially on the west side of the Willamette River and Sauvie Island is straddled by the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, but both have a sort of North Portland feel.  My final argument is that the St. Johns Sentinel Newspaper (the official St Johns Portland newspaper) delivers to and reports about these areas, therefore they must be part of NoPo. 

Newspapers:  (not in alphabetical order, but continued thought from above) In fact, North Portland boasts two newspapers and now a magazine.  The fore-mentioned St Johns Sentinel in addition to the Skanner and Just Out.  There are also several neighborhood papers that are delivered by volunteers to local residence.

Transportation:  There is some sort of public consensus in Portland, that when MAX train reaches your area, the neighborhood is automatically deemed safer than it was before.  With MAX about ten blocks from my house, but two Tri-Met routes within a block either direction, I still prefer the bus.  In addition, Interstate 5 divided North Portland in 1917.  Although it separates the neighborhood and destroyed a good number of houses, it does make this area easy access to just about anywhere in the metropolitan area... including Vancouver, Washington.  The North Portland Bike Works (which could go under non-profit) is a great place for people to learn how to fix bikes or volunteer in exchange for one of their own.  If you'd like to take the simple route of cash = goods, Weirs Bicycle Shop is an age old landmark.

Venues: Mississippi Studios has some of the best local and national artist come through its doors. It also has an incredible recording studio upstairs.  The  North Star Ballroom  is owned by the daughter of Neil Kelly.

Veterinarians:  This area seems to have more vets than you can throw a cat at and although all but one has been highly recommended to me, still my four legged family are true patrons of Companion Pet Clinic in St. Johns.

Well, believe it or not, I have surpassed 100 and that's after editing out some places.  So if you haven't given North Portland a look lately, here are more than enough reasons why you should. 

OK.  I know that I have to explain this to the general public rather often, and I'm obliged to do so... but now I feel like I need to remind the lending institutions as well...

Definition:  REAL ESTATE APPRAISER - A person who sets a value upon property

Definition: HOME INSPECTOR - A person that examines the condition of a home

Now could someone can please educate me as to why I've been asked to do two 442s (re-inspection report) and a CIR (Compliance Inspection Report) for issues that the inspector originally found (roof, oil tank, radon inspection and plumbing) in the past week?

I am not an inspector.  I did not note these issues as issues on my original report.  The inspectors did. 

Is it because we appraisers can take the brunt of the responsibility if things go wrong?  Do I charge less than an inspector to re-inspect a property?  All I can do is look at the receipts and say something to the effect of... ‘As an appraiser, seeker of house values, I am not an expert on radon poisoning, however I have reviewed the receipts provided to me and it is presumed that the work has been done in a satisfactory manner.... An inspector, knower of broken stuff,  might be better able to determine the accuracy of repairs...'

In ‘the old days', I was only required to re-inspect for issues that I found to be in need of maintenance.  

Has anyone else encountered this bizarre increase in job responsibilities as of late?