Michelle: Thanks for bringing this to our attention. In the world of blogging, the truth will usually and eventually win. Thanks for the link!

thanks for the info...good thing to keep an eye on.

Roberta -  It really seems like this management company is suing to shut up her service.  Don't they realize that this broadens the exposure by making this even juicier?

Chuck - thanks for stopping by.

Hello Michelle -

Thanks!  It seems as if the government should be the ones helping Pamela out, especially with all the fraud investigations that are out there right now.

I have forwarded the article to fellow Appraisers to remind us all (myself included) to password protect and number code our .pdf appraisal documents.

Regards,

... also, I found this link on the eAppraiseIT website....

Hi Michelle,

The appraisers have been regulated since about 1987.  I would say "it's about time for the mortgage brokers to be made "accountable".  The few requests I get are so ridiculous sometimes!

Mortgage brokers have minimal requirements, as compared to appraisers! 

Thanks for the information.  I was alerted by the appraisersforum.com.  Also, a very good community for appraisers! 

Sarah - I agree the fraud situation has gotten riducluous, along with the lender pressure issues!  I only work with one mortgage broker regularly now, because I cannot "hit" values.  If it weren't for review business, I would be shut the appraisal office.

Elaine - I agree, it is past time for accountability in the lender arena!  I was originally alerted to this by http://www.georgiaappraiser.com which is an excellent forum for Georgia appraisers, and we also have several from other states that visit regularly.

Michelle,

I believe Pam is really "taking one for the team" in this situation.  I see her each month at the Florida R.E. Appraisal Board meeting and she tries to expose what others are hesitant to do.  I am attempting to make arrangements to show support at her Notice of Emergency Hearing on Thursday in Titusville, FL.  I will try to update you on what comes out at the hearing...if anything. 

Robert - I wish her well.  Her site is a great proactive step in stopping mortgage fraud.  Looking forward to the update on her situation.

Michelle,

It looks like this story has sprouted some long legs at today's senate hearing. 

Testimony of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition David Berenbaum, Executive Vice President Before the Senate Committee on Banking, Sub- Committee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development Ending Mortgage Abuse: Safeguarding Homebuyers
Tuesday, June 26, 2007

from Mr Berenbaum:

Quote:

Why is it that is lenders are forced to rely on AVM's - which are highly inaccurate themselves - due to widespread mortgage fraud in the marketplace?

Why is it that, despite the protections of FIRREA and the requirements of USPAP, appraisal companies are beginning to sanction the "unlocking" of appraisal reports performed by valuation professionals and changing their content - a clear violation of the law?

Their response, when licensed appraisers began to question the legality and impact of this activity - is to threaten or hit the whistle blowers with slap suits. Just ask Pamela Crowley, a Florida appraiser and a signatory member of NCRC's Center for Responsible Appraisal & valuations who created mortgagefraudwatchlist.com to expose lender pressure and valuation fraud, She is being wrongfully sued by an appraisal management company for having the integrity to expose this issue. Senator Schumer, your focus on valuation issues is right on point.

http://banking.senate.gov/_files/berenbaum.pdf  (Page 11)

Thanks for the information, Robert! 

I see that mortgagefraudwatchlist.com appears to be down...

Help support Pam!

www.cafepress.com/appraiserpress

all profits go directly to her defense fund.

Spread this around.  It's about time appraisers stand up and say "enough is enough".

Thank you.

Robert - thanks for the update.

Sarah - site seems to be back up. 

John - what a great support tool!  I will buy, but can someone tell me what this logo says, I tried clicking on for a larger view and still cannot make it out.

Michelle,

The front says "Support Pamela"...and the back says "Fight Back...MortgageFraudwatchlist.org"...Look at the yellow shirt and it shows front & back. 

Oops...the white long sleeve one only has "support Pamela" on the front?

Pam Crowley/MFWL prevailed!  But only in this instance...

Today's hearing was on an emergency request for an injunction by eAppraiseIt, against Pam, to stop her "whistle blowing" or just plain shut her up.

She won today, the judge did not grant the injunction against her.

The next step is that they will have to file their answer to the initial complaint. But this is not over...score one for the good guys/gals!

Robert - great news!  I know this is just the first step of a long battle, but at least they haven't shut her up yet.  I hope it's okay to copy you comment over to www.gaappraiser.com - she has our support there and everyone is anxious for updates.

David Berenbaum of the NCRC has the wrong website address in that copy of his testimony at the Senate Banking Committee hearing.  The correct web address is:

 www.MortgageFraudWatchList.org

 Since I own the .com also, I'm working on having it go automatically to the .org website.

 Thank you to all for your support.  I do consider this a fight for ALL honest people involved in the real estate business. 

 Let the truth shine through!!!

Thankyou very much for sharing, interesting information, I need to check this out.

Unlocking appraisal records should be a clear violation of the law in itself.  When you pile on changing of the records, who could challenge this?

What new leniencies are about to be imposed on our realty society in the name of privacy.  Does political correctness rein supreme?

--Jack Payne
   www.sixhrs.com

I truly praise Pamela  and Jennifer Wertz, along with other Appraisers in the field under pressure.  I went thru the same thing, only as a Sr. Mortgage Underwriter, with Indymac, Countrywide, and yes Wamu, along with many others. The pressure to Approval a loan became so stressful, by raising values, adding income or assets, and accepting documents that are falsified, that my heart went out of whack and I needed 4 heart surgeries over a 2 yr period, and lost my 2 cars, my home, was eventually blacklisted and now waiting for a Disability case 4 years, and could be homeless before you read this.

I wish I could contribute, but financially impossible, instead I will pray for you, keep the faith.

John

Michelle, I do not know Pamela Crowley personally but I have read numerous posts that she has on appraisersforum.com. Judging by the many posts of hers that I read she has a wealth of knowledge about the appraisal profession. She has been very helpful to countless appraisers that utilize appraisers forum.com. It seems to me that she is trying to do the right thing and has the guts to stand up for appraisers through-out the country.

I do know Pamela Crowley personally, I was present at the hearing regarding a temporary to shut her up. It is not a bunch of hype over nothing. Since the president of eAppraiseIt, Anthony Merlo, repeatedly admitted Pam's claims were true when he was testifying, I doubt the suit has any merit at all. In attempting to sidestep some of the issues, Mr. Merlo talked of client representatives communicating with appraisers. Such communication is now the subject of Mr. Cumo's suit against eAppraiseIt. 

If you encounter suspicious activity, Pam's site is a good place to set a red flag for others to investigate. 

Pamela - thank you for stopping by - I am a proud owner of a support Pamela t-shirt!  Thank you for fighting for all of us!

Shane - thanks for dropping by.

Jack - I agree this shoudl have been a no-brainer!

John - sorry for your troubles.  It is unfortunate that the honest seems to be penalized in the appraisal indistry much too often.

David - I agree, if we had more appraiser with backbone, we might make some changes in the industry.

Greg - thank you for stopping by and for the update.

I'd also like to clarify that I have always felt this was "an industry watchdog being hounded by an appraisal management company" for those of you have me contacted privately.  The hype over nothing was in response to a comment made to me by a loan officer.

Update: eApraiseIt withdrew the suit against Pam. Score for the good guys/gals.  

Here's the joke of the day, A Realtor I know does about 30 BPO's a week, and her biggest client is LANDSAFE. You know they have a lot of faith in they're in house Appraisers. What a dam joke Countrywide=Fraud-wide. I hope all the big boys with CW do lots of TIME.

My old law Professor once said. "who's more dangerous, a crack-head with an Uzi or a CEO that wants to save a half cent on the cost of a can of mushrooms".

As of recently, they dropped the lawsuit against Pam, when she provided proof of pdf altered appraisals at EappraiseIT...so it would appear that she won and know she is making the news circuit!!

GO PAM!!