Alpha Appraisal Solutions, LLC

Alpha Appraisal Solutions, LLC Buying, selling, or refinancing a property? Need a pre-listing value? A sound appraisal for a divorce settlement or tax appeal?

At Alpha Appraisal Solutions, we deliver valuations you can trust.

Still not up-to-date on the major changes coming to the UAD and URAR? This table is a very brief overview of some of the...
02/05/2026

Still not up-to-date on the major changes coming to the UAD and URAR? This table is a very brief overview of some of the updates designed to improve appraisal efficiency and quality.

a la mode’s Principal of Product Management, Matt Krodel, describes the change, “The analysis is the same. The information is the same. What’s going to be different is that more of that data now has a specific place that it needs to go.”*

This means:
- Roughly 150 new or modified fields in the whole dynamic form.**
- Mobile, digital tools for data collection and auto-population will be needed to maintain efficiency.
- Discrete fields for specific data raises objectivity and reduces ambiguity.
- Overall, fewer revision requests!

We know this is a huge shift in procedure, especially for experienced appraisers. But overall, it is meant to lower bias and reduce revision requests, so, better for everyone in the long run!

Feedback is very important in these transitions, though, so don't be afraid to share your opinion on the new workflow. 😄

*Quote from WorkingRE article: https://www.workingre.com/flooded-with-change-appraisers-tackle-a-dynamic-urar-and-uad-3-6/
**From Opendoor: https://www.opendoor.com/articles/appraisal-industry-faces-major-transformation

The Limited Production Period for UAD 3.6 ended not too long ago, meaning appraisers are one more step closer to UAD 2.6...
02/05/2026

The Limited Production Period for UAD 3.6 ended not too long ago, meaning appraisers are one more step closer to UAD 2.6's retirement.

According to Working RE, the appraisal form requirement landscape is likely to look as follows:
- Large lenders will update their systems faster, therefore requiring the dynamic form for new appraisals.
- Small lenders will observe how early adopters deal with the new UAD’s issues and require 2.6 until closer to the mandate.
This creates a confusing environment where lenders’ UAD requirements are not quite standard anymore.

But don't worry too much!! The Broad Production/Transition Period is designed to allow lenders and appraisers to get used to the new format without forcing an overnight switch. There's still plenty of time to get used to the report before it is mandatory.

In the meantime, Alpha Appraisal Solutions will post suggestions and other information to help you stay in the loop!

See the Working RE article here:
workingre.com/flooded-with-change-appraisers-tackle-a-dynamic-urar-and-uad-3-6/

Your property holds untapped value waiting to be revealed. Visit our website now to unlock expert appraisal insights tha...
10/13/2025

Your property holds untapped value waiting to be revealed. Visit our website now to unlock expert appraisal insights that can guide your real estate journey.

Are you a Certified Real Estate Appraiser, Residential or General? Are you looking for more assignments to add to your w...
08/22/2025

Are you a Certified Real Estate Appraiser, Residential or General? Are you looking for more assignments to add to your workflow? Join our team of appraiser partners today!

We are NOT an AMC. We provide appraisal services to AMCs, direct lenders, credit unions, attorney’s offices, and private homeowners and realtors. Our full-time staff manages all day-to-day operations, freeing you up to do what you do best: appraise properties!

We offer an independent split-fee appraiser role for appraisers that want to take on a few extra assignments each month.

Perks of working with Alpha Appraisal:
- Get orders based on your preferred coverage area and availability.
- Get assistance from our on-staff reviewer for complex assignments.
- Get paid for the reports you complete each pay period, regardless of whether fees have been collected from clients.
- Keep your existing accounts with clients, and get added to ours.
- Recieve a referral bonus for new clients and appraisers.

Contact our Chicago office at (773) 227-7500, and learn more about our company at alpha-appraisal.com. Email your resume/CV to Nina Martin (Director of Operations) at [email protected] when you're ready to apply!

We're breaking down another type of property this week: Jumbo and High-End. Jumbo loans are needed for mortgages that ex...
08/14/2025

We're breaking down another type of property this week: Jumbo and High-End.

Jumbo loans are needed for mortgages that exceed the borrowing limit set by the FHFA. Currently, the borrowing limit is $806,500. Mortgages larger than this will require a jumbo loan, and this often allows the purchase of luxury homes.

Last year, Zillow reported 550 cities in the U.S. where the typical home costs over $1 million, up from 491 in 2023. California boasts the highest number of million-dollar cities (over 200), and New York, New Jersey, and Florida follow far behind with 30 to 60 million-dollar cities.

Luxury homes likely have:
- a high market value for the area,
- a prime location with exceptional views,
- the highest quality construction materials,
- luxe amenities, like home theaters and saunas,
- architectural significance or a fascinating history.

Two very specific classifications of luxury homes are mansions and 'jewel-box' homes.

Mansions are over 8,000 sq. ft., have at least 5 bedrooms, sit on a large acreage, and come equipped with amenities for hosting large groups of people. Jewel-box homes, on the other hand, are a scaled-down luxury property with no more than 3,000 sq. ft. Priced at at least $2 million, jewel-box homes are concentrated in crowded metropolitan areas and became more popular when COVID-19 caused many to work from home.

At Alpha Appraisal Solutions, we partner with seasoned appraisers who have specific expertise in luxury, multi-million dollar, and jumbo properties. Visit alpha-appraisal.com/florida to read their bios and order your appraisal today!

Calling all residential appraisers! Prepare with us at Alpha Appraisal as we get ready for UAD 3.6. In under a month, th...
08/12/2025

Calling all residential appraisers! Prepare with us at Alpha Appraisal as we get ready for UAD 3.6. In under a month, the first lenders will begin using it, and in a matter of no time it will be our turn. Head to alpha-appraisal.com/blog to read last week's article that explains more than just the UAD update's timeline.

FYI appraised value, market value, and price per square foot are three important metrics of home value, but they aren't ...
08/06/2025

FYI appraised value, market value, and price per square foot are three important metrics of home value, but they aren't interchangeable and therefore contain different information.

Take some time to learn about these terms and avoid conflating them in the future!

Dive in to the commercial appraisal process with last week's blog article! Give it a read at alpha-appraisal.com/blog !!...
08/05/2025

Dive in to the commercial appraisal process with last week's blog article!

Give it a read at alpha-appraisal.com/blog !!

Curious about the trends shaping the valuation landscape? Get some insight into new and old topics like ESG and AI with ...
07/30/2025

Curious about the trends shaping the valuation landscape? Get some insight into new and old topics like ESG and AI with this week's Quick Tip from Alpha Appraisal.

Fewer Market Transactions --
Over the last several years, the Appraisal Institute has recognized fewer transactions taking place in most real estate markets, which can make it more difficult to provide an opinion of value.

ESG & Climate Reslience --
ESG, or Environmental, Social, and Governance, factors may still be on the front of many investors’ minds, but with the ever shifting political landscape of the US, “ESG” is taking another form for some. Certain environmental threats simply cannot be denied, like the property damage that results from extreme storms, flooding, or wildfires. In response to such disasters (that are increasing in frequency and severity) investors see “climate resilience” as a favorable quality in potential real estate investments. See our most recently published post on alpha-appraisal.com/blog for more environmental insights!

Tariffs --
Like we discussed in our blog article from June 27, tariffs can still heavily impact the real estate industry even though the news surrounding them has quieted. Common construction materials such as lumber, copper, and steel may see increased tariff rates in November following the results of the Commerce Department’s investigations.

Artificial Intelligence --
It is still unclear whether AI will primarily serve as a tool or a threat in the appraisal profession. So long as report quality and accuracy doesn’t diminish with your use of AI, it may be a helpful tool to leverage in your reports. However, improper usage or an overhaul of AI products could jeopardize certain jobs in the industry.

ICYMI Last week's article covered environmental factors that an appraiser consideres when estimating a property's value....
07/29/2025

ICYMI Last week's article covered environmental factors that an appraiser consideres when estimating a property's value. Check it out at alpha-appraisal.com/blog, or drop our office a line with your questions!

There's a lot of jargon and confusing terminology in the real estate appraisal business, especially when it comes to com...
07/23/2025

There's a lot of jargon and confusing terminology in the real estate appraisal business, especially when it comes to commercial properties. Learn about what makes Special-Use Properties, like amusement parks, hotels, and gas stations, so special in this week's post!

Our expert commercial appraiser partners have a breadth of experience working with special purpose properties. Read some of their bios at alpha-appraisal.com/about-us-2 today!

Get ready for some weekend reading!! This week on the blog we discuss more ins & outs of the appraisal industry, focusin...
07/18/2025

Get ready for some weekend reading!! This week on the blog we discuss more ins & outs of the appraisal industry, focusing on bias and how AMCs have changed since the housing crisis.

Visit the alpha-appraisal.com to see the full article, contact us, or order an appraisal!

Address

4256 N Ravenswood Avenue, Suite 102
Chicago, IL
60613

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17732277500

Website

https://www.linkedin.com/company/alpha-appraisal-solutions-llc/

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