To:      All appraisers
From:  Dave Biggers, Chairman, a la mode, inc.
Re:      HVCC: Meeting with Congress

You did a great job responding to our original request for comments on the HVCC, as well as the last-minute phone calls on the Senate Banking Committee’s consideration of the Dole bill, and I assure you, everyone involved heard you and it will pay off.  Thank you for all the hard work so far.

But, while I know it can get tiresome, this is a long process and we can’t stop now.  In fact, if we even pause, the window of opportunity to help craft the regulations affecting the industry may permanently pass us by.

The Dole amendment and other appraiser-centric legislation will be considered by the Congress as a whole over the coming weeks, and the HVCC may be finalized by the parties as early as June.  It’s imperative that we bolster support in Congress.  If at all possible, you need to meet in person with your members of Congress.  You need to persuade them face-to-face to act to protect all independent appraisers and consumers from the unintended impact of the HVCC on your business as well as the entire housing industry.  Your legislators will be in their home districts during the May 24 – 31 Memorial Day recess period and again for the July 4th recess.  You can make a huge difference by taking time to visit with them in person.

We have provided you with a Congressional Meeting Toolkit located at http://www.alamode.com/action which will guide you step-by-step through the process, help you schedule your meeting, assist you with talking points, and provide you with a briefing paper to leave behind with your Representative.  Please go there as soon as you've finished reading this memo and get started.

It's best if groups of appraisers meet with your members of Congress because it presents a more compelling message.  So, try to work together with your local colleagues if at all possible to show solidarity.

In your meeting, plan to let your legislators know how independent appraisers like you – and most importantly, millions of consumers – will be impacted by the HVCC, and urge them to revise the HVCC to:

1) Create a level playing field -- Require all entities involved in the appraisal process to adhere to the same standards and restrictions;

2) Remove language that effectively mandates the use of national appraisal management companies instead of local independent appraisers; and

3) Require an independent appraisal for loan originations

Face-to-face meetings with your legislators are absolutely the best way to help them understand the significant issues with the HVCC and its direct impact on their constituents.  We can’t urge you any more strongly to act.

In less time than it takes to inspect a single property, you and a few other appraisers in your district can affect the entire future of the appraisal profession, and therefore your careers.  Please don’t let the opportunity slip by.

Dave Biggers
Chairman
a la mode, inc.