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Know what changed in valuation before your next decision.

The UAD changes, GSE updates, AI tools and court rulings that affect collateral risk and valuation work. Summarized, sourced and delivered in one email.

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The top of The Signal, issue 004: the orange print-style cover with a pencil, a house and a floor plan, and the opening note on UAD 3.6 now being required, Fannie Mae's highest-and-best-use change and the rise in appraisal findings in loan files. — Issue 004, dated November 14, 2026.

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Guides and tools for valuation work.

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Short-Term Rental Rules Guide
Browse rental rules by state. Compare permits, ownership changes and buyer requirements, with official sources for each market.
120 markets · State search and comparisons
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UAD 3.6
UAD Guide
Click any field on the new URAR to see what it records, the rules that apply to it, and where it sat on the UAD 2.6 forms.
1,523 report fields · 41 pages
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14 ValuSignal 2026 sessions on entering the profession, choosing a path and the first years of practice. Any .edu email unlocks them, no registration needed.
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UAD 3.6 article series

UAD 3.6, explained one section at a time.

The UAD 3.6 mandate for new GSE submissions began November 2. These seven articles walk through the redesigned URAR: what each section records and what it means for collateral risk.

7 of 7 parts published

Start with Part 1 Explore the fields in UAD Guide

Inside every issue

Everything in the same place, every issue.

The regular sections in each issue, and what each one covers.

Get The Signal

Top Signals

The biggest developments since the last issue

Ranked by how much they affect your work. Clearly labeled, so you know what's final and what's still proposed.

From issue 004

UAD 3.6 is the required format now, and some clients can still order 2.6

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac now require UAD 3.6 for new reports, though lenders with an approved exception can submit 2.6 through May 19, 2027. Clear Capital’s early read puts 3.6 fees about $65 higher.

In effect Required since November 2, 2026

Read issue 004

AI & Valuation

AI, without the hype

What the new review, photo and automation tools actually do, with vendor numbers called out as vendor numbers.

Policy & Standards

Rules and standards in progress

Federal rules, GSE guidance and standards drafts, with the stage each one has reached and any comment deadline.

On the Legal Radar

Cases worth your attention

Rulings and investigations that involve appraisers and lenders, with context on how far each decision reaches.

State Watch

State laws and board actions

New state laws, board rules and proposals that change appraisal and lending work, with their effective dates.

On the Calendar

Make room for what’s next

Webinars, conferences and comment deadlines in one list you can save.

Latest from the blog

All 55 articles

PracticeNov 14, 202616 min read

Foreclosures from a low floor: Dallas County’s bank-owned sales and the habit of calling every market stable

Bank-owned sales rose from 0.64% to 1.60% of Dallas County closings in two years. What appraisers must report when part of a market falls.

PracticeNov 11, 202615 min read

Who buys the house next: the ownership gap between young and older adults, metro by metro

Since 2023, owner households headed by someone 75 or older have outnumbered renter households headed by someone 25 to 34. We measured the gap in every metro.

UADNov 8, 202614 min read

Measuring the house: ANSI Z765, level breakdowns and the required sketch

UAD 3.6 replaces one GLA number with six ANSI-defined area fields and a per-level room table that QC teams and rules engines can check.

From the team behind ValuSignal 2026

We brought the profession together. Now we're keeping the conversation going.

ValuSignal 2026 was a two-day virtual conference for valuation professionals, held September 18–19. The Signal comes from the same team, with the same focus: practical, sourced and useful.

Catch up on the 2026 sessions.

Every session is in the ValuSignal 2026 library. Enter the email you registered with to watch. Students with a .edu email can watch the Career Launchpad sessions.

Available through December 18, 2026.

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