5062 - The final results are in and they ain't good: Appraisers are feeling big time pressure to overstate values. Indeed, undue pressure is the primary reason the 500 valuation professionals responding to an independent national survey say they refuse assignments. The study was conducted by October Research of Richfield, Ohio, which says it anticipated the results but not their "frequency and widespread nature." The survey did not say whether the pressure was being applied by home buyers, sellers, their agents or lenders. Every party to the transaction wants the value of the property to be close to the agreed upon selling price. If it falls short, buyers will have to come up more cash to complete the deal or sellers will have to take less. In most cases, the deal falls through. The owner loses the sale, the buyer loses the house, the real estate agent loses his commission and the lender loses the loan. But because appraisers are hired by lenders and more than a third said they feared losing assignments if they didn't comply, it must be assumed that it was lenders who are most guilty of trying to coerce appraisers. Read this Nemmar Real Estate Training article at Mortgage Loans, Finance, Economy, Appraisal