Appraisal waivers are rising. What can appraisers do?
Waivers mean fewer lender orders for the same number of loans. About 28% of GSE loans received an appraisal waiver in March 2026, according to the AEI Housing Center. Appraisers who want steady income are adding private work, which waivers do not touch, and making sure private clients can find them online.
- About 28% of GSE loans got an appraisal waiver in March 2026 (AEI Housing Center).
- Private work such as estate, divorce and tax appeal is not affected by waivers.
- UAD 3.6 becomes mandatory for GSE deliveries on November 2, 2026.
- About 30% of appraisers plan to leave within three years (Working RE, June 2026).
What is an appraisal waiver?
A waiver lets a lender close certain loans without a full appraisal, relying instead on data the GSEs already hold. Fannie Mae calls it value acceptance and Freddie Mac calls it ACE. For appraisers it means a share of purchase and refinance loans never become orders.
How common are waivers in 2026?
The AEI Housing Center reported that about 28% of GSE loans received a waiver in March 2026, and that usage was rising again. The share moves with the mix of refinances and purchases, so it changes month to month.
What does UAD 3.6 change for appraisers?
UAD 3.6 is the redesigned appraisal data standard and new report format from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It becomes mandatory for loans delivered to the GSEs on November 2, 2026. Appraisers who are ready for it can say so on their site, which matters to AMCs and lenders building panels.
How can appraisers replace lost lender volume?
- Add private services: estate, divorce, tax appeal, PMI removal, pre listing.
- Build a page for each service and each county so private clients can find you.
- Line up referral partners in law, tax and real estate.
- Keep your panel work too; the goal is a second income stream, not a replacement for every order.
Read how appraisers get private clients for the step by step version.
Frequently asked questions
Are appraisal waivers bad for homeowners?
They save time and money on some loans, but they also skip the independent inspection an appraisal provides. That debate is ongoing in the industry.
Do waivers affect private appraisal work?
No. Estate, divorce, tax appeal and other private assignments are ordered by the client, not the GSEs, so waivers do not apply.
When is UAD 3.6 mandatory?
November 2, 2026, for loans delivered to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Sources
- AEI Housing Center, appraisal waiver tracking, May 2026
- Fannie Mae, Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) redesign timeline
- Working RE 2026 Appraiser Survey, June 2026 (about 1,800 appraisers)