I am an appraiser an I disagree with your approach to this topic, the misleading analysis and your limited research. First HUD requires every homebuyer to sign a disclosure called of all things "For your Protection Get a Home inspection" at least five days prior to settlement. The Homebuyer can re-execute the sales agreement if an inspection contingency is not present. The VC form which you speak of clearly states that an appraisal is not an inspection. Additionally, HUD permits a $300 cash reduction in the down payment amount for the cost of an inspection. In an agreement with NAR and MBA all three organizations agreed to promote inspections and at the announcement in August of 99 both organizations endorsed the Home Buyer Protection Plan. All of these facts were left out of your article. I believe that the author of this same article predicted a mass exodus of FHA roster appraisers and a sharp increase in fees. Didn't Happen. Fees may have increased for a month but quickly returned to pre-HBPP levels and the decrease in the number of FHA appraisers was minimal. I believe that the change in the number of appraisers had more to do with the exam. I have not heard of a lenders complaining of a shortage of FHA appraisers. Many appraisers are pleased with HUD appraisal reform efforts and the tough new enforcement measures. Locally, I have seen HUD remove at least ten appraisers from Baltimore alone. The removals in my area exceeds all of last years sanctions from HUD across the entire US. Good appraisers want tough enforcement actions. Professional Appraisal Organizations such as the Appraisal Insitute, ASA and the NAIFA have all endorsed the new enforcement policies. The commercial was a mistake and universally disliked by all parties (including appraisers). Yet this article does mention the tremendous progress that HUD has made over the past two years. A balanced article should have address the positive aspects of the HBPP. Many of the appraisers I work with jave been on the Roster and understand that the new form codifies property requirements and disclosures that we have always done for the last twenty years. It was only after Congrees got rid of the Roster and opened it up to all appraisers that the problems with property conditions surfaced. The property conditions date back to the Housing Act of 1938.