As we turn the calendar to 2021, we look back on what can be described as one of the most tumultuous years in recent memory. Though there may be a light at the end of the tunnel, the pandemic shook life as we know it, leaving short- and long-term impacts on the appraisal industry.

Looking ahead to a new year and new incoming Biden Administration, Metro-West Appraisal has assembled an all-star set of panelists to analyze “The State of the Industry: 2021 and Beyond, Ushering in the Biden Administration.”

Listen live on January 28th at 11am ET as leadership from the Appraisal Institute, the National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Appraisers and the Mortgage Bankers Association convene to offer insight on regulations, appraisal flexibilities, as well as insight on what they are hearing from their membership bases. This webinar will be narrated by Greg Stephens, Metro-West Appraisal, and will include key stakeholders like:

Bill Garber, AI
Sehar Siddiqi, NAR
Jessica Lynch, NAHB
Bryan Reynolds, NAA
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    Appraisal Buzz
    The Appraisal Buzz is a newsletter designed to keep the real estate appraisal professional and lending community plugged into what's happening in the world of appraising.
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    Bill Garber, Jr.
    Director of Government and External Relations for the Appraisal Institute
    Bill Garber is the Director of Government and External Relations for the Appraisal Institute, where he serves as head of the AI Washington operations. As director, he represents the interests of AI members before Congress, federal agencies, and outreach to aligned real estate organizations.
    Bill has a range of expertise with real estate issues, including residential and commercial valuation and finance, economic development and land use, conservation and historic preservation issues, financial reporting, asset backed securities, and real estate disposition and acquisition. He serves as the liaison to the Appraisal Institute’s Government Relations Committee and Client Advisory Board, and as Treasurer of the Appraisal Institute Political Action Committee. Bill has testified before Congress, and he is a frequent speaker before government agencies and industry organizations. He was also instrumental in the development and passage of appraisal provisions found in last three major housing finance bills in Congress.
    Bill has more than 20 years of association lobbying and management experience in the real estate and economic development professions. He has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Oregon State University.
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    Jessica Lynch
    Vice President of Housing Finance at the National Association of Home Builders
    Jessica R. Lynch is Vice President of Housing Finance at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Jessica has almost twenty years of public policy and government relations experience in Washington, D.C. In her current role at NAHB, Jessica’s primary responsibility is to monitor and analyze governmental actions and policies that impact both builder and consumer financing.

    Prior to joining NAHB, Jessica worked on Capitol Hill for Congressman Rick Lazio from New York who served as the Chairman of the House Banking Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.
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    Sehar Siddiqi
    Regulatory Policy Representative, Federal Housing for the National Association of REALTORS®
    Sehar focuses on matters concerning FHA, VA and USDA housing programs, as well real estate valuation issues. Prior to joining NAR, Sehar worked on low-income housing and banking policy with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition in Washington, DC and as a corporate attorney at Seward & Kissel, LLP in New York City. She also served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Washington, DC. Sehar holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. from The Ohio State University.
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    Joshua Walitt
    Principal Consultant for Walitt Solutions
    Joshua Walitt is the principal consultant for Walitt Solutions. He provides short and long-term consulting services related to compliance, valuation, education, review, and investigations. Clients include lending institutions, appraisers, appraisal management companies, attorneys, accountants, education providers, regulators, and others. With over 20 years of experience, Walitt’s skillset includes appraisal, banking, regulations, policy, training, licensing, audit, and enforcement. His core goal is to foster clients’ efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and growth through appropriate methodology and technology, sound reasoning and communication skills, and proper oversight.
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    Greg Stephens
    Chief Appraiser, SVP Compliance
    Greg Stephens is a recognized subject matter expert in appraisal regulations and standards, whose 35 plus year career in the industry includes owning and managing a five office regional appraisal firm in Northern California for twenty-four years prior to spending ten years in financial institution valuation QC and governance managing pre and post-closing review teams, monitoring state and federal appraisal-related legislation and USPAP subject matter expert.

    Mr. Stephens professional credentials include Certified General Appraiser, SRA Designation from the Appraisal Institute, AQB Certified USPAP Instructor through The Appraisal Foundation, CDEI certified distance education instructor through the International Distance Education Certification Center.

    For over twenty years he has been providing qualifying and continuing education seminars around the country through his seminar company, Appraisal Seminars, the Appraisal Institute and several colleges.

    For over thirty years, Mr. Stephens has also been involved in national appraisal organization leadership, most recently as the 2013 President of the North Texas Chapter of the Appraisal Institute and prior board and officer positions with the Society of Real Estate Appraisers, the American Society of Appraisers. He is a frequent speaker at national conferences for professional organizations around the country and voted the Collateral Risk Network 2013 Valuation Visionary for life-long contributions to the industry.

    In September 2011 Mr. Stephens joined Metro-West Appraisal Co. LLC as Senior Vice President, Appraisal Operations and Compliance and in December 2013 was promoted to Chief Appraiser, SVP Compliance.