Commission-Based Home-Referral Fees: Consumers Impacts and Proposed Reforms
In the past year, the residential real estate industry has focused an unusual amount of attention on residential real estate referral fees, especially their disclosure. In June, the Northwest MLS announced additions to its forms to provide buyers and sellers more information about referral fees their brokers pay or receive.[1] In November, […]
Appraisal Management Companies: Hidden Costs, Ethical Concerns, and the Call for Reform in Real Estate
In this episode, Wendy Gilch and seasoned appraiser Joshua Tucker reveal the lesser-known world of Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs). While most buyers don’t realize they exist, these third-party companies were initially set up to keep lenders and appraisers at arm’s length. But over time, some have evolved into a profit-driven layer, adding unknown costs […]