Our appraisers are among the hardest working in the industry. We regularly share tips and best practice ideas to help. Follow us on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on the latest ACI announcements, tips & tricks, industry news & insights, events, and more.

Valuation Expo 2024 was a spectacular event that gathered valuation professionals from across the nation. As a Silver Sponsor, ACI took an active role in the conference which focused on embracing the superpowers of appraisal professionals. Discussions included artificial intelligence, the new Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae GSE UAD Redesign, cutting-edge technology, data trends, and the nuances of subjective language.

The ACI Team at Valuation Expo 2024
 Danny Reyes, Romanita Courson, Domino Holmes, and Kimberly Angellone

Leading the Charge in Diversity and Appraisal Modernization
 

During the conference, we engaged extensively with both appraiser and AMC customers. The hot topics? Diversity in the appraisal industry and the modernization of appraisal processes.

We are thrilled to announce that ACI is collaborating with other industry leaders to support initiatives to enhance diversity within the appraisal sector. Our commitment is to ensure a diverse range of perspectives, fostering a more inclusive industry.  
 
One of the key highlights from the recent Expo was ACI’s significant contribution to appraisal modernization. We unveiled a preview of our upcoming software for the new URAR, which offers streamlined workflows designed to elevate efficiency and accuracy, setting a new industry benchmark. Our discussions with appraiser customers were met with enthusiasm for the improved workflow, and there is eager anticipation for the future of appraising.

ACI FYI

FAQ Guide for Report Pro™

View our  CRAL FAQ Guide to enhance your experience with our Report Pro™ software. This guide consists of frequently asked questions on the use of Report Pro, including how to complete reports using the new AIC forms. Please be advised that if there are any conflicts in information, the official member guidance issued by the Appraisal Institute of Canada (AIC) should take precedence.

ACI Shortcuts Guide

New to ACI or just need a refresher? Click to view and save our helpful ACI Shortcuts Guide to help you speed through your appraisal reporting.

ACI Tech Tip

Cloning an Existing Report

Learn how to clone a report to quickly create new reports using previously entered report data for similar properties, neighborhoods, etc.

To clone a report, you will first need to create a new report and identify the file you wish to clone.

1. You can create a new report in three ways:
   1. Click File > New.
   2. Click the (New Report) icon.
   3. Press CTRL+N on the keyboard.
2. Enter the Filename for New Report and click Clone.
3. Select the Report Pak, Report Template (optional), and Report Picklist.
4. Click OK to proceed.
5. Enter the File Name to Clone From and click OK.
6. Select the components you wish to clone:
   1. Manually: Manually select the individual components to include.
   2. Select all: Automatically includes all components.
   3. Deselect all: Automatically excludes all components.
   4. Invert: Automatically deselects currently selected components and selects components that were previously not selected.
7. Click OK to accept the selections and clone the report.

To learn how to extract data from a specific field or section of a report, click here.

TV – The Last of Us, GOT, HOTD, TWD, and Friends on Nick at Nite when I can’t commit to a new show!
Movies – Marvel Movies, Star Wars, Harry Potter, conveniently playing on tv all the time!
Music – The best music is from the 80’s-00’s! My playlists are based on mood not genre. My faves today: Billie Eilish & FINNEAS
Sports – NY Giants, Yankees, Rangers, basketball, and gymnastics because of my girls.
Food – I love all cuisines, but Filipino food brings back good memories of my mom. Also, caramel iced coffees/frappes and cheesecake are my kryptonite!
Hobbies – Full-time chauffeur and cheerleader for my kids’ hobbies, part-time sneaker junkie, and going to theme parks with the family.
Heroes – My Mom: Single Mom + Nurse = a true Super Woman 
Measurement of success? Happiness, but most importantly the happiness of my kids.

Coming Soon

No Tricks, Just Treats!

Check your email or ACI’s LinkedIn page for a special Halloween offer! Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn for more special offers throughout the year.

SaveTime and Schedule an Appointment Online

ACI offers contact appointments for your sales, accounting, and support needs. Schedule an appointment today!

ACI Self-Service Center

Visit the ACI Self-Service Center, offering assistance at any time of the day, right at your fingertips! Our Self-Service Center is a comprehensive hub for both newcomers and seasoned ACI users. This collection of guides and instructional articles are designed to boost your workflow efficiency!

Our appraisers are among the hardest working in the industry. We regularly share tips and best practice ideas to help. Follow us on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on the latest ACI announcements, tips & tricks, industry news & insights, events, and more.

ACI FYI

ACI Sky™ now Integrated with Restb.ai Technology

ACI is excited to announce the integration of Restb.ai into the ACI Sky™ platform! The power of ACI Sky combined with Restb.ai’s advanced AI technology revolutionizes the quality control of the appraisal process, ensuring consistent appraisal reports, quick turnarounds, and improved property insights for AMCs and lenders. View the full press release.

New AIC Forms Available for Report Pro™

ACI’s latest WebUpdate includes new upgrades and enhancements for creating and delivering AI Ready™ (.ENV) files. Simply run a standard ACI WebUpdate to install this ENV update. (Please see ACI Tech Tip.) Learn more about AIReady and delivering a file in ENV format.

New AIReady™ Update Available for ACI Report™

ACI’s latest WebUpdate includes new upgrades and enhancements for creating and delivering AI Ready™ (.ENV) files. Simply run a standard ACI WebUpdate to install this ENV update. (Please see ACI Tech Tip.) Learn more about AIReady and delivering a file in ENV format.

ACI Tech Tip

Running a WebUpdate!

1. In ACI Report, close out any open reports.
2. Go to Help > ACI WebUpdate or close ACI Report and click on the ACI WebUpdate icon on your desktop.
3. Click Go to begin the WebUpdate.
4. Once the update finishes click View Notes or Close to exit.

An active ACI or CRAL membership is required to run a WebUpdate.
View and compare our membership plans.

Movies – Action or Comedy
TV – Any good Anime
Music – Anything but country, but I love me some Tool
Sports – World Superbike Racing
Food – Pizza
Hobbies – Working on my motorcycle, playing video games, and hanging with my family
What is the most useful thing you own? Power tools
Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with? Or not? Ryan Reynolds
Travel you’ve done or wish to do – Been to Iraq want to go to Paris, France
Favorite Childhood memories – First time on a dirt bike and ATV
What did you want to be when you grew up? Astronaut and a Motorcycle racer
Who has been the most influential person in shaping who you are today?  My wife and my 4 kids

Join fellow appraisers from across the country at Valuation Expo now held at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas! Connect, learn, and meet with ACI and other top industry leaders to stay current on the latest advancements in the valuation industry. View the complete schedule of networking events, educational offerings, discussions, and more.

Visit the ACI Team at the trade show (Booths 1&2), explore our latest appraisal innovations, and take a swing at a chance to win big at the 2nd annual Val Expo Open.

ACI customers can save 20% off trade show and/or general session passes by entering coupon code: ACI2024. Click here to learn more.

ACI Self-Service Center

Supporting you Every Step of the Way

Visit the ACI Self-Service Center, offering assistance at any time of the day, right at your fingertips! Our Self-Service Center is a comprehensive hub for both newcomers and seasoned ACI users. This collection of guides and instructional articles are designed to boost your workflow efficiency!

SaveTime and Schedule an Appointment Online

ACI offers contact appointments for your sales, accounting, and support needs. Schedule an appointment today!

Our appraisers are among the hardest working in the industry. We regularly share tips and best practice ideas to help. Follow us on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on the latest ACI announcements, tips & tricks, industry news & insights, events, and more.

Unlock the Potential of Your Appraisal Business

Join us on Wednesday, April 10th, 11am MT/ 1pm ET as Jared Preisler, the Chief Staff Appraiser at DataMaster, shares skills, resources, and advanced strategies to help provide you an edge in this rapidly evolving market.

WEBINAR EXCLUSIVE: ACI attendees new to DataMaster are eligible to receive a 90-day free trial courtesy of ACI. Register for this complimentary webinar today!

Supporting You Every Step of the Way

SureStep® mobile Can Get You There!

Learn more about SureStep mobile download the app today! It’s included with your ACI membership!

Follow us on LinkedIn for our weekly tech tips!

Movies – Back to the Future Trilogy, The Goonies, and Bio-Dome
TV – Letterkenny, The League, Rick & Morty, The Office, and Bluey (the best kid’s show EVER)
Books – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Of Mice and Men, Ready Player One
Music – Anything and everything except for Country. Led Zeppelin, Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def & Talib Kweli, Fu-Schnickens
Sports – Football, Soccer, and Baseball (I’m a diehard Orioles & Ravens fan!)
Food – My wife and I like to cook and experiment with new recipes (Indian, Thai, and others), and I like to smoke meats on the weekends (my briskets are delicious).
Hobbies – For the past few years, my main hobby has been building out my homelab, tinkering with Docker containers, Virtual Machines, and frequently breaking my home network
Heroes – My mom and grandfather
What is the most useful thing you own? It definitely would have to be my iPhone. I will Google any questions I need answered and can easily find YouTube videos for things I can’t figure out. 

SaveTime and Schedule an Appointment Online

ACI offers contact appointments for your sales, accounting, and support needs. Schedule an appointment today!

This summer, the ACI team was back in Las Vegas for Valuation Expo. Celebrating Valuation Expo’s 20th year, the expo showcased valuable learning and networking opportunities. The ACI team also won Best in Show at the inaugural Val Expo Open, where attendees played competitive mini golf throughout the tradeshow! Hear from Valuation Expo attendees in this Appraisal Buzzcast and be sure to join us next year!

Designed by Brittany Byrum, the ACI team displayed Florida’s beach theme with pride, featuring sand castles, water hazards, and real Daytona Beach sand, but made some waves with a few appraiser obstacles: Lack of Comps, Appraisal of a 7,000 Square Foot Mansion in the Middle of Tract Homes, and Borrower Not Home for Appointment! Learn more about Brittany below.

ACI Promotions

Chat Seven Days a Week

We have extended our live chat hours to seven days a week!

OneCall Chat Hours
Monday – Friday, 8 am ET to 12 am ET
Saturday – Sunday, 8 am ET to 6 pm ET
Holiday availability will vary. 

Our Chat with an Expert feature is found on the bottom right of our website.

Movies: Haunted Mansion (the newest one), Down Periscope is a VERY close #2. I tend to gravitate towards sci-fi and fantasy.

TV: NCIS (original, not spin-offs) 9-1-1 and 9-1-1 Lonestar, Only Murders In the Building, Doctor Who, Star Trek. I adore Bluey and will watch with my kid any time she has it on. I started binge watching Vikings and intend on watching Vikings Valhalla after. The only genre I won’t watch is horror.

Books: Sci-Fi/Fantasy. I LOVE the Game of Thrones books. I am currently reading a book by Rupert Holmes and enjoy his writing style. I also have the Fourth Wing to read once I finish my current book.

Sports: NHL! Vegas Golden Knights! I want to go to one of their home games someday.

Music: My playlists are wide ranging and can go from Mongolian Folk Metal to Frank Sinatra, classic rock, or pop. I’m not a big fan of Rap and most R&B, but there are a few I like. Lately, I’ve been heavily focused on Ruelle and Svrcina.

Food: I am a sucker for pasta. I also make my own sushi, which is a favorite dish in my house.

Looking to learn something new or need a quick ACI refresher? Check out  ACI Tech Talks, the latest ACI how-to video tutorial series. These quick tutorials are designed to help you work quickly and efficiently. Stay tuned for more videos and future live ACI Tech Talks sessions. Are there topics you would like ACI to feature? Let us know!

UAD & Forms Redesign

ACI is fully committed to the new UAD & Forms Redesign project and ensuring that our customers are not just covered, but actually have the best software in the business with tools to perform high-quality appraisals with efficiency and proficiency.

What does this mean? The technical specifications released by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can be broken down into two primary categories. One category is all about the Data Structure, both technically in the MISMO XML file, and practically or visually in the report. The other category is all about the actual report, an all New URAR.

Here are a few key points to keep in mind about the Data Structure:

1) The new UAD is designed to minimize the amount of explanation or commentary required in an appraisal report by adding and updating individual data elements into discrete data points that can be more easily consumed by machines and models. The benefit is that appraisers can spend less time writing lengthy commentary to describe factual and objective characteristics, or factors. Additionally, AMCs and underwriters spend less time looking at that commentary or trying to find the specific comment they’re looking for. Theoretically, this should help reduce the quantity of revision requests appraisers get from their clients and improve turn-times underwriting an appraisal. All of this translates into faster origination speeds for consumers.

2) The improved data structure also allows technology companies like ACI to leverage more third-party data sources to help appraisers populate these new discrete data elements more completely and better enable automation of the data gathering. This allows appraisers to spend less time hunting for the data they need and more time analyzing that data to help support a credible opinion of value for their clients. 

Extended Live Chat Hours

Day or night, you can rely on our OneCall team to assist with all your sales and technical needs. You can now chat with a live OneCall agent Monday through Friday, 8am ET to 12am ET, excluding holidays. Our Chat with an Expert feature is found on the bottom right of our website.

Did you know you can view multiple pages and even reports at the same time? When in an opened report, go to the components list on the left-hand side. Right-click on the form icon and navigate to: New View > Multi-monitor. Your report will pop up in another window and you can drag to another monitor.

Join ACI in Las Vegas August 7-9 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Valuation Expo! Meet the ACI team at Booth 31 to learn about SureStep® mobile and play in the Valuation Expo Open. We are excited to share these summer savings! Receive $50 off registration with discount code: ACI2023. Register here. Offer ends July 15th.

Movies: Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Avatar, Inception, and always ready to watch a comedy, action, adventure.
TV: Ted Lasso, and veterinarian shows like Dr. Pol, college sports. In the past I was into Star Trek, CIS, NCIS, and NASCAR
Books: Early in my life – Steinbeck and Hemingway. In my adult life – science fiction and fantasy, especially with dragons.
Hobbies: Motorcycling, Fishing, Woodworking
Sports: I am a life time Chicago Cubs fan (to the dismay of all my south side relatives). I am also a University of Florida sports fan – Go Gators!
Music: 70’s and 80’s rock. I’m particularly fond of Pink Floyd and Queen.
Heroes: Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs
Food: A charcoal/wood grilled med-rare steak topped with sauteed mushrooms, with a baked potato and salad.
Measurement of Success: A happy, healthy and thriving family.

UAD & Forms Redesign

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac just announced Wednesday, March 29, 2023, that the UAD & Forms Redesign project has moved into its “Roll Out” phase. This is an enormous project for the entire mortgage industry and for the appraisal profession.

What does this mean? The UAD & Forms Redesign project began in 2018 as mandated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The GSE’s have been in a planning stage since then, engaging with industry stakeholders and establishing the requirements for what the new UAD will look like. Moving into the “Roll Out” phase means that the GSE’s are ready to roll the specifications out to the market. The entire industry now has access to the final set of requirements for building the systems required to support the new dataset and forms.

ACI has been at the forefront of these efforts from the very beginning, contributing feedback and providing consultation as the leading appraisal technology provider in the industry. We are actively engaged in the planning and implementation of these specifications. The GSE’s have communicated that the “Roll Out” phase will be a “multiyear effort” and there is no immediate impact to the daily activities and operations of practicing appraisers, AMCs, lenders, and other stakeholders. ACI is committed to ensuring that our customers are prepared for these significant changes and equipped with solutions that will improve how they do business. As we navigate through this process with you, we will provide periodic updates and information to help you prepare for the upcoming changes. The entire ACI team is excited about this project and to be working alongside our customers.

To learn more about the project directly from the GSE’s, click on either link below.

• Fannie Mae UAD Project Page
• Freddie Mac UAD Project Page

Chat with an Expert

Save time using our Chat with an Expert feature found on the bottom right of our website. Live agents are available Monday through Friday from 8am ET to 8pm ET to assist with all your sales and technical needs.

Renew Your ACI Membership Online

ACI now offers the ease of renewing all ACI appraiser memberships online. Learn more about each plan or begin the renewal process by clicking on the links below.

• ACI Company Plan: Starts at one user with two licenses*
  • Options to add additional users and mapping subscriptions, too!
• ACI Appraiser Plan:  Includes one user with one license
• CRAL Membership Plan: ReportPro™ for our Canadian Clients

Please have your Client Code available when you are ready to renew.
Your Client Code can be found in ACI Report, under Help > Product Registration.

*For assistance in finding the best plan to suit your needs, please contact an ACI Account Manager at (800) 234-8727 or email aciwebsales@aciweb.com.

Beta testing continues for our newSureStep® mobile app. We appreciate the opportunity to interact and receive feedback from our valued customers and beta testers throughout the process. Our goal is to provide modern and innovative solutions to help appraisers improve their efficiency, quality, and profitability through best-in-class technology solutions. We encourage our testing partners to keep the feedback coming! If you’re interested in learning more about the ACI Beta Program or be considered for future testing please email us here.

Favorite Films: Harry Potter, Star Wars, LOTR, John Wick – I can’t wait to see the new one!
Music: The Beatles, Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin
Hobbies: Car Shows – I have a 1964 ½ Ford Mustang
Sports: Eagles all the way!!
Food: I love to cook and I’m not afraid to try any new foods – unless it’s moving
Pets: 3 dogs and 5 cats but if I could have ducks here, I would
Guilty Pleasure: Thin Mints

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