UAD 3.6: What the Shift Means and How AAG Is Prepared

In Why Appraisers and Lenders Should Start Using the New UAD Forms Now, we covered the temporary policy exception and the risk of waiting. The takeaway has not changed: more time for some lenders does not change where the industry is headed.

This article takes a step back from the deadline to explain what is changing inside the report—and what that means for the people ordering and reviewing it.

What UAD 3.6 actually changes

For years, residential appraisals were built on fixed forms. The 1004. The 1073. The 1025. Each property type had its own template, and information that did not fit often ended up in a comment addendum.

The redesigned Uniform Residential Appraisal Report, or URAR, takes a different approach. Built on UAD 3.6, it uses a dynamic reporting structure that adapts to the property and assignment rather than relying on separate legacy forms.

This is not just a new-looking PDF. It changes how appraisal information is captured, delivered, and reviewed.

Three differences matter in practice:

• A dynamic report instead of separate fixed forms. For applicable residential assignments, the URAR brings property types previously reported on forms such as the 1004, 1073, and 1025 into one flexible reporting framework.

• More structured information. Defined fields and standardized responses make information easier to locate and compare. Appraiser analysis and explanations still matter; they are not replaced by checkboxes.

• A more consistent review process. Structured data can make omissions and inconsistencies easier to identify. It does not eliminate judgment, underwriting questions, or revision requests.

The benefit is not simply a different form. It is a clearer framework for communicating the property and the appraiser's analysis.

What November 2 means now

November 2, 2026 remains the mandate date. The September 30 policy exception did not move it for everyone.

Lenders without an exception need to move to UAD 3.6 for applicable submissions on November 2. Lenders granted an exception have a phased path into 2027, with reduced functionality for UAD 2.6 beginning March 1, new submissions moving entirely to UAD 3.6 on May 20, and UAD 2.6 support ending June 28.

Our earlier article covers those stages and their consequences in detail. The point for an order placed now is simpler: the right format depends on the lender's requirements, not just the date the appraiser starts the assignment.

Lenders that work through investors or aggregators also need to align with those partners. An exception should never be assumed.

This specific transition applies to applicable residential loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It is not a blanket new-form requirement for FHA, VA, non-QM, or commercial assignments.

What to confirm before the next order

With the deadline close, general readiness statements are not enough. The working details need to be clear.

• Which format does this lender require? Confirm exception status and any investor requirements before assigning the appraisal.

• Can the full workflow handle it? Ordering, appraiser software, delivery, review, storage, and retrieval all need to support the report.

• What happens if the file needs a revision later? A report completed before a deadline may need attention after it. The lender's status and the applicable submission rules matter.

• Is the assigned appraiser ready for that format and property? Familiarity with the market still matters, alongside readiness to complete the new report.

These are the questions that turn a transition plan into a workable assignment.

How AAG supports the change

AAG is appraiser-led. We understand that a reporting change affects the work behind the report, not just the document a client receives.

We are confirming exception status with clients so orders start with the appropriate format. We support both formats through the transition and are building panel capacity for lenders moving in November as well as those converting later.

Our focus remains the same: match the assignment to the right appraiser, communicate requirements clearly, and consider revision needs before they become an urgent problem.

Structured reporting supports that approach. It does not replace the experience needed to evaluate a property or the communication needed to keep a file moving.

The practical takeaway

The question now is not whether UAD 3.6 is coming. It is whether everyone involved in your next assignment agrees on what is required.

November 2 is an immediate checkpoint. For excepted lenders, it is also the beginning of a limited transition window—not a reason to put implementation aside.

Know the format. Confirm the workflow. Plan beyond the initial delivery.

Have questions about your next order? Talk to the AAG team about your requirements and UAD 3.6 transition.