Why Appraisers and Lenders Should Start Using the New UAD Forms Now
By AAG Team
The last thing you need is for a deal to get delayed because the UAD 3.6 form is required after an appraisal revision.
The appraisal industry is approaching a major transition, and November 2 is the date every lender, appraisal management company, and appraiser working on applicable assignments needs to understand.
The transition to UAD 3.6 is not simply a new form to learn when the deadline arrives. It affects how appraisals are ordered, completed, delivered, stored, and revised. Waiting until the last minute to adopt this form could create problems that show up after the original appraisal is finished.
The risk most people are missing
An appraisal may be completed on an old form before November 2. That does not necessarily mean the file is safe from the transition.
Imagine this. An appraisal is completed in October. The loan takes longer than expected to close, or the underwriter requests a revision in late November. If the old form is no longer accepted for that assignment, a simple revision may not be possible. The lender or client may need to order a new appraisal using the new form.
That means more time. More cost. More work for everyone involved.
Revisions do not always happen immediately. A report may be reviewed weeks or months after completion, especially when a loan takes time to move through underwriting or sale. The form used today can affect what happens later.
Who is affected?
The UAD 3.6 transition applies to applicable residential loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It does not apply in the same way to every assignment. FHA, VA, non-QM, and commercial work are not governed by this specific requirement.
That distinction matters. The goal is not to create unnecessary urgency around every appraisal. The goal is to make sure the right people understand where the deadline applies and what it means for their files.
Why waiting creates unnecessary risk
The new forms may be easier to use than they first appear, but the first assignment can still expose issues in a company's process.
Can the ordering platform select the correct form? Can the appraiser's software generate the report properly? Can the client receive it? Can the system store it for the required retention period? Can the report be retrieved if a revision or audit is needed?
These are basic questions. They are also questions that should be answered before the deadline, not during a time-sensitive transaction.
Appraiser adoption is another part of the transition. Experienced professionals have established routines, and changing those routines takes time. The first new-form assignment may feel clunky. After that, the process can become much more manageable. Early practice gives appraisers a chance to work through the learning curve before the new process becomes mandatory.
What should happen now?
Lenders, AMCs, and appraisal firms should begin testing the new forms on applicable assignments. They should confirm their software and ordering platforms are ready, review how revisions will be handled, and communicate the change clearly to clients and internal teams.
Appraisers should complete a new-form assignment before the deadline whenever possible. That is the fastest way to identify questions about workflow, fees, turnaround time, and report delivery.
Clients should also ask the right question when ordering an appraisal: Is this assignment being completed on the form that will remain acceptable if a revision is needed later?
That question can prevent a difficult conversation after the deadline.
The practical takeaway
November 2 is not a date to circle and ignore until it arrives. It is a deadline that requires preparation.
Start using the new forms. Test the technology. Confirm the storage process. Explain the revision risk. Give appraisers and clients time to adjust.
The goal is not simply to deliver a report. It is to deliver a defensible report that will continue to support the transaction when questions come up.
The right preparation protects the deal, protects the timeline, and protects your reputation.
Need help or have questions? Connect with us here to talk about your UAD 3.6 readiness.
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