I received this from Rels Valuation Management:

July 1, 2008

To Our Appraiser Partners:

From Rels Valuation Quality Assurance Department

In April 2008, we released the Market Conditions Summary (MCS) that was mandated for many appraisal assignments. Since this time we have received considerable feedback from appraisers and our client with respect to the form. In consideration of this feedback we have revised the MCS to one page, eliminated the redundancies between the appraisal and the MCS, and removed the least critical components of the original form.  We believe that you will find the revised form to be more concise and efficient.

Currently the software vendors are in the process of programming the revised form and will begin releasing it on 7/1/08 continuing through the month of July. Your release date will be dependent upon your appraisal software and you will be responsible to update your software, if applicable.  Please be advised that if you are currently utilizing one of the conversion tools (Mercury or Lighthouse), the form will not be available in the conversion package until sometime towards the end of August.  Until it is available in the conversion package, if you are currently using Lighthouse, you will need to convert the file and then add the MCS form to the report. If you are currently using Mercury, the MCS will covert as a PDF in the final report.

The revised Market Conditions Summary will be required to be completed on full conventional and home equity appraisal products as of 8/1/08 (exclusions include FHA, REO, PMI, Desktops, land and bond program appraisals). In the meantime, continue utilizing the original MCS form until such time as your software vendor releases the new version of the form.

Attached in this announcement is a copy of the revised MCS for your review. Thank you for your continued cooperation in providing quality appraisal products. If you have any questions regarding the form please contact your local Area Manager or Appraiser Relations Specialist.

How does one add the new MCS form to Lighthouse?

          Thanks,

          Gil

Gil,

We did receive the new Market Conditions Summary form from Rels and began working on it immediately. The form is currently in the final phase of testing and we expect to release the form to Webupdate within the next few days. We will update the forum as soon as it becomes available.

Thanks,
Jeanine of ACI Support

Hello Gil,

The latest version of the RELS Market Conditions Summary has been released to WebUpdate and is available for download for Lighthouse™ customers.

Issue: Need the new Rels Market Condition Form in Lighthouse

Resolution: Download the new form to your system from the LH WebUpdate

How to: Within Lighthouse Report, click Help, Lighthouse WebUpdate and follow those prompts (you may be asked for your Company Password)

Tip: If the Lighthouse conversions from your software package is not available, you can add the form manually by clicking File> Add/Remove Forms, and choosing “Rels Market Conditions Summary” from the list.

Please give us a call if you would like us to walk you through the process.

At your service,
Andrew