The 16th question and answer located in the Freddie Mac HVCC FAQ states:
Question: May a lender direct a broker to use a Web portal set up either by the lender, or by the lender's authorized agent, through which the broker inputs a request for an appraisal and then triggers the lender's system to order an appraisal?
Answer: Yes. A lender may direct a broker to use a Web portal in this manner.

Mercury Network solves the problem of maintaining appraiser independence for lenders: The HVCC (Home Valuation Code of Conduct) mandates that lenders separate anyone on the sales side of the business (loan originators — the loan officers and loan processors) from appraisers, or that they put in place "prudent safeguards" to ensure that a commissioned employee can't influence an appraiser.

The answer doesn't have to be an AMC: On the surface, an obvious solution might seem to employ the services of an appraisal management company (AMC) to act as a firewall between the loan origination staff and the appraiser, but for many lenders that level of separation isn't practical or even desired. Plus, the overhead of the appraisal management company means an appraiser has to be willing to work for less than their normal fee. Mercury Network solves this problem by operating in a "double blind" mode that hides the identity of the appraiser and the lender, making it easy for the two to communicate while still maintaining HVCC compliance. There are already tens of thousands of appraisers ready to accept orders, and the appraiser selection system lets you take into account factors like turnaround time, percentage of orders selected, proximity to subject and more for maximum flexibility.

For lenders that still allow loan originators to communicate directly with appraisers (which is allowed in many situations) they'll appreciate Mercury Network's audit trail of communications that ensures complete transparency during the entire process. Simply put: It's a solution that meets your needs as a lender no matter what level of separation you decide is prudent. And with Mercury Network, a lender can use the same appraisers they've known and trusted for years.

In addition to HVCC compliance, Mercury Network includes numerous time saving features to make the process of managing appraisal orders more efficient. One example is the delivery system used by the appraiser which incorporates a customizable set of review rules that run before the appraiser sends the report, thus increasing loan production staff efficiency with fewer resends..

It's likely you already depend on a la mode technology: Over 50% of all appraisal reports today come through a la mode in some way. Since 2002, a la mode's servers have managed tens of millions of appraisals for over 200,000 mortgage professionals. That same reliable backbone that has been behind thousands of appraiser's business websites is what's driving Mercury Network today. Of course, if you simply look at the bottom of your appraisal reports, chances are at least half of them have "a la mode" in the footer. So rest assured a la mode which has been producing real estate software since 1986 is no newcomer to the industry.

To learn more about how Mercury Network uses technology to streamline your workflow and allows you to remain HVCC compliant, visit Mercury Network at www.mercuryvmp.com. Or contact a la mode, creators of the Mercury Network, at 1-800-434-7260.

If you're a homeowner in need of an appraisal of your home, an attorney needing a property appraisal, or even if you work for a small community bank or credit union and will continue to communicate directly with appraisers, click here to order an appraisal now.

If you're a mortgage loan officer or a mortgage broker who isn't allowed to order appraisals directly from an individual appraiser and are seeking an HVCC-compliant appraisal ordering system or service, I recommend using the Mercury Network for ordering HVCC-compliant appraisals. I'm already registered on Mercury Network, and it's the fastest, most compliant and effective way to order appraisals from me or any appraiser without overhauling your entire appraisal ordering process.

Because I'm already a Mercury Network member, after you complete your own Mercury Network profile, you can add me to your appraiser panel, if you choose to. Mercury Network's Intelligent Selection System (ISS) enables you to order appraisals "blind", based on pre-set ordering criteria so you can be confident you're ordering appraisals with complete HVCC-compliance. You'll also appreciate Mercury Network's pre-populated status message and text box-driven communications which provide you with an audit trail for each transaction. To order using Mercury Network, click here.