Everything from a home owners’ energy efficient appliances to solar panels may now get more attention from appraisals with the added form.

The new form allows appraisers to identify and describe a home’s green features. It will serve as an optional addendum to Fannie Mae Form 1004, which is the appraisal industry’s mostly commonly used form for mortgage purposes, used by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Administration.

“We hope lenders, home builders, real estate agents, and home owners will take advantage of this new tool,” Joseph C. Magdziarz, president of the Appraisal Institute, said in a statement. “Mortgage lenders who want to see energy features analyzed should request the green addendum to be included with Form 1004. We also encourage lenders to provide the green addendum to home owners so they can fill it out and provide it to their appraiser. If a new home is being appraised, home builders can use the addendum to provide data to appraisers. Real estate agents also can use the data to help populate the MLS.”

Source: “Appraisal Institute Issues Form to Help Real Estate Appraisers Analyze ‘Green’ Features,” RISMedia (Sept. 29, 2011)

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2011/09/30/appraisers-add-form-help-value-green-homes