By Thomas Roberts, RealtorTom | William Raveis Real Estate
October 27, 2026
If you are selling a house in New Rochelle or buying a condo in White Plains, an upcoming change to mortgage appraisal reports is worth understanding.
Beginning November 2, 2026, new appraisal reports first submitted to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s Uniform Collateral Data Portal generally must use UAD 3.6. Certain lenders can obtain a temporary exception.
The practical issue for buyers and sellers is preparation: accurate property information, clear communication with the lender, and a realistic appraisal schedule.
What is UAD 3.6?
UAD stands for Uniform Appraisal Dataset. It establishes a consistent way to record and electronically deliver information about a property being appraised for mortgage financing.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are replacing their familiar fixed appraisal forms with a redesigned Uniform Residential Appraisal Report, or URAR. The report changes its sections according to the property and appraisal assignment. Houses, condominiums, co-ops, and small residential income properties can be documented within this flexible structure.
Previously, some details appeared in narrative addenda. The new system puts more information into specific, standardized fields, with space for explanations where needed. Its purpose is to make reports easier to understand and review consistently. Freddie Mac explains the redesign here.
What additional property details will appraisers report?
- Kitchens and bathrooms: their condition, update status, and update time frames.
- Interior and exterior: separate condition and quality ratings, in addition to overall ratings.
- Roof and converted space: estimated roof age and areas converted from their original use into living space.
- Solar and energy features: information such as whether renewable energy equipment is owned or leased.
- Accessory dwelling units: separate measurements and details about condition, access, and legal rentability.
- Visible defects: structured descriptions, photographs, and recommended actions where applicable.
The condition and quality rating scales themselves have not changed, although their definitions have been clarified. More detail does not automatically mean a higher or lower appraised value. See the joint Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac FAQs and inspection and reporting guidance.
Why New Rochelle and White Plains sellers should care
Our local housing stock includes older homes with additions, renovated kitchens, converted spaces, and improvements completed over many years. Keeping that history organized can help the appraiser understand what is actually there.
Imagine a New Rochelle house with an updated kitchen, an older roof, and a converted garage. The redesigned report provides more specific places to describe those differences. Calling the entire house “fully renovated” may leave important questions unanswered.
My recommendation is to prepare a short property information folder before the appraisal:
- List major improvements and the approximate year each was completed.
- Gather available permits and certificates for additions, conversions, and accessory apartments.
- Locate roof replacement records and solar ownership or lease documents, if applicable.
- Tell your agent about discrepancies between the listing, public records, and the actual layout.
- Arrange access to the areas needed for the appraisal assignment.
This is practical preparation, rather than a new universal document checklist imposed on every homeowner. Your agent can make relevant information available to the appraiser, who independently decides how it affects the valuation.
For White Plains condo and co-op sellers, coordinate with management when the lender or appraiser requests building information. The new report does not eliminate the lender’s separate review of the building or project.
Why buyers should care
Whether you are buying your first New Rochelle co-op or moving into a White Plains house, the appraisal is part of the lender’s assessment of the property supporting your mortgage.
The additional detail can help explain the property’s characteristics. It also makes early coordination useful during the transition. Ask your loan officer:
- Will my appraisal use UAD 3.6?
- Is your appraisal team ready to receive, review, and submit the new report?
- What is the appraisal fee and expected turnaround time for this property?
- Is there enough time for any questions or corrections before my planned closing?
A new reporting system can create a learning curve. That is a reason to confirm expectations early, rather than assume every transaction will be delayed.
A detailed appraisal does not replace a home inspection. The appraisal supports a mortgage valuation decision. Buyers should still arrange an appropriate home inspection to evaluate accessible systems and visible property conditions.
Will appraisals cost more or take longer?
The official guidance reviewed for this article does not establish a standard fee increase or a fixed increase in turnaround time. Fees and scheduling depend on the assignment, local availability, and the lender’s arrangements.
Buyers should get a current estimate from their lender. Sellers should coordinate access promptly. Both sides should leave room for reasonable follow-up questions.
What does the November 2 deadline actually mean?
The trigger is the appraisal report’s initial submission to the portal. It is not the date the buyer signs a contract, applies for a mortgage, or has the property visited by the appraiser.
An October contract can therefore involve the new format if the report is first submitted on or after November 2. An older report properly submitted before the deadline does not automatically become unusable that day; applicable reuse and expiration rules still matter.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have also provided a temporary policy exception process. Lenders that obtain the applicable exception can continue submitting older UAD 2.6 reports through May 19, 2027, while transitioning.
In this guidance, the capitalized word “Seller” means the institution selling the mortgage to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. It does not mean the homeowner selling the house. Homeowners do not apply for that exception.
The November 2 mandate concerns the applicable Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac appraisal submissions. Buyers using FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, or other loan programs should ask their lender which reporting requirements apply. Do not assume every program has the same deadline.
Questions home buyers and sellers ask about UAD 3.6
What changes with home appraisals on November 2, 2026?
New appraisal reports first submitted to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s Uniform Collateral Data Portal generally must use UAD 3.6, a more detailed, standardized reporting format. Certain lenders can obtain a temporary exception.
Does UAD 3.6 apply to homes in New Rochelle and White Plains?
Yes, when the transaction requires an appraisal submitted under the applicable Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac requirements. The reporting change is national, rather than a separate New Rochelle or White Plains rule.
Will UAD 3.6 lower my home’s appraised value?
The reporting change does not automatically lower or raise a home’s value. The appraiser must still support the value conclusion with the property’s characteristics and relevant market evidence.
What should a home seller prepare for the new appraisal report?
Organize available renovation dates, roof records, permits, and documents for additions, converted spaces, accessory apartments, and solar equipment. Ask your agent which information is relevant to your property.
Will my appraisal cost more after November 2?
There is no universal fee increase established by the official UAD guidance reviewed for this article. Ask your lender for the fee and expected turnaround time for your particular appraisal.
Does the new appraisal replace a home inspection?
No. An appraisal supports a mortgage valuation decision. A home inspection evaluates accessible systems and visible conditions for the buyer. Buyers should still arrange an appropriate inspection.
Does an October purchase contract avoid the new appraisal format?
No. The general deadline is based on the report’s initial portal submission date, rather than the contract or mortgage application date. Ask the lender which format applies and whether it has an applicable approved exception.
Do homeowners need to request a UAD 3.6 exception?
No. The exception process is for eligible lenders selling mortgages to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The word Seller in that guidance refers to the mortgage seller, rather than the homeowner.
Planning a move in New Rochelle or White Plains?
You do not need to learn the technical language behind appraisal software. You do need accurate property information and a team that communicates about the financing schedule.
If you are preparing to sell or buy in New Rochelle, White Plains, or a nearby Westchester community, I would be happy to help you understand the steps and prepare the right questions for your lender.
Thomas Roberts | RealtorTom
New York State Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
William Raveis Real Estate
Information reviewed October 27, 2026. Loan requirements and appraisal procedures depend on the program and lender.
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