Chief Appraiser

THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
Before we begin —
which best describes you?
skip

Welcome to Chief Appraiser

A couple things worth knowing before you dive in.

Still Being Built — And That's Where You Come In

Chief Appraiser is in beta. That means the tool you're using today is real and already useful, but it's still growing — more guidelines, sharper search, more ways to ask a question the way you'd actually ask it. Every question you search, and everything you tell us through the Feedback button, is how we decide what gets built next.

Why not just use AI?

Because AI alone can sound confident and still be wrong. Chief Appraiser starts with the real guideline document — the actual page, the actual language — so you always know exactly where an answer came from. The plain-English summary underneath is AI, doing what it's actually good at: explaining a citation, not guessing at one.

Read our Terms of Use

Help Us Improve Chief Appraiser

We’d love your feedback — it only takes a minute.
What worked well? What was missing or confusing? Screenshot (optional) Email (optional — only if you want a reply) skip
Chief
Appraiser
The Body of Knowledge for Residential Real Estate Appraisal
Using Chief Appraiser means you accept our Terms of Use.  ·  In beta. Help us build it →
8 results for ADU
← New Search
We're actively fine-tuning search accuracy across every guideline right now. If this answer looks off, tell us — that's exactly what helps us fix it fast.
Chief Appraiser Says
Reading the actual guideline text below — never a general AI guess
Here's what we mean by "ADU": an Accessory Dwelling Unit is a separate living space that includes a kitchen, bathroom, and separate entrance, is independent of the primary dwelling unit, and is smaller than the primary unit. VA and Freddie Mac both confirm this basic definition. Fannie Mae's updated rules (effective March 31, 2026, for lenders using UAD 3.6) now allow up to three ADUs on a single-unit property and permit two- to three-unit properties to include ADUs as long as the total dwelling units plus ADUs does not exceed four—a significant expansion from earlier limits of one ADU per property. The appraisal report must describe the ADU in detail, specify its condition and room count including bedrooms and bathrooms, report its finished square footage separately, and note any effect it has on market value. When you're reporting the property, you count the primary units in one field (excluding ADUs) and then list the number of ADUs in a separate field, and you must identify which specific unit is the ADU. Straight from Fannie Mae Selling Guide, Freddie Mac Seller/Servicer Guide, VA Lenders Handbook (Pamphlet 26-7), and UAD 3.6/URAR — nothing added.
AI Search
General web information, outside Chief Appraiser’s vetted library — verify against the authoritative source before relying on it professionally
Searching the wider web…
Chief Appraiser Picks  ·  Related Video How Much Do Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Add to a Home's Value? (Class Valuation)
Was this helpful? 👍 Yes 👎 Not quite
Filter: All None
#1 HUD/FHA Single Family Handbook 4000.1 Page 573
0.950
B. Title II Insured Housing Programs Reverse Mortgages 2. Origination/Processing Handbook 4000.1 548 Last Revised: 8/12/2026 the Borrower is responsible for notifying the…
HUD/FHA Single Family Handbook 4000.1  ·  HUD_FHA_4000.1.pdf  ·  Page 573  ·  View at official source (HUD.gov — SFH Handbook 4000.1) →
B. Title II Insured Housing Programs Reverse Mortgages 2. Origination/Processing Handbook 4000.1 548 Last Revised: 8/12/2026 the Borrower is responsible for notifying the Mortgagee of absences from the Property in excess of two months to avoid determinations that the Borrower’s Principal Residence has changed; • FHA insures fixed rate HECMs, as well as annual and monthly adjustable rate HECMs; • the amount of funds made available to the Borrower is based on the age of the youngest Borrower or Eligible NBS; • principal limit growth for all payment plan options; the Principal Limit may increase monthly but there are restrictions for disbursing those funds during the First 12-Month Disbursement Period; • the Initial Mortgage Insurance Premium (IMIP) payment methods and the formula used to calculate the IMIP amount; • the costs of obtaining the HECM: provide the Borrower with a Good Faith Estimate (GFE), giving the Borrower an estimate of closing costs and explaining which charges are required to obtain the HECM and which charges are not required to obtain the HECM, including the disclosure of third-party fees; and inquire whether the HECM proceeds will be used to pay any cost associated with estate planners and inform the Borrower that such services are unnecessary to obtain a HECM and are ineligible for payment from HECM proceeds; • the Borrower may incur the cost of a second appraisal, if required by the collateral risk assessment, which is used to determine whether additional support for the collateral value is required; • the Property must meet FHA’s Minimum Property Requirements (MPR) or Minimum Property Standards (MPS) and the provisions for completing required repairs either prior to or after closing; • insurance is required for all improvements on the Property that serves as collateral for the HECM, whether in existence at the time of origination or subsequently erected, against any hazards, casualties, and contingencies, including fire and flood, for which the Mortgagee requires insurance. Such insurance must be maintained in the amount and for the period of time that is necessary to protect the Mortgagee’s investment; • the Borrower and NBS, if any, will be required to disclose and certify their marital status at closing: an NBS may be eligible for the deferral of the Due and Payable status upon the death of the last surviving Borrower if the NBS meets and continues to meet the Qualifying Attributes or the NBS continues to reside
#2 HUD/FHA Single Family Handbook 4000.1 Page 574
0.940
B. Title II Insured Housing Programs Reverse Mortgages 2. Origination/Processing Handbook 4000.1 549 Last Revised: 8/12/2026 other Borrower obtaining the HECM and acknowledging…
HUD/FHA Single Family Handbook 4000.1  ·  HUD_FHA_4000.1.pdf  ·  Page 574  ·  View at official source (HUD.gov — SFH Handbook 4000.1) →
B. Title II Insured Housing Programs Reverse Mortgages 2. Origination/Processing Handbook 4000.1 549 Last Revised: 8/12/2026 other Borrower obtaining the HECM and acknowledging the terms and conditions of the Mortgage; • repayment and prepayment features; and • the Borrower’s rights, obligations, and remedies with respect to temporary absences from the home, late payments, and payment default by the Mortgagee and all conditions requiring satisfaction of the HECM. For fixed rate HECMs, Mortgagees must also explain: • the Borrower is limited to the single lump sum payment option, which provides a single Disbursement at closing with no opportunity for future Disbursements to or on behalf of the Borrower, except as allowed from a Set-Aside established at closing; and • Disbursement of HECM proceeds during the First 12-Month Disbursement Period is limited to the amount of the Borrower’s Advance, plus Disbursements from a Set-Aside that was established at closing. For adjustable rate HECMs: • the Borrower may choose from five, flexible payment options, allowing for future Disbursements, and the Borrower may change payment plans to one of the other available payment options at any time provided funds are available; • the frequency of annual and monthly adjustable rate changes; and • Disbursement of HECM proceeds during the First 12-Month Disbursement Period is subject to an Initial Disbursement Limit. (2) Required Documentation At initial application, the Mortgagee must obtain the HECM Program Description disclosure signed and dated by the Borrower. (B) Compliance with All Applicable Laws, Rules, and Requirements The Mortgagee is required to comply with all federal, state, and local laws, rules, and requirements applicable to the HECM transaction, including all applicable disclosure requirements and the requirements of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), including those related to: • Truth in Lending Act (TILA); and • Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). (C) Nondiscrimination Policy The Mortgagee must fully comply with all applicable provisions of: • the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601–3619; • the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681‒1681x; and • the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1691‒1691f.
#3 UAD 3.6 / URAR (FNMA) Page 14
0.108
Overview Appendix F-1: URAR Reference Guide Page 14 of 375 Version 1.3 Units and ADUs Defining the Property (Units and ADUs) Report Field ID Report Label When to Include Allowable…
UAD 3.6 / URAR (FNMA)  ·  Appendix F-1 URAR Reference Guide v1.3.pdf  ·  Page 14  ·  View at official source (fanniemae.com/uad) →
Overview Appendix F-1: URAR Reference Guide Page 14 of 375 Version 1.3 Units and ADUs Defining the Property (Units and ADUs) Report Field ID Report Label When to Include Allowable Answers / Format Definition / Additional Guidance 3.005 Units Excluding ADUs Always required Number Number of separate living units on the subject property, not counting any ADUs. ADUs are entered in a separate field (3.006) but are considered in the overall unit count. Examples: • A single-family property (with or without an ADU) is reported as 1 unit in this field. • A three-unit property (with or without an ADU) is reported as 3 units in this field. 3.006 Accessory Dwelling Units Always required Number Number of ADUs on Subject Property Notes: • Enter zero (0) if there are no ADUs on the property. • ADUs may be in the dwelling, attached to the dwelling, or associated with a separate building (outbuilding). 10.011 ADU Always required Yes | No Unit is an ADU: Indicates whether the unit is considered an accessory dwelling unit. Notes: • If Number of ADUs on Subject Property 3.006 is zero, this question does not display. • If Number of ADUs on Subject Property is 1 or more, this question displays in each instance of Unit Interior to identify which unit is the ADU. PUD, Project, and Site Owned in Common Defining the Property (PUD, Project, and Site Owned in Common) Report Field ID Report Label When to Include Allowable Answers / Format Definition / Additional Guidance 3.010 Planned Unit Development (PUD) Always required Yes | No Property in a PUD Indicates whether the property is in a PUD. A PUD is a subdivision that consists of common property and improvements that are owned and maintained by a homeowners association (HOA) for the benefit and use of the individual PUD unit owners. A unit owner in the PUD has title to a residential property (parcel and dwelling) and an interest in the HOA that owns or manages the common areas and facilities of the PUD. 3.011 3.012 3.013 Condominium Cooperative Condop Always required Yes | No Property in a Project • Yes (the property is in a condominium, cooperative, or condop) • No (the property is not in a condominium, cooperative, or condop) 3.011 3.012 3.013 Condominium Cooperative Condop Required if Property in a Project is Yes Condominium, Cooperative, or Condop Project Legal Structure 3.015 Subject
Chief Appraiser  ·  5,969 passages indexed  ·  24 sources  ·  chiefappraiser.org