In June 2026, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac published a job aid built from their review of the first UAD 3.6 reports. Most of what went wrong comes down to one habit: not using the GSEs' own lists and rows. Pick the listed answer instead of Other, put each item in the one grid row built for it, and use the standard photo captions without adding your own.
Where do these mistakes come from?
From the GSEs' UAD 3.6 Job Aid: Guidance for Appraisers through Lessons Learned, version 1.0, published June 23, 2026. It summarizes key observations from initial UAD 3.6 reports, eleven lessons in all, most with a non-compliant example and the compliant way to report it.
These are not SSR findings. They are reporting habits the GSEs saw in early reports. Some may trip a finding and some may only confuse a reviewer, and all of them are avoidable.
Mistake 1: choosing Other when the answer is on the list
The job aid shows it twice:
- Financing type. The appraiser chose Other and typed "Arm's Length Conventional" for every comparable. The listed answer is Conventional. Arm's length belongs in a separate row, Transfer Terms, where Typically Motivated is the listed answer. The two rows are not to be combined.
- Site influence. The appraiser chose Other and typed a description for the subject and every comparable. The listed answer Residential matched what they typed.
The fix: look at the list first. The URAR Reference Guide (Appendix F-1) lists the allowed answers for each field with their definitions. Other is for when nothing on the list fits.
Mistake 2: the right item in the wrong row, or in two
The new sales grid expands to fit the property, which makes it easy to put a feature in the wrong place or put it in twice. The job aid's examples:
- Inground pool. Reported in the Unit(s) subsection, or on an Other line added under General Information. It belongs in Property Amenities, as a Water Feature, and that is where the adjustment goes.
- Porch, patio or deck. These belong in Property Amenities, as Outdoor Living. If it is covered or screened, use the listed answers and put the extra detail in the commentary.
- Empty rows. An appraiser added Outdoor Living and Whole Home rows with nothing in them for the subject or comparables. If a feature does not apply, leave its row off the grid.
The fix: report each item once, in its predefined row. Do not repeat information in the grid or duplicate a line item or its adjustment. Several sections of the grid have a blank row for a characteristic with no predefined row, but use it only after checking every predefined row. Some may not show in your software until you open its full list.
Mistake 3: your own captions on top of the standard ones
An appraiser gave Unit Interior photos their standard captions, then added free-form text to each one. The result was duplicate, sometimes conflicting labels that confuse reviewers.
The fix: pick the standard caption. The Reference Guide asks for a caption of your own only for a photo or image it does not already name. Two related lessons from the same job aid: upload each exhibit to the section it belongs to, and make sure every image is legible. If images come out blurry in the report, the GSEs say to call your software vendor's support.
What are the other lessons?
| Lesson | What to do |
|---|---|
| Area Breakdown | Report standard and nonstandard finished area separately, never the same area as both. If the subject has unfinished or nonstandard area, it goes in the sales grid too. |
| Levels and rooms | Levels in Unit must match the number of rows in the Level and Room Detail table. Below grade area counts as a level. List levels from lowest to highest. |
| Comparable weight | The grid now shows each comparable's weight. Your reconciliation comments must match it, so retire old canned comments. |
| Area terms | UAD 3.6 uses new area terms. Comments written with the retired terms no longer match the report. |
| Significant real property appraisal assistance | Complete it as the Assignment Information section of the Reference Guide describes. Single Family Scenario 1 in Appendix D-1 shows it done right. |
| Condition | The rating has to match the defects you report. Missing floor coverings point to C5 as is, or C4 if the appraisal is made subject to installing them. |
| New construction | Update Status for kitchens, bathrooms and flooring is Fully Updated, a change from UAD 2.6. |
Questions appraisers ask
Are these the most common UAD 3.6 findings?
The GSEs call them key observations from their review of early UAD 3.6 reports, not a ranking. They are a good list to check your own reports against before you deliver.
When should I choose Other?
Only when none of the listed answers fits. In the GSEs' examples, Other with a typed description was used where a listed answer already existed, and the entries were non-compliant.
Where does an inground pool go in the sales grid?
In the Property Amenities subsection, as a Water Feature, on one row only. That is where its adjustment goes.
Can I write my own photo captions?
Use the standard caption when one fits. Write your own only for a photo or image the standard captions do not cover, and do not add a second label on top of a standard one.
Sources
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, UAD 3.6 Job Aid: Guidance for Appraisers through Lessons Learned, version 1.0 (June 23, 2026), lessons 1 through 11, on Fannie Mae's UAD page
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Appendix F-1, URAR Reference Guide, on Fannie Mae's UAD page
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, UAD Job Aid: Photo and Image Requirements, on Fannie Mae's UAD page