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One-th said th mortga Wal-M would from o websit local edition ANALYTICS New York // Two of the nation's independent appraisal management companies have joined forces, turning Solidifi into the third-largest residential real estate valuations firm in the United States. Releasing an official statement, Solidifi announced it had completed a consolidation deal with Kirchmeyer & Associates as part of the growth strategy the company initiated in 2012. "Solidifi's technology and broad appraiser network will complement our own network, and my team and I are excited to continue to service our Exemption Threshold Elevated for Disclosure Act The CFPB finalized its rule on exemption thresholds for financial entities, offering consideration for institutions with assets under $42 million. District of Columbia // The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced it has finalized a rule adjusting the asset-size exemption threshold for banks, savings associations, and credit unions under Regulation C, which implements the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Based on the adjustments, institutions with assets of $42 million or less (as of the end of 2012) are The M Report | 65 se c on da r y m a r k e t Reaching an agreement that establishes Solidifi as the nation's thirdlargest residential real estate valuations firm, the companies announced an acquisition deal. a na ly t ic s District of Columbia // The results of the Census Bureau's and HUD's American Housing Survey are now available for the first time ever via the Census' American FactFinder data access tool, the agencies announced. The survey covers a wide range of topics, including housing problems, householder's satisfaction with home and neighborhood, purchase price and type of mortgage, and socioeconomic characteristics of the householder. Statistics are provided on the national level for apartments, single-family homes, manufactured housing, new construction, and vacant housing units. Solidifi and Kirchmeyer to Consolidate s e r v ic i ng The government entities collaborate to provide enhanced access to information on housing and homeowners. Among the findings from the 2011 survey: •• Seventy-one percent of survey respondents rate their homes highly (ratings of eight to 10), with 29 percent giving their homes the "best" rating of 10. Residents of new construction tend to rate their homes even more highly, with 84 percent giving a rating above eight and 46 percent rating their homes as a 10. •• On average, households pay $927 per month (24 percent of their household income) for housing. The cost is higher for residents of new construction, with median cost being $1,340 per month. •• More than a fifth—21 percent—of all primary mortgage holders reported a change in their monthly payment in the last 12 months. The main reason for their payment change was because of a change in property taxes or homeowners insurance (71 percent). Or ig i nat ion Census, HUD Expand Access to Results current and future customers with these extended capabilities," noted James Kirchmeyer, CEO of Kirchmeyer. To date, Solidifi has invested more than $25 million in its technology platform, which will further enhance appraisal performance for Kirchmeyer customers. Through its cloud-based technology, Solidifi provides customers with a flexible and scalable appraisal management solution with the strictest standards in data security and reliability. "With our shared philosophy of assigning every order to the most competent appraiser to ensure delivery of a top-quality report, the combined companies will continue to raise the bar in terms of service, quality, and professionalism," stated Andrew Bough, Solidifi's chief valuations officer. Moving forward, the newly formed, combined entity will operate under the Solidifi name. "Following a $22 million financing in 2012, Solidifi is in growth mode and Kirchmeyer is an important part of our overall growth strategy. It is the ideal fit for Solidifi," concluded Jason Smith, Solidifi's president and CEO.