TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
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— Special Advertorial Section — Property valuation guide Axis Appraisal Management Solutions Feature Axis Appraisal Management Solutions "The National Solution for Local Appraisals" Corporate Headquarters key personnel Kim Perotti Corporate profile: AXIS is a team of real estate professionals who believe high-quality appraisals delivered with expert service are critical to successful mortgage lending operations. AXIS provides clients with real estate appraisals completed by local, talented appraisers who are compensated well above industry standards. It links lenders to highly experienced local appraisers to complete AIR-compliant appraisals. EVP Michael Simmons SVP Ron Simmons, SRA Chief Appraiser & Director of Evaluation Services Janice Bezou, SRA Director of Vendor Management & Lender Services George Easton Manager of Review & Staff Appraiser Division Staffing: »Employees: more than 100 »Network: AXIS' nationwide panel of appraisers is highly screened, continuously trained, wellcompensated, and are the highestquality professionals in their area contact information 1299 4th St., Building 304 San Rafael, California 94901 Phone: 888.806.2947 Fax: 866.248.8388 Web: www.axis-amc.com Southwest Fulfillment Center: 914 S. 52nd St., Suite 110 Tempe, Arizona 85281 Please visit the website at www.axisamc.com or email info@axis-amc.com to learn more about products, services, and the company's unique technological advantages. 40 | The M Report BUSINESS SCOPE: AXIS is the national solution for local appraisals, and the company is licensed in every state that has a licensing requirement, providing coverage across the U.S. COMPANY HISTORY: AXIS was founded by Michael Sim- mons, a lending professional, and Kim Perotti, a manager at a top-tier appraisal firm, who had a great working relationship in the years prior to HVCC (now AIR). When HVCC hit in 2009, Simmons was fearful of appraisal management companies that would send unvetted appraisers 25 miles from their offices to do appraisals in areas they were unfamiliar with, and Perotti's firm was equally reticent to work with unknown appraisal management companies (AMCs) who would pay a small fraction of the fee they collected for the appraisal. These two professionals decided that the industry needed a better idea, so they developed an AMC that respected the hard work done by competent, local appraisers and served lenders, borrowers, and brokers by providing reliable, timely, and accurate appraisals. They ultimately created a company that spans the entire country and serves some of the largest banks and most sophisticated mortgage brokers in the industry. COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: Clients who partner with AXIS can rest assured their appraisals drive the most profitable risk decisions, while maintaining strict quality control and compliance standards. That is the AXIS advantage. KEYS TO SUCCESS: Utilizing a comprehensive, sevenpoint strategy that ensures success for its clients, the company, and its partners, AXIS' dynamic approach to today's marketplace focuses on the following: Innovation: In a partnership with industry leaders a la mode and MasterServ, AXIS has collaborated to develop an appraisal review system that will mitigate lender risk and cut underwriting time by up to half. The system, Appraisal Quality Management, or AQM, will launch industry-wide in spring 2013. In-Depth Review Processes: AXIS' quality-control (QC) process includes the most advanced technological resources—but more importantly, human interaction remains at the heart of its quality assurance department. Each report is evaluated in a multiphase process that includes a certified or licensed appraiser and/or USPAP-certified personnel. A Phenomenal Staff: Each member of the AXIS team has a high degree of knowledge about lending and/or appraising, and they're customer service fanatics. Team members are available by phone, constantly monitoring and expediting each client's pipeline, and ready to solve all clients' appraisal problems. A Team Approach: Each lender is served by skilled account executives who provide active and communicative pipeline management. Account executives are supported by regional placement specialists, who assist with rural and/or complex assignments. Highly trained administrative support ensures daily follow-up with appraisers to promote timeliness and transparency. Expert Help Desk: Questions from borrowers, clients, their industry partners, and a panel comprised of thousands of appraisers from across the U.S. are answered by AXIS' internal team of certified appraisers that assist in resolving and understanding complex property issues. Better Appraisers Through Fair Compensation: AXIS fee splits range between 75 percent and 80 percent of the fee, as opposed to the typical industry standard that is often 50 percent. This difference means more than $100 more per order to the appraiser—clients can imagine where an AXIS order falls on the list of priorities for its appraisers. With the growing concern surrounding reasonable and customary fees, higher compensation allows AXIS to recruit and retain the very best local appraisers in each market. They are highly referred, highly experienced, and very local—every time—with no exceptions. In a market where purchases are a growing component of business, this is a critical selling point with realtors. Very few companies can make this level of commitment and guarantee. We Learn; We Adapt: At the company's core, it is a community of learners. As members of MBA, CMBA, CAMP, AI, and CRN, AXIS staff regularly attends appraisal conferences and seminars across the country to keep abreast of the latest information. AXIS believes the more knowledge its clients have, the more they excel within their business—and the more AXIS appraisers know, the better quality products AXIS' lenders will receive. ACCOLADES & AWARDS: Lauding AXIS' unique, multi- faceted approach to valuations, Dan Jackson of Mountain Vista Mortgage noted, "I really appreciate AXIS' guidance and assistance, and I know that if there is merit for changes to an appraisal, the firm is committed to having the most factual appraisal possible."