The new Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) 3.6 and the redesigned Uniform Residential Appraisal Dataset Report (URAR) have been all the talk in the valuation industry in 2025. As the first appraisal form update in two decades, UAD 3.6 will affect all parties across the real estate valuation industry, from appraisers to appraisal management companies (AMCs), mortgage lenders, servicers, and borrowers. In this article, we will break down what it is and how you can prepare for the rollout.
What is UAD 3.6 and why does it matter?
The Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) was introduced by the GSEs, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to help standardize appraisal reporting. The purpose is to ensure data is consistent across all parties submitting appraisal reports. In a push towards further appraisal modernization across the entire lending cycle, the UAD 3.6 brings a dynamic form that refines requirements and enhances clarity on fields.
With a more advanced form, better alignment and data standardization, the changes are expected to bring benefits to multiple parties in the appraisal process.
Benefits of the new UAD 3.6 form:
- One dynamic report: A single, adaptive form accommodates all property types, reducing the need for multiple separate forms, and simplifying appraisal ordering and review processes.
- At-a-glance summary page: The new summary page delivers key characteristics and conclusions in an easily identifiable format at the start of the report – saving underwriters and reviewers time.
- More precise condition and modernization insights: Enhanced reporting on interior and exterior condition, including room-level updates for kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and basements, provides clearer visibility into property quality and recent improvements.
- Improved representation of complex living areas: Expanded options for reporting non-contiguous finished areas like finished above-grade space, reduce ambiguity and improve accuracy for properties that don’t fit traditional layouts.
- Expanded collateral risk data for smarter reviews: More granular, structured data supports risk-based review, enabling lenders to better align review with property risk.
- Inclusion of broadband internet availability: Standardized reporting on internet access adds context for marketability and livability – a necessary addition for today’s world.
How lenders and servicers should approach this transition:
- Train your staff: This is a significant change for all parties involved, especially your teams. Your processors, underwriters and loan officers will need to know how to review the updated form and explain the appraisal conclusion and value to borrowers, and UAD training is a key component in their education.
- Expand collaboration with your AMCs: A smooth transition depends on your appraiser partners. Lenders should be working closely with their AMCs to ensure everyone is on the same page. In addition to aligning on the new UAD appraisal form, you will also need to revise items like engagement letters to better align with the updated requirements.
How your AMC should approach this transition:
- Training, training and more training: The most important thing that AMCs should be doing is training their staff all about the new form. At SingleSource, we are hosting weekly, 40-minute UAD training sessions with our appraisal team.
- During these sessions, we are reviewing the new UAD form, how it will look, the terminology that will be used in the form, and new requirements.
- As an AMC, we are preparing our clients for the new form by aligning our processes, QC and reviewer expertise with a more data-driven approach. Once more lenders begin adopting UAD 3.6, SingleSource staff will be familiar with the new form and data set, and how to review the new form, ensuring an efficient process for our lender clients.
Although this is a GSE driven change – and lenders must state when they are ready to accept the new form from appraisers – appraisers need to prepare for the rollout as well.
How appraisers should approach this transition:
- Education: Appraisers should be learning all they can about this form, in order to adopt the new software and prepare for completing reports in the new format.
- At SingleSource, we are communicating with our appraiser panel regarding important points that will be more detailed in the new UAD such as sales comparison approach adjustment support, UAD condition and quality ratings, age adjustments, comparable sales, externalities, site adjustments, bedroom/bathroom count, and ensuring the similarity of all sales.
- We are coaching our appraisers, so they know the expectations, are familiar with the increased level of reporting requirements, and submit the right information the first time, when they perform the new UAD and new URAR.
If you are an appraiser and you haven’t been exposed to UAD 3.6 yet, below are a few useful resources for you to review. We want you to be successful, and we are here are for you if you have any questions during this period:
Appraisal Institute Begin Your Career
Licensing & CE for Appraisers, Real Estate Agents & More | McKissock
The New UAD/URAR Student Support Page – Appraiser eLearning
The Rollout Timeline:
- September 8, 2025 – January 25, 2026: Limited Production Period with select lenders
- January 26, 2026 – November 1, 2026: Broad Production release open to all lenders
- November 2, 2026: Mandate date – UAD 3.6 required for all new appraisal report submissions
- May 2027: Complete retirement of UAD 2.6 pipeline
The limited production period has already begun, and broad production is fast approaching. Lenders should begin rolling this out at the end of January, and everyone should be using this by November 2026. During this time, and beyond, SingleSource will support both UAD 2.6 and UAD 3.6 processes, to ensure a smooth transition.
SingleSource is ready and eager to assist with this transition for our clients and vendor partners. If you have any other questions about our valuation services, please reach out to our team – we are here to help.
