Dubbed the industry’s CliffsNotes for the new Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) 3.6, Grid-ML LLC’s new UAD 3.6 Interactive Reference Guide is a game-changer for appraisers as they prepare to produce reports in the new dynamic, data-driven style. ServiceLink and Grid-ML have teamed up to put this powerful digital guide into the hands of ServiceLink’s appraiser panel, representing the latest step in ServiceLink’s ongoing commitment to UAD 3.6 readiness.

The valuation industry has been collectively attuned to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s (GSEs) UAD 3.6 Forms Redesign Initiative over the last few years. The rollout to replace the GSE’s current boilerplate appraisal forms with a single, dynamic report format kicked off Limited Production in September of last year and moves into Broad Production at the end of this month. The mandate for the new reporting style is effective with new submissions on or after November 2, 2026. While benefits of the new reporting style are many – more standardization, less written commentary and more discrete data responses, expanded data definitions and new sections that bring greater clarity to the report, to name a few – the shift to UAD 3.6 still represents a mammoth task that will take the industry’s continued, collective focus to ensure success. While resources are available from the GSEs to support appraiser education and readiness efforts, knowledge gaps persist as appraisers gain access to the live report format at different intervals, based on their appraiser software provider’s GSE verification status. Luckily, a new digital guide is available to help close these gaps, supporting appraisers and ultimately executing faster closings by reducing any possible missteps with the new report style.

Liz Green, senior vice president of valuation solutions, shares more about ServiceLink’s partnership with Grid-ML, representing another significant readiness step for ServiceLink’s appraiser panel.

Q: ServiceLink is partnering with Grid-ML to extend its UAD 3.6 Interactive Reference Guide to ServiceLink’s appraiser panel. Can you share more details about this partnership and this easy-to-use, digital guide?

A: We’re pleased to partner with Grid-ML and to be the first AMC in the industry to offer this powerful UAD 3.6 Interactive Reference Guide to our appraisal panel at no extra cost to them. This guide, stemming from Grid-ML’s years of experience with MISMO structures, synthesizes the GSE’s UAD 3.6 publications into a single, easy to use comprehensive digital guide so users can quickly find guidance on UAD 3.6 standardized terminology and instructions and usage details of the new reporting format, without having to sift through multiple PDF documents. This guide will help our panel better understand and fulfill the new URAR quickly and efficiently, further positioning ServiceLink as an industry UAD 3.6 leader, adding to our readiness and preparedness efforts as we embark on the next phase of the GSE’s timeline – Broad Production (January 26, 2026 – November 1, 2026).

Q: Can you dive deeper into some of the features of this guide and how it will benefit ServiceLink’s appraiser panel in the Broad Production phase of UAD 3.6?

A: In addition to providing helpful guidance on the new UAD 3.6 terminology and definitions, the UAD 3.6 Interactive Reference Guide also boasts a field-by-field guide, covering 450+ pages of UAD 3.6 specification in the layout of the new report style, simplifying and helping appraisers quickly and efficiently find guidance on items that are brand new in the 3.6 reporting style or have changed from 2.6 to 3.6 - from reporting on new sections such as Defects, Damages and Deficiencies, new reporting requirements for outbuildings and ADUs and more. There’s a lot that is changing in this new reporting style that the industry might not be fully keyed into, and this helps to illustrate those changes and clears up confusion. Its responsive design for field access from mobile devices is another aspect that will make adoption seamless for appraisers.

Providing this guide to our appraiser panel is another readiness step for ServiceLink. It’s also a way for us to give back to our panel, so they can embark on their own 3.6 journey and be well informed and ready to deliver the exceptional service to our lender clients that we strive for, and that our clients deserve.

Q: Understanding the definitions and standardized details within the redesigned URAR under version UAD 3.6 is a learning curve for the industry. How does this tool help to close the knowledge gap that persists today?

A: A significant challenge for the industry is understanding the definitions and standardized details in the new reporting format. The new report is conditionally driven and tailored to the subject property instead of a boilerplate, static form. This means that everyone in the residential appraisal ecosystem will need to learn not only new terminology, but also the minimum standard sections and when the various components of the report apply (to the subject property). To date, only a handful of software providers across the industry are approved by the GSEs to produce the new URAR under the new version 3.6. For many appraisers, this has meant that they still lack general access to the new reporting style. The UAD 3.6 Interactive Reference Guide helps to close the knowledge gap that currently exists and functions as CliffsNotes for appraisers. It provides guidance on the new UAD 3.6 terminology and standardized details of the new reporting format – without having to sift through multiple static documents. While appraisers have had access to training materials from the GSEs for several months now, this guide allows them to further explore this new reporting format on demand, providing an additional layer to their educational journey into UAD 3.6.

Q: ServiceLink has been at the forefront of the industry’s UAD 3.6 readiness efforts for months. While extending access to the UAD 3.6 Interactive Reference Guide represents our latest readiness efforts, can you describe additional steps we’ve taken to ensure our teams are ready to support our lender clients in Broad Production and beyond?

A: We recognized early on that we needed to take readiness seriously, so we poured back into our people and our technology.  We’ve stayed connected with our appraiser panel and lender clients throughout the last year, keeping them informed with resources and education and supporting them should they have any questions or need extra support. We established an internal taskforce, dedicated to UAD 3.6 readiness that has helped to streamline these efforts across the organization. Our technology team has also continued to adapt, readying our industry-leading EXOS® technology and client integrations to ensure we can support the new reporting style. We’ve also remained in lockstep with the GSEs and participated in beta testing with several appraisal software providers early on. These are just a few of the readiness measures to note, but we see value in continued education on UAD 3.6 as it evolves.

Q: As the industry prepares for UAD 3.6 volume to begin with the Broad Production phase, what is your advice for lenders who are struggling with where to begin?

A: Lenders should continue to educate themselves on the nuances and changes that UAD 3.6 will bring. Seeking education and tools, like the UAD 3.6 Interactive Reference Guide, can help them better visualize how the changes will impact their processes regarding the report itself. Ensuring operations and technology teams are ready for this new style of reporting, ahead of the mandate, is also key. An inventory of processes and policies can be very helpful for launch planning, too. During Broad Production, both styles of reporting will be in flight leading up to the mandate, adding another layer of complexity to be considered.

Learn more about ServiceLink’s tech-enabled valuation solutions here.

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