Weak rules hinder appraiser oversight

Mitch Weiss of the Associated Press found that the system set up to protect consumers from rogue appraisers following the savings and loan crisis nearly 20 years ago has failed, playing a major role in America's housing collapse. His six-month investigation showed more than two dozen states and territories are violating federal law by failing to investigate and resolve complaints about real estate appraisers within a year. As a result, hundreds of appraisers accused of wrongdoing are allowed to stay in business. Weiss also found that the only tool federal regulators have to force states into compliance is so draconian that it has never been used.