Mandate: November 2026

UAD 3.6 lands November 2026. Here's what it means, in plain English.

The GSEs are changing how appraisals are ordered and delivered. Every lender and credit union has to change something this year. Here's what you need to know.

Forms become fields.

Instead of picking a form (1004, 1073, 1025), you answer questions about the property and the valuation, and the right product is generated. The old form names are still shortcuts, but the system underneath is completely different.

Dynamic product generation

Answer questions about the property type, occupancy, and valuation scope. The system generates the right appraisal product from your answers. No more picking from a static form list.

More structured data

More fields, more standardized answers, more machine-readable output. The GSEs want data they can analyze at scale. The new format gives it to them.

Expanded photo requirements

More photos, more standardized angles, more documentation of condition. The appraiser's camera work is now part of the data set.

Standardized condition and quality ratings

No more free-text condition descriptions. Standardized scales that mean the same thing across every appraisal. C3 means C3 everywhere.

The path to November 2026

2022-2023

GSEs announce the redesign

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac release the UAD 3.6 specification. Industry begins preparing.

2024-2025

Platform updates and testing

Software providers update their platforms. Early adopters test the new workflows. Training materials roll out.

Early 2026

Final preparation window

Last chance to get your platform, your team, and your appraisers ready before the mandate takes effect.

November 2026

Mandate takes effect

All conventional GSE loans must use the new UAD 3.6 format. The old forms are retired.

What to ask before November.

Questions every credit union and lender should be asking right now.

  1. 01
    Is your platform retrofitting or was it built for this? If your platform is scrambling to add UAD 3.6 support, you'll live through that scramble. If it was built for 3.6 from day one, the transition is already done.
  2. 02
    Does your team order by form or by field? The new workflow is field-based. If your team still picks "1004" from a dropdown, they need to learn the new way before November.
  3. 03
    Will your appraisers see the full order scope? The new format requires appraisers to understand the full assignment scope before accepting. Does your platform flow that information to them?
  4. 04
    What happens to pipeline loans near the deadline? If an appraisal is ordered in October and delivered in November, which format applies? Know your cutoff rules before you're in the middle of a closing.
  5. 05
    Is your AMC ready? If you outsource to an AMC, their readiness is your readiness. Ask them the same questions you'd ask yourself.

Everyone else built UAD 3.6 for their core user. We built it for everyone who touches the order: your desk, your lenders, and your appraisers.

If your platform is scrambling to retrofit, you'll live through that scramble. Switch to the platform that was built for it, and you make the transition once.

Send us your product list. We'll convert it to UAD 3.6 format. Free, no pitch.

If you have a list of appraisal products you currently order (1004, 1073, exterior-only, etc.), send it to us. We'll map it to the new UAD 3.6 format and send it back. No strings attached.

Email your product list

UAD 3.6 deep dives

In-depth articles on what's changing and how to prepare. Published on our blog.

Read all articles on Notes

UAD 3.6, answered plainly.

When does the mandate take effect?

November 2026 for conventional GSE loans (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). After that date, old-format appraisals won't be accepted for GSE delivery.

What loans does this cover?

Conventional loans sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. FHA and VA loans run on their own standards and timelines. Portfolio loans follow your own rules.

What happens to old forms after November 2026?

They're retired for GSE loans. You can still use them for non-GSE work if your investors accept them, but the industry is moving to the new format.

Can we transition before November?

Yes. The GSEs accept the new format now. Early adoption lets you work out the kinks before the deadline, when everyone else is scrambling.

Ready for November 2026?

See how Appraisal Desk handles the transition. We'll walk through the new workflow and show you what your team actually sees.

Book a Demo