Super Support: Average Time Per Call is under 9 Minutes
We know you’re busy. We have also been busy updating our phone system to provide you with the best tech support service in the industry. Our average tech support call time is now less than 9 minutes. That means when you have a question, we’ll solve your problem in less than 9 minutes on average. And if you have to hold because all our staff is helping others, the average wait time is less than three minutes.

High tech, high reliability
We have also been enhancing our technological infrastructure, improving our connectivity and replacing our server equipment to achieve a 99% uptime for our customers. Our new servers are redundant and virtualized — if a server fails, it switches over to a backup in a millisecond, keeping you working without interruption.

And you can get help 24/7 with our online help center. Visit bradfordsoftware.com/help anytime from any web browser to get quick answers to the most frequently asked questions.

We'll show you how
Our new Show Me How videos will get you up to speed in no time. If you have 90 seconds to spare, you have time learn a new skill in ClickFORMS! Visit bradfordsoftware.com/help/showmehow to view our current movies, including:

• how to convert a 2055 to a 1004
• how to create, import, or email PDFs
• how to setup your digital signature
• how to save comments and responses
• how to import property data or custom MLS data
• and more!

People first
But to us, technology is never as important as people. And that’s why we’ve also increased our support staff and our business hours to help the most important people of all: our customers.

Is the Recession Coming to an End?
Economists say that slowing job losses may signal an easing of the recession. The jobless rate in April was much less than expected, and sharply down from the 699,000 jobs lost in March.

“We lost 539,000 jobs. At any other time than this recession we are in, this would have been considered appalling,” said economist Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute. “But before things turn around, they have to get less bad. That’s what we’re seeing.”

President Obama echoed this sentiment, saying “the gears of our economic engine are slowly beginning to turn.”

The slowing rate of job loss was a small bit of good news amid the bad for those hoping for the recession’s end this year.

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12328724

How is HVCC Affecting You?
HVCC went into effect May 1. How is it affecting your business? Some appraisers are now super busy, other are telling us their work volume has slowed down. Please take a moment to answer a few survey questions on HVCC as we take the pulse of the industry. Click on the link to take the survey. We’ll publish the results in our next newsletter.

>> Take the survey

AMCs Looking for More Appraisers
As a consequence of the HVCC, complaints have begun to surface that appraisals are being done by out-of-area appraisers. This is because AMCs don't have enough appraisers on their rolls to adequately cover the work.

A May 18, 2009 story in the San Jose Mercury News notes:

Appraisals ... take longer, brokers and appraisers say, and more are being done by less experienced or out-of-area workers, whose estimates may not reflect the pricing trends in particular neighborhoods. AMCs are moving to expand their lists of experienced appraisers.

Be certain that you are on those lists by taking advantage of the new AppraisalWorld AMC Application service, offering One-Click Application to over 130 AMCs. Each AMC will receive an email with a summary of your credentials, and a link to your online credentials so they can quickly approve you for their panel.

>> Learn more about Applying to AMCs with AppraisalWorld

How has 1004MC Changed Your Business?
How is the 1004MC affecting your workflow? Is it slowing you down? Is it helping you analyze the market better? In cooperation with AppraisalBuzz, we want to encourage you to take another few moments to let your voice be heard.

>> Take the survey

Nearly a Quarter of Homeowners "Under Water"
More homeowners are underwater as a two-year slide in housing values continued into the first quarter, according to data service Zillow.com. About 22 percent of homeowners carry mortgage balances that are greater than their houses are worth, the firm said. At the end of the fourth quarter, 17.6 percent of homeowners owed more than their original mortgage, up over three percent, from 14.3 percent, three months earlier.

Source: http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/ano/current.aspx?volume=10&numbr=9/10#7276

New Appraiser Independence Toolkit Released
The Appraisal Institute has released a new Appraiser Independence Toolkit, a compilation of the most up-to-date documents and publications that will assist appraisers in complying with new state and federal requirements related to appraiser independence. The toolkit is free to members and $99 for nonmembers.

Source: http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/ano/current.aspx?volume=10&numbr=9/10#7291

HVCC Petition in Circulation
An online petition calling for the reconsideration of the HVCC is being circulated widely around the real estate industry. The petition, which has more than 12,000 signatures, has been addressed to New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.

If you'd like to read and/or sign this petition, you can do so at this link: http://www.petitiononline.com/hvcc/petition.html

Where in the World is Jeff Bradford?

Get ready for a summer of adventure as Bradford Technologies' CEO Jeff Bradford embarks on an epic rally this July to raise money for the children's charities such as Save the Children.

The Mongolia Charity Rally will drive a Land Rover across Europe and Asia, starting in England and covering 9,000 miles and 17 countries. Upon arrival in Mongolia, the Land Rover itself will be auctioned to raise money for Go Help and the Children's Development and Protection Foundation in Ulaanbaator, Mongolia.

We'll keep you posted on Jeff's progress here in ClickTALK, and you can follow along on the team's blog: http://mongolia.charityrallies.org/en/teams/5694/blogs

Save the Children is a leading nonprofit humanitarian relief and development organization working in more than 40 countries throughout the developing world and the United States. Their mission is to create lasting, positive change in the lives of children in need. Visit http://www.firstgiving.com/grandcanyon2 to learn more and donate directly via a secure connection.