UAD 3.6: What It Actually Changes and What It Means for Your Operation

UAD 3.6 is the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac update to the Uniform Appraisal Dataset. It replaces fixed appraisal forms with one dynamic URAR, standardizes report data under MISMO 3.6, and changes how appraisals are ordered, reviewed, and delivered. It does not change how appraisers value property. It is mandatory November 2, 2026.

Key dates, checklists, and guides are on the UAD 3.6 readiness hub. This post covers what the update changes for lenders and AMCs in daily operations.

What is UAD 3.6?

The Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) defines how appraisal data is structured and sent to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP). The dataset has been in use since 2011. UAD 3.6 is its first major redesign.

UAD 3.6 moves from fixed forms, such as the 1004, 1073, and 2055, to one dynamic report built on a machine-readable data schema aligned with MISMO 3.6. The report expands or contracts based on the property type and the assignment. The GSEs receive discrete data that their systems can validate automatically, not narrative text in addenda.

What changes for lenders and AMCs?

The changes fall into three areas.

Data requirements

The report collects more discrete data. Appraisers give separate interior and exterior condition and quality ratings, add room-level detail for kitchens and bathrooms, and report above-grade and below-grade finished area instead of gross living area. Orders need complete property and assignment details at placement, because no form number is selected.

Submission and delivery

UCDP accepts UAD 3.6 reports as a ZIP package with XML data, a PDF report, and images. Submission Summary Report feedback comes back as PDF and JSON. Your platform must build the package, validate the data, and handle rejections.

Software across the workflow

Appraisal management software built for UAD 2.6 needs significant updates to handle UAD 3.6. The same applies to appraisers' form software, QC tools, and UCDP and EAD integrations. The requirement runs through the whole workflow.

What does UAD 3.6 not change?

UAD 3.6 does not change how appraisers estimate value. The sales comparison, cost, and income approaches stay the same. What changes is how the work is reported and delivered. The appraiser's judgment, market knowledge, and responsibility for the opinion of value stay the same.

What must appraisal software support?

Before November 2, your appraisal management software must deliver:

• UAD 3.6 schema support, with validation when data is entered

• ZIP package delivery and updated UCDP and EAD integration

• Automated rejection handling and resubmission workflows

• QC that flags possible UAD 3.6 issues before submission

• UAD 2.6 and UAD 3.6 orders in the same pipeline, including UAD 2.6 revisions until May 3, 2027

If your vendor has not confirmed a UAD 3.6 go-live date, ask for one. If it cannot give one, plan for that risk now.

What is the operational risk before November 2?

UAD 3.6 arrives while volume is rising. Fannie Mae’s September 2026 Housing Forecast puts 2026 single-family mortgage originations at about $2.1 trillion, up from about $2.0 trillion in 2025. The appraiser workforce is older: the Appraisal Institute 2023 fact sheet shows about two-thirds of U.S. appraisers are 50 or older.

During the transition, a data error can mean a Fatal message from UCDP, a return trip to the appraiser, and days added before closing. It can also put a rate lock at risk. Teams whose platforms catch UAD 3.6 errors at the point of entry avoid most of that rework.

How does Connexions handle UAD 3.6?

Connexions has implemented the UAD 3.6 schema and validates orders against the new field requirements. Errors surface while the report is being completed, not after a UCDP submission fails. UCDP and EAD submission is automated, with real-time status tracking. Appraisers on the Connexions network have training resources and updated forms guidance for UAD 3.6.

The Connexions predicted delivery date engine forecasts turnaround with 92% accuracy. During the transition, it shows which orders are at risk of missing their dates, so teams can step in early.

For QC, Connexions integrates ACI Sky for structured review and Profet.ai for AI-assisted appraisal review. Both can flag data inconsistencies, condition rating conflicts, and UAD 3.6 issues before submission. Learn more about QC review. Lenders on ICE Mortgage Technology Encompass can order through the Encompass Partner Connect integration.

Connexions is independently owned, with no venture capital investors and no conglomerate owner. The team also runs appraisal operations, which shaped how UAD 3.6 support was built.

Frequently asked questions

Who created UAD 3.6?

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac developed UAD 3.6 together as part of the Uniform Mortgage Data Program. They publish the specification, the Selling Guide requirements, and the timeline.

What does "dynamic URAR" mean?

The redesigned Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR) is one report for all property types. Its sections appear or stay hidden based on the property and the assignment, so there is no form number to select. A condo report shows project sections, for example, and a detached single-family report does not.

Do lenders need new software for UAD 3.6?

Lenders need software that supports UAD 3.6, which is not always new software. Their appraisal management software, UCDP integration, and QC tools must handle the UAD 3.6 schema and ZIP delivery. Ask each vendor for its UAD 3.6 go-live date and a successful test submission.

What is the ZIP delivery format?

Under UAD 3.6, each appraisal goes to UCDP as one ZIP file. It contains an XML data file in MISMO 3.6 format, a PDF of the report, and a folder of images.

For key dates and guides, visit the UAD 3.6 readiness hub. For a side-by-side table, read UAD 2.6 vs UAD 3.6: What Changes for Lenders and AMCs. For the deadline rules, read the UAD 3.6 deadline FAQ. See how Connexions works for lenders and AMCs.

Download the UAD 3.6 Lender and Partner Readiness Guide (PDF)

To see how Connexions handles UAD 3.6 in practice, book a 15-minute demo.

Sources: Fannie Mae Uniform Appraisal Dataset, Freddie Mac Uniform Appraisal Dataset, Freddie Mac UAD redesign timeline (PDF).