Blog
Feb 17, 2026
What Mortgage Lenders Need to Know About Appraisal Turnaround Time Delays in 2026
If your appraisal turnaround times have been creeping up, you're not alone. Lenders across the country are adapting to a changing appraiser workforce—and finding new ways to keep loan cycle times, borrower experience, and operational costs on track.
Here's what's driving the challenge and what lenders can do about it.
The Current State of the Appraiser Workforce
The appraiser workforce has been shifting for years, and understanding these changes is key to planning ahead. According to industry data, the number of active appraisers in the U.S. has dropped significantly over the past decade, with retirements outpacing new entrants to the profession.
The reasons are well-documented:
An experienced workforce nearing retirement. The average appraiser is over 55 years old. Many are approaching retirement, which creates opportunities to rethink how appraisal capacity is managed.
High barriers to entry. Becoming a licensed appraiser requires thousands of hours of supervised experience, extensive coursework, and years of training—all before earning a full license. For many, the investment doesn't justify the return.
Geographic imbalances. Rural and suburban markets face tighter coverage. Urban areas may have adequate availability, but outside metro regions, finding a qualified appraiser requires a broader network.
What's Driving Turnaround Time Challenges
Turnaround time (TAT) is a direct reflection of supply and demand. When appraiser availability tightens, wait times can increase. But the picture is more nuanced than headcount alone.
Fluctuating order volume. As rates shift and purchase activity changes, appraisal demand can spike quickly. A limited pool of appraisers can't always scale up to meet sudden increases.
Complex assignments. Non-standard properties, rural locations, and unique collateral types require specialized expertise—narrowing the pool of qualified appraisers even further.
Workflow inefficiencies. Manual assignment processes, inconsistent communication, and lack of visibility into order status add unnecessary delays. Time lost to back-and-forth emails and status calls compounds quickly.
Fee considerations. In some markets, appraisal fees haven't kept pace with rising costs. Appraisers may prioritize higher-paying assignments, which can affect order acceptance times.
Why Faster Appraisals Matter for Your Business
Managing TAT effectively has real benefits for your organization.
On-time closings. When appraisals move efficiently, loans close on schedule. Rate locks hold. Borrowers stay happy. Deals stay on track.
Lower costs. Fewer lock extensions, fewer re-disclosures, and fewer touches per file. Every day saved in the pipeline is money saved.
Better borrower experience. In a competitive market, a smooth, transparent process sets you apart—even when external factors create challenges.
Stronger compliance. When timelines are manageable, quality stays high. That means less risk for your organization down the line.
5 Ways Lenders Can Improve Appraisal Turnaround Time
The appraiser landscape is evolving, but there are proven steps lenders can take to manage TAT more effectively.
1. Build Stronger Appraiser Relationships
Appraisers have choices about which orders to accept. Lenders and AMCs that pay fairly, communicate clearly, and treat appraisers as partners—not vendors—tend to get priority when capacity is tight.
2. Get Real-Time Visibility Into Your Pipeline
You can't manage what you can't see. Real-time visibility into order status, appraiser availability, and regional TAT trends allows you to identify bottlenecks before they become problems.
3. Automate Where It Makes Sense
Manual assignment processes slow everything down. Automated routing based on appraiser location, availability, and expertise can dramatically reduce the time between order placement and acceptance.
4. Use Data to Plan Ahead
Historical TAT data by region, property type, and time of year helps you set realistic expectations with borrowers and operations teams. It also helps you identify markets where you may need to adjust fees or expand your appraiser panel.
5. Embrace Alternative Valuation Products
Where guidelines allow, desktop appraisals, hybrid appraisals, and other alternative products can reduce reliance on traditional appraisals and speed up the process for qualifying transactions.
How Connexions Helps Lenders Achieve Faster Turnaround Times
At Connexions, we've spent over 20 years building appraisal management software designed for exactly this environment. Our platform gives lenders the tools to manage appraisal workflows efficiently—even when appraiser capacity is tight.
Access to a nationwide vendor directory. Connexions includes a built-in vendor directory with thousands of appraisers across the country. When your existing panel is at capacity or you need coverage in a new market, you can quickly identify and onboard qualified appraisers—reducing delays caused by limited local availability.
Intelligent order routing. Connexions automates appraiser assignment based on location, availability, expertise, and historical performance—getting orders into the right hands faster.
Real-time visibility. Our dashboard gives your team full visibility into every order, from placement to delivery. No more chasing status updates or wondering where things stand.
TAT tracking and reporting. With 500+ data points available for reporting, you can monitor TAT by region, property type, appraiser, and more. Spot trends early and take action before delays impact your pipeline.
Scalable infrastructure. Connexions has processed over 10 million valuations. Whether you're handling 100 orders a month or 10,000, our platform scales with your volume.
Customizable workflows. Every lender operates differently. Connexions lets you configure routing rules, escalation logic, and SLAs to match your process—not the other way around.
Take Control of Your Appraisal Workflow
The appraiser landscape is changing, but lenders who invest in the right technology and processes can stay ahead.
Faster assignments. Better visibility. Smarter data. That's how you keep closings on track—even when capacity is tight.
If you're ready to see how Connexions can help your team improve appraisal turnaround times, we'd love to show you the platform.
