UAD 3.6 is coming.
Be the expert your agents call.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are replacing every legacy appraisal form with a single, dynamic report. Here is the originator's playbook, plus a ready-to-share guide for your real estate partners.
2026
What UAD 3.6 actually is
The Uniform Appraisal Dataset is the GSE standard for how appraisal data is structured and delivered to the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP). Version 3.6 is the first full redesign in over a decade, and it touches your order, your file, and your borrower's expectations.
From forms to one flexible report
The static forms are gone. In their place is a single dynamic Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR) that expands or contracts based on property type, loan type and scope of work.
Data-driven, not narrative
Built on MISMO v3.6 standards, the report captures far more granular, machine-readable detail (room-level condition, features and more) with comments placed next to the data they explain.
Same standards, new paperwork
A licensed appraiser still determines value using the same professional standards. What changes is the structure, the data fields, and how everything reaches the GSEs.
The rollout timeline
Both formats are valid right now. Your job during the transition is to know which one each file needs, and to be ready before the mandate.
We are here
Expected
What changes for you
UAD 3.6 starts the moment you place the order. Here is where the new format touches your day-to-day, and where files get delayed if you are not ready.
| The old way | Under UAD 3.6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Order placement | A form was chosen by property type; some details filled in later. | The report is built from your order. Provide complete, accurate property and assignment details up front or incomplete orders cause delays. |
| The report | Different forms for single-family, condo, co-op, manufactured, exterior-only, etc. | One dynamic URAR that adapts to the property, loan and scope. No form numbers, no General Addendum. |
| Delivery to UCDP | A single PDF/XML submission. | A ZIP package : an XML data file, a human-readable PDF, and a folder of property images. |
| Your tech stack | Standard UCDP delivery. | Your LOS, AMC and appraisal vendors must be UAD 3.6-verified, and ULDD Phase 5 updates are required for UCDP submission. |
| At the property | Broad descriptions and general commentary. | More time on site and more granular data. Appraisers may request more information from you, the agent or the borrower. |
| The value | Appraiser judgment. | No change. Same standards, same process; only the reporting is modernized. |
Your readiness checklist
Work through these before the mandate so the transition is invisible to your borrowers and referral partners.
Get your real estate partners ready
Agents who understand UAD 3.6 stop blaming the lender when an appraisal takes longer or asks for more detail. Position yourself as their guide. Here is what to say, and a one-page handout you can send today.
- "The appraisal format is changing, but it does not change your seller's home value, only how it is reported."
- "You may see different report formats deal to deal through November 2026. That is normal during the transition."
- "Appraisers are collecting more detail, so they may spend more time at the property and ask for more information."
- "If the appraiser requests property info, getting it back fast keeps the file moving. This is where you make a real difference."
- "Long term, more structured data should mean fewer revision delays. We are getting ahead of it together."
The sheet below is written for agents, not insiders. Print it for an open-house packet, attach it to an email, or hand it out at your next office meeting.
Email it to an agentFrequently asked questions
Does UAD 3.6 change my client's home value?
No. A licensed appraiser still determines value using the same professional standards. UAD 3.6 modernizes how the data is collected, structured and reported, not how value is reached.
When does it become mandatory?
November 2, 2026 for new appraisals on conventional loans sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. After that date, legacy forms can no longer be submitted to UCDP.
Which forms are going away?
The static forms, including the 1004, 1073, 1025, 2055, 1075 and the condo, co-op, manufactured-home, exterior-only and hybrid variants, are replaced by a single dynamic URAR.
Will this slow down my closings?
During the transition you may see more time spent at the property and occasional requests for additional information. Placing complete orders and responding quickly keeps files moving. Long term, more structured data is expected to reduce revision cycles.
Do FHA, VA and USDA loans use UAD 3.6 now?
Not yet. These agencies are expected to adopt the new format on their own timelines after the November 2026 GSE mandate. Watch for their announcements.
What is the single most important thing I should do?
Make sure your AMC, appraisal vendors and LOS are UAD 3.6-ready, and start placing orders with complete property and assignment details. The report is built from your order, so accuracy up front prevents delays.
