Real Estate Journal - "Home-Appraisal Red Flags In a Cooling Housing Market" (9-22-06)

"Appraisals are a key part of just about any residential real-estate deal, but the world of appraisals is not without its scandals. Phony appraisals are often a problem in mortgage-fraud cases, where a group of scammers will pose as legitimate real-estate professionals, hiking up a property's price to turn a quick profit."