What does the Sept. 30 GSE announcement mean for your UAD 3.6 process?

The Sept. 30, 2026 GSE announcment makes it clear that the move to the redesigned Uniform Appraisal Dataset, known as UAD 3.6, is moving forward on schedule with mandatory submissions starting November 2, 2026. This update changes how property details are documented and reviewed, shifting the industry from rigid, traditional appraisal forms to a single, flexible digital report. Conventional appraisal submissions to the Uniform Collateral Data Portal for loans sold to Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae must use this new format after the November deadline.

For lenders and appraisers, this change represents a shift in daily operations. We want to clear up the confusion about the timeline and detail exactly what you need to do next to prepare.

The road to Nov. 2, 2026

We are currently in the broad production phase, which began on January 26, 2026. During this window, you can submit reports in either the old UAD 2.6 format or the new UAD 3.6 format.

However, to keep pipeline loans moving while pushing the industry toward full compliance, the GSEs have laid out a phased policy exception and transition timeline. Here are the critical dates you need to track:

• January 26, 2026 – November 1, 2026 (Broad Production): The transition runway. Lenders can submit either UAD 2.6 or UAD 3.6 formats, allowing everyone to ease into the new system.
• November 2, 2026 – February 28, 2027 (Policy Exception Period): After November 2, the portal begins transitioning. However, if a lender is granted a policy exception by the GSEs, they may still submit legacy UAD 2.6 appraisal reports during this four-month window.
• March 1, 2027 – May 19, 2027 (Reduced Functionality Period): During this phase, legacy UAD 2.6 reports can still be submitted, but with a major catch. Each GSE's automated collateral technology will return a default score ("99" in Freddie Mac’s Loan Collateral Advisor and "999" in Fannie Mae’s Collateral Underwriter). Crucially, these loans will not be eligible for collateral representation and warranty (R&W) relief for value. Lenders are strongly encouraged to be fully on UAD 3.6 before this date to avoid business impacts.
• May 20, 2027 (Mandatory UAD 3.6 Cutover): The hard mandate. From this day forward, all initial appraisal report submissions must use the UAD 3.6 format.
• May 20, 2027 – June 27, 2027 (Pipeline Revisions Period): During this brief window, the only permitted use of UAD 2.6 is for resubmitting corrections on appraisals that were originally submitted in the legacy format before May 20. Attempting to submit a brand-new UAD 2.6 appraisal will result in an unsuccessful status and a Fatal feedback message in the portal.
• June 28, 2027 (Retirement of UAD 2.6): The final cutoff. UAD 2.6 is officially retired. No legacy reports of any kind will be accepted or processed by the portal.

Keep placing your orders

If you are already ordering and producing UAD 3.6 appraisals, the best path forward is to keep going. Staying active in the system helps your team work through the inevitable software learning curves, clarify field-level data requirements, and spot any early workflow bottlenecks before the mandatory deadline.

If you have not started placing UAD 3.6 orders, there is no need to panic, but you should move quickly. You want your appraisal partners and loan officers to be completely comfortable with the new platform requirements well before November.

Understanding the exception and revision process

The joint GSE policy exception parameters are designed to protect your pipeline during the transition, but they require careful attention to system limitations to avoid workflow disruptions.

• Securing a Policy Exception: Between November 2, 2026, and February 28, 2027, you can submit legacy UAD 2.6 reports to the UCDP, but only if you have been granted an official policy exception by the GSEs.
• The Risk of the Reduced Functionality Window: While the system will accept UAD 2.6 files between March 1 and May 19, 2027, doing so strips away valuable automated features. Your risk score will default to a standard placeholder ("99" or "999"), and you will lose collateral representation and warranty (R&W) relief on those properties. If you rely on representation and warranty relief for valuation, you must submit in UAD 3.6 format before March 1.
• No "Mixed" Submissions: The portal enforces consistency. If you submit an appraisal in the UAD 3.6 format, any subsequent Completion Reports or appraisal updates must also be submitted in the UAD 3.6 ZIP format. You cannot pair a legacy form with a UAD 3.6 appraisal.
• Pipeline Revisions Restrictions: Once the May 20, 2027 mandate kicks in, legacy 2.6 is locked down. You can only use the older format to upload corrected revisions of files that were already in the system.
• Transferred Loans: If a loan is transferred to you after the mandate with a legacy UAD 2.6 appraisal that was successfully submitted prior to May 20, 2027, you do not have to order a new appraisal. The new lender can use the existing Document File ID and Successful Submission Summary Report (SSR) when delivering the loan.

How lenders and appraisers can prepare

Because UAD 3.6 collects up to 40% more structured data points, preparation is the key to preventing transaction delays. Appraisers are capturing much more granular information, including individual ratings for kitchens, bathrooms, roof age, and mechanical systems.

• For lenders
  
  • ‍Talk to your software partners: Confirm that your appraisal management platforms and internal systems are ready to accept and deliver the new file formats.
  • Test the delivery portal: Take advantage of the current dual-support window to submit test appraisals through the portal to verify your connection works correctly.
  • Adjust your timelines: Build a small buffer into your transaction closing schedules during the late fall of 2026 to account for the initial industry learning curve.
• For appraisers
  
  • Learn the new dataset structure: Review how the dynamic, property-specific sections display. The new report format only shows sections relevant to the property type, meaning you will not have to look at blank, non-applicable form fields.
  • Set up your inspection process: Start asking listing agents and sellers for documented home improvements, including renovation permits, dates of appraisal upgrades, and roof age, during your initial scheduling call.
  • Update your software: Ensure your desktop appraisal software is fully updated to support the new schema.

Cotality is your trusted resource in this transition

As the mortgage industry undergoes this modernization, you need a partner who understands the details. Cotality is committed to keeping you informed, prepared, and operational. As an industry leader in collateral and risk solutions, our platforms are designed to help you navigate compliance updates smoothly.

We have updated our core valuation platforms, including Mercury Network®, Appraisal Scope™, and our Collateral Management System®, to fully support UAD 3.6 workflows. Whether you are a lender looking to transition your panel or an appraiser trying to master the new data requirements, our training resources and support teams are here to help.

For more information, visit our UAD 3.6 resource center.