ANSI Square Footage Standards: What Agents and Appraisers Should Know

Abstract

As of April 1, Fannie Mae began requiring the ANSI home measurement standard for appraisals of single-family homes. The standard requires the property to be measured to the nearest inch or one-tenth of a foot. Fannieae has an FAQ that includes how to answer these questions and how to deal with these questions. Some counties have adopted the standard and others follow local tradition and practice. For example, the AMS. The AMS doesn’t include stairwells in the living area. There are some differences in the AmS and the AMs. The standard doesn”t include ceiling height, the Ams doesn‘t include stairs in the live area. It’s important to understand why they exist and to be sure the space is being valued properly. In most areas, there are likely to be only minimal discrepancies between public records and the amS.