What Is UAD 3.6? What Utah Homeowners Need to Know in 2026
If you're getting a home appraisal in Utah in 2026, the report your appraiser delivers will look different from how it was. UAD 3.6, the new Uniform Appraisal Dataset standard, is the biggest change to residential appraisal reporting in over 20 years, and it affects every homeowner buying, selling, or refinancing with a conventional mortgage. The appraisers at Caldwell Appraisal Group have completed UAD 3.6 training and are already delivering reports in the new format across all eight Utah counties we serve. Here's what the change means for you, when it takes effect, and what, if anything, you need to do.
What Is UAD 3.6?
UAD stands for Uniform Appraisal Dataset, the data standard that governs how appraisal information is collected and submitted to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It sits within the Uniform Mortgage Data Program (UMDP), a joint GSE initiative to modernize appraisal reporting standards and give lenders more consistent data to assess collateral risk across the mortgage ecosystem. The format hadn't had a significant overhaul since 2011.
UAD 3.6, part of the broader UAD and Forms Redesign initiative, changes that. It replaces more than a dozen separate legacy appraisal forms, including Fannie Mae Form 1004 (the standard single-family form most homeowners have seen), Freddie Mac Form 70, the 1073 for condominiums, and the 1025 for multi-family properties, with a single document called the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report, or URAR.
Rather than a fixed form with identical fields for every property type, the new URAR is a data-driven format that adapts based on property type, loan type, and scope of work. It uses structured fields to capture more granular appraisal data and reduce the free-text notes that made legacy reports harder to analyze at scale. The result is a cleaner, more consistent Uniform Appraisal Report that better reflects modern Appraisal Reporting Standards, and gives your lender a sharper picture of your home's value.
What's Different About the New Appraisal Report
The core of the valuation process hasn't changed; your appraiser still visits the property, takes measurements, assesses condition, and compares it to recent sales in your area. What's changing is the depth and organization of the property data collected.
Key differences in UAD 3.6:
Room-level condition ratings. The legacy forms used a single C1–C6 rating for the entire house. The new URAR captures conditions at the room level using structured fields, giving lenders a more precise view of collateral risk at the property level.
Expanded view and site categories. The old form had a simplified view-type dropdown. UAD 3.6 offers 28 view types and 20 site influence types, a meaningful upgrade for Utah properties with mountain views, canyon access, or unique lot characteristics.
Broader property type coverage. Energy-efficiency features, disaster-mitigation improvements, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) now have dedicated data fields. The new format also standardizes manufactured home appraisals, which previously required separate forms and inconsistent reporting across lenders.
You may also be asked to provide additional information before the inspection, such as HOA documents, permits for recent upgrades, or details about an ADU. Having that property data ready speeds the process along.
UAD 3.6 Timeline: When Does It Affect You?
Four dates tell the full story:
September 8, 2025: UAD 3.6 entered limited production. A small group of approved lenders began submitting reports in the new format.
January 26, 2026: Broad production began. All lenders may now submit UAD 3.6 reports to the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP). If you've had a conventional appraisal done recently, you may have already received one.
November 2, 2026: The mandatory deadline. All new appraisal reports on loans sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac must use UAD 3.6.
May 3, 2027: UAD 2.6, the legacy format, is permanently retired.
Both GSEs have published training resources, including Freddie Mac's UAD Lender Readiness Kit, to help appraisers, appraisal management companies, and lenders update their appraisal software and workflows ahead of the mandate. If you're under contract or refinancing before November 2026, your lender may use either format. Your appraiser and lender handle that; it doesn't require anything from you.
What UAD 3.6 Means for Utah Homeowners Right Now
For most Utah homeowners, UAD 3.6 is largely invisible. The mortgage process, scheduling the appraisal, the visit, the report going to your lender, works the same way it always has.
A few things worth knowing:
Appraisals may take slightly longer in 2026. The new format requires more detailed data entry, and some appraisers and lenders are still updating their appraisal software and quality control workflows. If you have a firm closing date, build in a small buffer when scheduling.
Utah's home values make accuracy especially important right now. With Salt Lake County median prices around $555,000 and statewide values near $575,000 (Houzeo, 2026), a well-documented appraisal matters for both buyers and sellers. The additional appraisal data captured in UAD 3.6 works in your favor when your property has genuine strengths.
If your home has a mountain view in Utah County, a finished basement in Davis County, or a recently added ADU in Weber County, the new format captures those features more precisely than the old one ever did.
Frequently Asked Questions on UAD 3.6
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No. UAD 3.6 is a Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac standard and applies to conventional loans only. FHA appraisals follow HUD guidelines, and VA appraisals follow the Department of Veterans Affairs' own requirements; neither is changing as part of this Forms Redesign rollout.
If you're using an FHA, VA, or USDA loan to buy or refinance your Utah home, your valuation process and report format are not affected by UAD 3.6.
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It's possible, though not universal. The new format requires more detailed data collection, which takes additional time. Some appraisers have adjusted their fees to reflect that; others haven't. The straightforward approach is to ask up front when you request your appraisal.
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Appraisals already in the pipeline, ordered before November 2, 2026, may be completed in the legacy format. The mandate applies to new submissions after that date. If you have an open order, your appraiser and lender will handle the format question.
Why Work with Caldwell Appraisal Group
UAD 3.6 represents the most significant change to residential appraisal reporting in over two decades. As the broader mortgage ecosystem transitions to the new standard, working with a certified appraiser who is already trained and delivering UAD 3.6 reports means the transition doesn't slow down your purchase, refinance, or PMI removal.
Caldwell Appraisal Group serves Salt Lake, Utah, Wasatch, Summit, Morgan, Tooele, Davis, and Weber counties, every county along the Wasatch Front and beyond.
Whether you're buying in Salt Lake County, refinancing in Utah County, or pursuing a PMI removal appraisal after years of appreciation, you'll receive an accurate, certified report in the format your lender requires.
