Key takeaways
- The November 2, 2026 mandate was not delayed. UAD 3.6 is required for new GSE submissions from that date.
- Some lenders have a temporary exception that lets them keep delivering UAD 2.6 reports until May 19, 2027. Appraisers do not request it; lenders do.
- From May 20, 2027 every new submission must be UAD 3.6, and UAD 2.6 is retired on June 28, 2027.
The short version
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac kept the November 2, 2026 date for UAD 3.6 and the redesigned Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR). On September 30, 2026 they added a temporary policy exception for sellers that cannot be ready in time. That exception changes which format some lenders will ask you for over the next few months. It does not move the mandate.
If a client asks for a UAD 2.6 report after November 2, 2026, that lender is relying on the exception. Confirm the format on the engagement before you start.
November 2, 2026: UAD 3.6 is required
New appraisals delivered to the GSEs must use UAD 3.6. In practice this is the new URAR: a dynamic dataset where required fields expand or contract with the property, instead of a fixed form with narrative comments filling the gaps.
Sellers approved for the temporary exception can keep delivering new UAD 2.6 reports from November 2, 2026 through May 19, 2027. Only sellers that deliver loans directly to the GSEs request the exception. Lenders that sell through aggregators follow their investor's requirements.
March 1, 2027: UAD 2.6 reports get reduced support
From March 1, 2027, UAD 2.6 reports delivered under the exception get reduced functionality in Collateral Underwriter (Fannie Mae) and Loan Collateral Advisor (Freddie Mac), and they lose representation and warranty relief. Expect lenders still on 2.6 to move quickly to 3.6 around this date.
May 20, 2027: UAD 3.6 for every new submission
The exception ends. May 19, 2027 is the last day to deliver a new UAD 2.6 report. From May 20, every new appraisal delivered to the GSEs must be UAD 3.6, whichever lender ordered it.
June 28, 2027: UAD 2.6 is retired
Resubmissions of previously delivered UAD 2.6 reports are accepted through June 27, 2027. From June 28, UAD 2.6 is no longer supported.
What to do now
- Ask your regular clients which format they want after November 2, and whether they are using the exception.
- Confirm your forms software is on its UAD 3.6 release and run a practice report end to end.
- Review how you capture interior detail. UAD 3.6 asks for room counts by level, ceiling height characteristics, finished and unfinished areas, and floor plan relationships for every property.
- Decide how measurements reach the report. Re-keying a sketch into 3.6 fields is where most time and errors creep in.
BoxLi captures the interior in one LiDAR scan, produces an ANSI Z765 floor plan and area breakdown, and hands structured data to your report software, so the new fields are filled from the scan instead of typed.
Frequently asked questions
- Was the UAD 3.6 deadline delayed?
- No. UAD 3.6 is required for new GSE submissions from November 2, 2026. The GSEs added a temporary exception for sellers that are not ready, which lets those lenders keep delivering UAD 2.6 until May 19, 2027.
- Do appraisers need to request the UAD 3.6 exception?
- No. The exception is requested by sellers that deliver loans directly to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Appraisers deliver whichever format the client's engagement asks for.
- When can I stop producing UAD 2.6 reports?
- May 19, 2027 is the last day a new UAD 2.6 report can be delivered. Resubmissions of earlier UAD 2.6 reports are accepted through June 27, 2027, and UAD 2.6 is retired on June 28, 2027.
- Does UAD 3.6 require a floor plan for every property?
- No. A full interior floor plan is only required when the design is atypical or functionally unusual. Every property does need the structured interior data: room counts by level, ceiling height characteristics, and finished versus unfinished areas.