For decades, the National Association of Mortgage Field Services (NAMFS) middlemen, whom have swarmed our Industry like a plague of locusts, have raked in billions of dollars. And while much of the fraud they rained down upon Labor has been eradicated, the lies such as HUD adjusted bid and otherwise still continue. Tens of millions of dollars were fleeced from Labor by middlemen such as Assero, Berghorst Enterprises, Boyd Property Preservation, Buczek Enterprises, and National Field Network — the only one forced into an ongoing eight year Involuntary Bankruptcy — and all of whom were associated with NAMFS. Additional millions of dollars have been levied against firms such as Mortgage Contracting Services, PK Management, Sandcastle Investments, and ServiceLink, for misclassification of employees as contractors. Antitrust violations have swept through the Industry when it comes to both the mergers and acquisitions as well as in the software channel. Worst of all, all Contract Award holders in this Industry are leveraging artificial intelligence against Labor which has added thousands of hours of uncompensated work, per quarter.

While fraud is at its lowest levels in decades, it has begun rearing its ugly head, once again. Spectrum Solutions Acquisitions, a HUD M&M FSM Awardee, is in dangerous territory with respect to violating the FLSA as well as EO 14026. 24 Asset Management, another HUD M&M FSM Awardee has been accused of missing payment deadlines, and all of the HUD M&M FSM Awardees are poised to file bankruptcy soon, barring any dramatic increase in revenue.

The headwinds of inflation have been roaring throughout the Biden Administration and the Trump Administration is in no position to change the dynamic when it comes to the things that impact both Labor and Management. In a soon to be released Petition to the Office of Management and Budget’s North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), the massive increase in revenue by NAMFS members versus the 30+ year stagnation of wages for Labor were revealed. The International Association of Field Service Technicians (IAFST) documented, based upon Altisource’s Earnings Call for August 2020, that for every one percent in default, it equated to $700 million in Industry revenue. When you correct that number for inflation, it becomes $1.465 billion — annually. That is a loss of fifty cents on every dollar for Labor, whose pricing has not changed since 2020, and a doubling of profit for Management. NAMFS does not disagree as testified to in their recent demands for more money on behalf of their membership.

Part of the problem is that Labor simply is not educated. Labor, additionally, is not trained. In fact, there are no licensing requirements to even enter the Industry. The larger issue, though, is that there is absolutely no oversight or regulation in the Industry. We have roughly nine NAICS codes that bisect. And should the Industry be granted its own NAICS, it will allow the formal tracking of data by both the Departments of Education and Labor as well as the Census Bureau. That, alone, would do away with nearly all of the fraud and the removal of the bottom dollar hacks that have flooded our Industry over the past several years.

On average, nearly twenty percent of all inspection pricing goes to middlemen. When it comes to preservation work, that number dramatically increases to over forty percent. Capitalism is one thing gouging Labor out of well deserved funds, through false communications and advertising is quite another. As a matter of law, a dedicated NAICS for our Industry, spearheaded by the IAFST, would bring an end to this massive siphoning of cash off to middlemen, some of whom are not even US citizens.

California is no stranger to wildfires, but the recent wave of fires raging across the state has brought devastation to a whole new level. As flames engulf homes, businesses, and natural landscapes, thousands of Californians face the daunting task of assessing damage and beginning the road to recovery. In this chaos, the demand for qualified inspectors — particularly those hired privately — has skyrocketed as homeowners and businesses seek faster, more reliable evaluations than traditional insurance processes can provide.

The Reality of Wildfire Damage

Wildfires do not discriminate, consuming everything from multi-million-dollar properties to modest homes. For homeowners and businesses alike, the immediate aftermath of a fire is fraught with uncertainty. Questions about structural stability, property value, and repair costs loom large. Meanwhile, insurance companies, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of claims, are often unable to dispatch inspectors promptly.

This delay can leave property owners in limbo, waiting weeks or even months for answers, delaying critical repairs or rebuilding efforts. As a result, many are turning to private inspectors to bridge the gap, bypassing the backlog of traditional channels.

Why Qualified Inspectors Are in High Demand

Private inspectors offer several advantages that make them indispensable in the current wildfire crisis. In combination with the normal P&C insurance inspectors, public adjusters are also making their presence known.

1. Speed and Accessibility
   Unlike insurance inspectors bound by corporate schedules and policies, private inspectors can be deployed quickly. This allows property owners to get actionable assessments within days instead of weeks.

2. Comprehensive Inspections
   Qualified inspectors often provide more thorough evaluations, addressing not just visible damage but also hidden issues like compromised foundations, smoke damage, and air quality concerns.

3. Unbiased Reporting
   Insurance inspectors sometimes face pressure to minimize payouts. In contrast, private inspectors work directly for the homeowner or business, offering unbiased and detailed reports that can be used to negotiate fair claims.

4. Specialized Expertise
   Many private inspectors are trained in post-disaster assessments, making them adept at identifying damage that might be overlooked by generalists. Their expertise is especially critical in wildfire-prone areas, where smoke infiltration and heat warping can cause long-term issues.

A Lucrative Opportunity for Inspectors

For professionals in the inspection industry, the wildfire crisis presents a unique opportunity to serve communities in need while growing their businesses. Inspectors with experience in disaster recovery, fire damage, and structural assessments are particularly well-positioned to step in where insurance companies are falling short.

The growing reliance on private inspections also underscores the importance of proper training and certification. Homeowners and businesses are looking for professionals who can provide credible, detailed reports that will hold up in insurance disputes or legal proceedings.

Current Wildfire Statistics

• Palisades Fire: This is the largest active fire, having burned approximately 23,713 acres and destroyed over 5,000 structures. Firefighters are working tirelessly to contain the blaze, but strong Santa Ana winds have made containment challenging.

• Eaton Fire: Located east of Burbank, the Eaton Fire has burned around 14,117 acres and is currently the deadliest, with eight reported fatalities.

• Hurst Fire: Situated in the San Fernando Valley, this fire has affected approximately 800 acres and is reported to be 89% contained.

• Overall Impact: The wildfires have resulted in at least 24 fatalities, with 16 individuals still missing. More than 12,000 structures have been destroyed, and over 150,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes.

The Path Forward

As California continues to grapple with wildfires and their aftermath, the role of qualified inspectors has never been more critical. For homeowners and businesses, hiring a private inspector offers peace of mind and a faster path to recovery. For inspectors, it’s an opportunity to make a meaningful impact while capitalizing on a growing market.

In this time of crisis, the need for thorough, unbiased, and timely assessments cannot be overstated. Whether you’re a homeowner seeking clarity or an inspector ready to serve, the message is clear: together, we can rise from the ashes stronger and more resilient.

Not a Foreclosurepedia Client yet? Perhaps now is the time to take a closer look at the value of a Retainer with us!

If you took a ruler and drew a rectangle the width of Kansas stretching eastward through DC, you would have the template for this winter’s worst storm when it comes to both ice and temperature. Here at Foreclosurepedia, we will be looking at zero and below zero wind chills where our normal lows are in the 30s. If normal preservation standards, such as winterizations, were followed it wouldn’t matter much. The problem today is that the average contractor is unfamiliar with precisely how critical it is that all of the water is evacuated out of both the lines and assorted appliances such as dishwashers, toilets, dishwashers and the water heater itself. I primarily work with investors today and in the past five homes purchased, all had water in the lines with three of them still having full water heaters.

The IAFST University has been working towards unanimity in Industry training since 2016. In fact, it is the only digitally accredited training utilizing both Departments of Education and Labor’s accepted Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL). CTDL is the family of de facto standards for making descriptions of credentials and other resources available as data for search and discovery and cross-system interoperability. You can think of the CTDL as a large dictionary of terms that is at your fingertips for creating descriptions where you can use all of the terms or only those terms that meet your needs. This is the IAFST University’s licensing page and IAFST University’s CTDL Page is here. For years, the Industry has relied upon non verifiable testing primarily available from NAMFS. The reality is that the NAMFS testing is more targeted to Management and it was impossible to digitally verify credentials. Further, there was no expiration date nor ability to verify continuing education. IAFST University has brought this to an end.

The reality is that NAMFS leadership has failed to keep up with the times. While NAMFS has never worked with Labor, the reality is that even Management has fallen dramatically behind the times when it comes to both education and technology. The soon to be released application for a dedicated NAICS, by the International Association of Field Service Technicians (IAFST), is but one example. It has been fought against for at least three decades due to the fact that it would force scrutiny upon both wages and training by the US government. This year, take the time to research the IAFST and make the move to an Association that cares about its Membership for more than the dues they pay!

With President Trump’s folie à deux hitting center stage, many are wondering who is actually the President as Elon Musk has been taking center stage and virtually usurping Trump’s victory. As I write today, the Dow Jones is down over 550 points with all of the MAG 7 in the red. Musk is in his typical demagogue fashion as he and Vivek Ramaswamy leer out from their billionaire mansions screaming that they need more foreign workers whom are subservient and their need supercedes that of US citizens whom are qualified, but require that their rights be protected. And as the 119th Congress is poised to begin with one of the smallest margins for Republicans in history, it is a foregone conclusion that nothing will get done. When you throw in a crypto regime investment strategy and the obvious targeting of benefits for anyone other than billionaires and corporations, you have a recipe for an early recession.

In recent years, and even more since the election, the cost of living has surged, creating significant challenges for blue-collar workers who form the backbone of our economy. From groceries to housing, nearly every aspect of daily life has become more expensive, straining the budgets of hardworking families. Key factors like the recent egg shortages, rising fuel prices, escalating lumber costs, soaring rents, and increasing power bills paint a stark picture of economic pressure.

Eggs and meat, once the staples of affordable nutrition, have become a symbol of rising food costs. A combination of avian flu outbreaks, supply chain disruptions, and increased production costs have led to skyrocketing prices. These changes have not been isolated to eggs alone. Bread, milk, meat, and fresh produce have all seen price hikes, pushing many blue-collar families to make tough choices about their grocery budgets. Fuel prices remain a volatile contributor to economic strain. Blue-collar workers, especially those in industries like construction, manufacturing, and logistics, depend on affordable fuel for transportation and equipment operation. Rising costs at the pump not only cut into take-home pay but also increase the cost of goods, creating a double burden.

Utilities, too, have seen significant cost increases. Rising energy prices, driven by higher natural gas costs and grid infrastructure updates, have led to larger power bills. Blue-collar workers who already stretch every dollar face tough decisions between keeping the lights on or addressing other pressing financial needs.

Lumber, a key material for construction and home improvement, has experienced unprecedented price increases in the past few years. This has made homeownership and renovations less accessible to the average worker. For those in construction trades, higher material costs also mean tighter project margins and reduced job opportunities as customers scale back their plans. Housing has become another area of concern. Rent prices have risen sharply, outpacing wage growth for many workers. This has forced families to allocate more of their income to housing, leaving less for essentials like food, transportation, and healthcare. For blue-collar workers, who often have less flexibility to work remotely or relocate, these pressures are particularly acute.

Adding fuel to the fire are the hundreds of billions of dollars sent abroad and used domestically to feed, house, and provide schooling and medical care for illegal aliens. And while the Industry continues to deny their use, it is self evident in many of the sanctuary cities that order mills are using their services.

For blue-collar families, these rising costs have a compounding effect. When essential goods and services become more expensive, disposable income disappears, leading to difficult trade-offs. As the National Association of Mortgage Field Services (NAMFS) Executive Director continues to celebrate their profit margins, blue-collar contractors have yet to see a penny of increases over the past three and a half decades. Miller’s celebration is detailed below as seen on his LinkedIn account and posted to rub salt in the wounds of blue-collar families.

The rising cost of food, fuel, housing, and utilities is an economic storm disproportionately affecting blue-collar workers. These individuals, who contribute so much to society through their labor, deserve solutions that acknowledge their struggles and provide meaningful relief. Without action, the widening gap between wages and costs risks eroding not just individual well-being but the stability of communities as a whole.