MILWAUKEE, Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Smithfield & Wainwright (S&W), in collaboration with Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, has released its ground breaking, Residential Asset Monitoring (RAM) solution. RAM automates the process by which banks value residential real estate, using the three accepted appraisal valuation approaches – sales comparable, cost, and income. RAM provides banks with an automated and forward-looking method to monitor and value their mortgage loan portfolios and in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act of 2010.

Accurately valued estate portfolios promote U.S. real estate market stability by forecasting a floor and a rational ceiling, helping to prevent artificially depressed or inflated valuations.  RAM enables banks to enter individual property addresses via a browser or, to use a batch process for high volumes of property addresses. Using Smithfield & Wainwright's proprietary LPV® system, banks receive automated valuation reports for each property with valuation ranges and confidence scoring for all three appraisal valuation methods.

Over the past four years, Florida State University, working with other leading U.S. universities, entered into a joint collaboration with Smithfield & Wainwright to test and validate the accuracy of the RAM solution. 

"The RAM solution allows for an objective view of valuation and provides a standardized valuation approach for dealing with Tier 1 Capital requirements and Capital Impairment. The ability to provide a concise view of assets provides assurance that the institutions holding real estate portfolio assets provide a transparent picture not only for regulators but also for rating agencies and shareholders. This paradigm of the RAM solution will help stabilize the U.S. Real Estate markets," said "Big" Hogan E. Copeland II, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Smithfield & Wainwright.

"We're pleased that Marshall & Swift/Boeckh's trusted re-construction cost data is an important part of the RAM solution. Our collaboration with Smithfield and Wainwright provides a solution to help banks value residential mortgage collateral using multiple forward looking approaches to value," said Todd Eyler, VP for MSB's Real Estate-Government business.

About Smithfield & Wainwright

Smithfield & Wainwright specializes in residential and commercial real-estate appraisal valuation and analytics, and valuation regarding securitization, whole loans, securitized mortgage pools and mortgage-backed securities. The firm's signature proprietary platforms include LPV® Logical Property Valuation, RAM, CAM and IAM.

About Marshall & Swift/Boeckh (MSB)

Marshall & Swift/Boeckh (MSB), a Decision Insight Information Group company, is the leading provider of building cost information, residential and commercial analytics solutions and book of business management services for property insurance companies, financial services organizations, appraisers, and government entities.  Through eight decades of experience, MSB has compiled a strong track record of consistently developing innovative property solutions, analyzing our clients' needs and providing them with the assistance to significantly improve their business results. 

About Decision Insight Information Group

Decision Insight Information Group, located in the U.S., Canada and Europe, delivers a comprehensive range of information, infrastructure and decision support products and services for financial and legal professionals.  Operating at the heart of the property industry, Decision Insight Information Group manages complex information solutions and provides clarity on decision making for buying, selling, conveyancing, financing and insurance. Decision Insight companies include MSB and DataQuick in the U.S., Access Point Information Canada, SearchFlow, xit2 and Decision Insight Hub in the UK, Millar & Bryce in Scotland, Rochford Brady Group in the Republic of Ireland, and Wertweiser, a joint venture with HVB Bank, in Germany. Decision Insight has 1,100 employees in 16 offices. For more information, visit www.decisioninsightgroup.com. Decision Insight Information Group is a TPG Capital portfolio company.

SOURCE Marshall & Swift/Boeckh