Big changes to who appraises homes and how they're selected could be coming your way next year, according to a column I spotted at the LA Times by Kenneth R. Harney.

The intention is to clean up a process thought to be muddied by inflated appraisals, which some believe led to today’s home price declines.

Here are some of the key aspects of the deal, which was agreed to earlier this year in New York by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Attny. Gen. Andrew M. Cuomo, according to the story:

• Mortgage brokers, who originate roughly 60% of all new loans, no longer would be allowed to select or pay appraisers.

• In-house appraisers at banks and mortgage firms no longer would be permitted to do appraisals for loans to be funded by their organizations.

• Lenders would not be able to use appraisals generated by management companies -- firms that contract with networks of appraisers nationwide -- if they have a significant financial stake in the management company.

But, for many reasons, industry groups are pushing back, saying that consumers would spend more time and money getting an appraisal on a home they'd like to buy.

Find the full story here.