12. An internal auditor at a savings and loan association concludes that a secured real estate loan is collectible. Which of the following engagement procedures provides the most persuasive information about the loan's collectability?
A. Confirming the loan balance with the borrower.
B. Reviewing the loan file for proper authorization by the credit committee.
C. Examining documentation of a recent, independent appraisal of the real estate.
D. Examining the loan application for appropriate borrowers' signatures.
Answer (C) is correct.
REQUIRED: The most persuasive information about the loan's collectability.
DISCUSSION: Real estate appraisals are based on estimated resale value or future cash flows. A recent, independent appraisal provides information about the borrower's ability to repay the loan. Such an appraisal tends to be reasonably reliable because it is timely and derives from an expert source independent of the engagement client.
Answer (A) is incorrect. A confirmation provides information about a loan's existence, not its collectability.
Answer (B) is incorrect. Information about the loan's authorization is not relevant to its collectability.
Answer (D) is incorrect. The validity of the loan is not relevant to the borrower's ability to repay the loan.