Where have we heard this before?………………

Some might say that banning the use of these algorithms is anti-free-market, but the opposite is true. This powerful technology is being used to manipulate markets, often to the benefit of large corporations that are supposed to provide a public benefit in exchange for special tax breaks and liability protections.

Interesting. When do every day appraisers whom hold actual licenses get a vote for any of the appraisal trade group representatives. Even paying members of certain orgs simply never get a vote. The appraisal industry has been ran by everyone except appraisers for far too long.

If SCOTUS decides to toss Humphrey’s Executor, it won’t just rattle the FTC. |t could shake the entire scaffolding of the administrative state. That includes the alphabet soup of “independent” agencies that have been micromanaging the appraisal industry like it’s their personal sandbox.

For years, we’ve watched a runaway, quasi-management structure take hold, AMCs, GSEs, regulators, all operating with minimal oversight, yet somehow wielding maximum control. They set the rules, skim the fees, dodge accountability, then call it “compliance.” If the Court reasserts presidential authority over these agencies, we might finally see a crack in the armor of this fourth branch of government.

We’ve been stuck in a system where the people making the rules aren’t elected, aren’t answerable, & often aren’t even appraisers. If this decision lands right, it could be the first real shot at restoring some constitutional sanity to how our profession is governed.

So yes, it’s a Supreme Court case about firing one FTC commissioner, but the ripple effect could reach all the way to our desktop.

Great comment.

The situation is even worse than anticipated.

https://www.reddit.com/r/appraisal/new/

Potential tie ins to the appraisal industry, the runaway for sale quasi-management structure?

Here is a passage that captures its spirit:

This is the story of how a profession dies in America. Not through foreign competition or technological change, but through the deliberate, systematic dismantling by domestic interests that profit from silencing independent expertise.

Read it carefully. Your profession may be next.

They came for the appraisers. Tomorrow they may come for you.
And when that day comes, who will be left to speak?

Mein Comp: The Last Appraiser on Amazon: https://a.co/d/5URviwY

Interesting, but in Virginia, DPOR literally stands for Department of Professional & Occupational Regulation. They use both terms, but when it comes to real estate appraisal, the official regulations refer to it as a profession. The law governs the “profession or occupation” of appraisal, but the standards, licensure, education, experience, ethics, are all aligned with what defines a profession.

Plus, we’re held to USPAP, which stands for Uniform Standards of PROFESSIONAL Appraisal Practice (emphasis very much intended). So if we’re going to be treated like professionals when it comes to accountability, maybe the title should reflect that too.

The concern raised about the book’s title is understood, but it may overlook the deeper intent behind its construction. MEIN COMP: The Last Appraiser is not a careless provocation, it’s a deliberate metaphor chosen by a Jewish author to reflect the gravity of what has happened to the appraisal profession. The title is designed to provoke thought, not offense, & serves as a warning about systemic erosion of professional autonomy.

While the book is fictional in form, its stories are grounded in reality. The characters, events mirror actual experiences faced by appraisers, compliance overreach, fee siphoning by AMCs, retaliatory tactics, & the replacement of expertise with automation. These are not satirical exaggerations, they are dramatized truths told through fictional lenses.

To dismiss the work based solely on its title is to miss the urgency of its message. This is not a book about Hitler, it’s a book about how appraisers were targeted, fragmented, & ultimately sidelined. The discomfort the title evokes is intentional, because the consequences it describes are real. Those willing to engage beyond the cover will find a powerful, timely account of a profession under siege.

If you are an appraiser or homeowner ect. suddenly facing charges or an investigation from your state licensing board, HUD, the VA, or another government agency, you don’t have to go through it alone.

I’ve been through the process myself, and I know how overwhelming it can feel. Too often, agencies launch investigations without proper jurisdiction, without following their own timelines, or without giving the accused a fair chance to respond. Many people panic, shut down, or assume the government must be right. That’s simply not the case.

Why I’m Offering This for Free

Over the years, I’ve built up a deep understanding of how appraisal investigations actually work — and how they often don’t follow the rules. I’ve studied charge letters, FOIA records, and state licensing board actions. What I’ve seen is clear: many cases are built on shaky ground from the very start.

That’s why I’m offering free case diagnostics to any appraiser or homeowner who has been charged. I’ll review your documents and give you an honest, straightforward assessment of:

Whether the agency had jurisdiction.

If deadlines and procedural rules were followed.

Whether the complaint itself meets the required standards.

What kind of evidence might support your defense.

What You’ll Get

Clarity: An understanding of where your case stands and whether the charges are legitimate.

Strategy ideas: Steps you can take right away to strengthen your defense.

Perspective: Insight from someone who has studied these processes up close and knows the common pitfalls agencies use.

I’m not charging for this. I’m not selling a service. This is about defending our profession and helping homeowners who are being unfairly targeted.

About Me

I am a California Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser (OREA License AR027585) with more than 25 years of experience. In addition to appraisal work, I’ve been a licensed general contractor, real estate salesperson, and broker. Over my career, I’ve completed thousands of appraisals, including many for the VA, and I’ve built a reputation for thorough, professional work.

How to Reach Out

If you or someone you know has been charged, feel free to contact me directly. Send me your charge letter or case documents, and I’ll provide a free diagnostic and practical guidance.

Remember: you don’t have to face this alone. The system is not always right, and sometimes the best defense is simply understanding your rights and shining light on the process.

Kenneth J. Mullinix is a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser (California OREA License AR027585) with more than 25 years of experience, a VA panel appraiser, former general contractor, and licensed California real estate broker. He has published nationally on government overreach in appraisal investigations and continues to advocate for fairness and accountability in the appraisal profession. Send to; kjmull@aol.com Ken

For nearly four years, I’ve been caught in the gears of overlapping investigations by HUD, the VA, and other federal agencies. I’ve endured FOIA denials, retaliatory tactics, and fabricated charges. What I’ve learned in that time is something no appraiser should have to learn the hard way: how federal agencies investigate, how they overreach, and how to fight back.

Along the way I’ve developed a unique toolkit — combining decades of appraisal experience with AI research skills, FOIA expertise, and a detailed understanding of government investigative processes. I’ve used those tools to uncover misconduct, build airtight timelines, and defend myself against charges that never should have existed.

Many of you may have already read my published articles, blog posts, and replies that have been nationally highlighted in Working RE Magazine and other forums. These publications have given me a platform to expose government overreach and to stand up for the appraisal profession.

By way of background: I am a California State Certified Residential Appraiser with over 25 years of experience. Before that, I was also a licensed California General Building Contractor, a licensed Real Estate Salesperson, and a licensed California Real Estate Broker. That combination of construction, sales, brokerage, and valuation experience gives me a unique perspective on both the industry and the challenges appraisers face when agencies step beyond their authority.

Now, I want to put that knowledge to work for others.

If you are an appraiser under review or investigation by HUD, the VA, or another agency — or if you’ve received a letter that you don’t fully understand — I’m offering my help at no charge. I am not an attorney, but I can serve as an advocate, guide, and fellow appraiser who has been through the process. I can help you:

Understand what the agency is really asking for.

Organize your documents and evidence effectively.

Draft professional responses to investigators.

Navigate FOIA requests and denials.

Spot when a case has been mishandled or lacks jurisdiction.

Preserve your rights while reducing stress and confusion.

My goal is simple: no appraiser should stand alone against government overreach.

If you’d like to connect, please reach out by email to Ken at: kjmull@aol.com

That is an accurate assessment of what really happens with the AMCs. Nothing less.

I have something like 1,600 education hours in actual real estate inspection and property insurance adjusting inspection. That education came from engineers and other experts in property inspection. Of course, I have the usual appraiser property inspection courses which are like coloring book courses compared to my other courses. Thus, I will NEVER do a hybrid appraisal wherein some unknown inspects the property for me. On the other had, I might have done my last appraisal a good two months ago anyway. To tell the truth, I don’t want some appraisal following me to my grave.

Yep. I’ve not bid on the last six “assignment opportunities” I’ve received. There’s simply no point any longer.

Over the past few years, appraisers across the country have seen a rise in complaints that allege racial bias or discrimination in the appraisal process. These cases can be life-altering for the appraisers involved, not only in terms of reputation but also financially and emotionally.

While much has been written about the issue, what hasn’t been widely shared are the personal stories of appraisers who have been on the receiving end of these charges. Many have never spoken publicly, often because they felt isolated, silenced, or intimidated. That silence makes it difficult to understand the scope of what is happening in our profession.

This is a call for appraisers to come forward.
If you have ever been accused of bias or discrimination by a government agency, lender, or any other entity, your story matters. Whether the allegation was resolved, dismissed, or still lingers, documenting these experiences is critical for the profession.

We are not looking for case files or sensitive documents — just testimonies from working appraisers who want their voices heard. The goal is to build a collective understanding of what is really happening, what patterns exist, and how appraisers can better protect themselves moving forward.

If you’re willing to share your experience (confidentially or publicly), please reach out. Your testimony could help shed light on whether these investigations are being conducted fairly, and whether the appraisal profession is being subjected to a unique form of scrutiny compared to other fields.

This is bigger than one individual case. The more stories we collect, the clearer the picture becomes — and the stronger our profession stands.

If you are an appraiser who has been accused of bias or discrimination, please contact us. Together, we can document the reality appraisers are facing and ensure the truth is part of the national conversation. Contact Ken at: kjmull@aol.com.

Pray. That’s the point of the bidding process, to seek out and identify appraisers whom are not following stringent rules. To find appraisers whom can say with certainty in two seconds flat for the lowest conceivable fee below everyone elses, they will take the order first. They are not hesitant, because they know ahead of time they’ll make the deal work. That’s the entire point. That and twelve billion of unregulated amc junk billing unearned fee skimming and counting. Bidding each order individually has a two in one benefit; the assignment company constantly pressures appraisers, then gets to keep half the consumers appraisal service fee in secret. Finding ways bid lower and land that work is often the only way appraisers can achieve a ‘good performance score’, ‘better’ than other vendors, to make ‘top tier’ amc vendor status, in order to get a reliable work load. They take the lions share by way of outsourcing and offloading every possible duty to non licensed people and third parties, which was meant to be completed by a licensed professional. Everyone else rides the bench. ‘Appraisal independence.’ This is exactly the platform which ‘appraisal modernization’ is built upon. ‘Valuation independence.’ Who’s still buying this? I’ll tell you who; The new FNMA director whom has a vested special interest in closing more new construction loans. Can’t make it up, not even if you tried.