Appraisal Institute Scandal – Widespread Fraud Uncovered

Appraisal Institute Scandal - Widespread Fraud UncoveredThe Appraisal Institute is embroiled in yet another scandal, and this time it involves widespread fraud and cover-ups at the highest levels of the organization. Alissa Akins, a former director at AI, blew the whistle on a long-running scheme where the nonprofit knowingly misreported test scores to state regulators, potentially allowing unqualified appraisers to get licensed. When Akins tried to sound the alarm and fix the problems, she was met with a “don’t ask, don’t tell” attitude from leadership and ultimately got fired in retaliation. It’s absolutely mind-boggling that an organization tasked with upholding standards and ethics in the appraisal industry would engage in such blatant fraud. And the fact that senior executives were allegedly aware of it and did nothing just shows how deep the rot goes. But let’s be real, the Appraisal Institute has been a dumpster fire for years now. Forcing out reformist CEO Cindy Chance, running massive budget deficits, and now this testing scandal – it’s clear AI is more concerned with protecting its own interests than actually serving appraisers or the public. And you can bet the Appraisal Foundation, which sets the very standards AI is accused of violating, is in on it too. The whole continuing education and testing racket has always felt like a money-grabbing sham, and now we have proof.

As the lawsuit unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that the Appraisal Institute’s leadership is more concerned with covering their own hides and maintaining a steady flow of cash than upholding the integrity of the appraisal profession. The implications of this scandal are far-reaching, potentially impacting countless real estate transactions and eroding public trust in the industry as a whole.

It’s high time for a thorough investigation and a complete overhaul of the Appraisal Institute’s practices, starting with the removal of any executives who were complicit in this disgraceful affair. We deserve better than a crooked system rigged to enrich a few insiders at the expense of everyone else.

 

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53 Responses

  1. Avatar Frustrated Appraiser says:

    All of their funding Needs to be turned off. I can’t imagine why any entity would support an organization that has had, and continues to have so many deep rooted issues. If AI is actually guilty of this, how can anyone trust that they are properly handling Parea? Imagine the damage that can go to the students, the profession and public trust.

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  2. Avatar Midwest appraiser says:

    Just remember when you are taking shots anonymously at an organization that you don’t like what you’re really doing is taking shots at thousands of your fellow appraisers that have designations. Whether you choose to believe it or not, those designations are valuable business tools, and what you’re doing is harming the businesses of fellow working class appraisers. It’s not like they can just turn around tomorrow and spend several years and thousands of dollars and get a designation from another organization that nobody really knows and end users do not recognize. I’m sure you have a caricature in your head that the entire organization is just a bunch of rich MAIs in suits in big office buildings. That’s not true for thousands of members. Some of us are residential members that do not work for large companies. What’s the long game here? Damage the reputation of one of the only prominent organizations that we have? Is the ASA suddenly going to step up and be a thought leader in our industry? Start doing more lobbying? If so, why haven’t they done so already? And if you try to mention organizations like the AGA, then I know you aren’t serious. So what are we going to be left with, an industry with one less unified voice? I’m no fan of the AI organization and they certainly have their major issues but taking pot shots at our own like this is exactly why appraisers always lose. So I hope you feel good at night. You went on the Internet and made it harder for thousands of hard-working appraisers to get work and do their jobs. You may not personally like designations, but it really doesn’t matter what you think. What matters is that clients and courts do recognize it whether you like it or not and whether you think it’s fair or not.

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    • Avatar Kimberly DeFilippis says:

      Read the comment by Frustrated Appraiser…

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    • Avatar Pray Hard says:

      Nobody commenting here caused the problem or hurt anyone’s business. I think what you’ve revealed here is the poison that’s been in the appraisal field for at least the 41 years I’ve been doing it and that is, go along to get along or vice versa. Keep your mouths shut, don’t say anything that might cause a ripple in the fabric. In my opinion, keeping our mouths shut is what got us dog paddling in this septic tank we are in today. (Nothing personal, just rhetorical)

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    • This Blog has become so tiresome … the same posters EVERY SINGLE TIME … talking about conspiracy theories that are laughable … do you posters actually do appraisals anymore?? Or do you just sit in front of your screens waiting for something to “Pray Hard” about … or Bilbo “Baggins” about? I have nothing else to say at this point. What a total joke. Go get some new clients and “shut the front door”. GEEEZZ!

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      • Retired Appraiser Retired Appraiser says:

        Your Reply: No…many of us quit doing this dog ship work when it started paying BEANS in 2009. From what I hear it now pays 1/50th of a bean. I see a great many touchy appraisers on here today with regard to the AI. My thoughts: If the AI pretended to represent residential appraisers and gave a hint of an attempt to fight HVCC 16 years ago you would probably have some degree of respect from working residential appraisers. As it currently stands, AI members get and deserve NO RESPECT from them. Continue to sit on your high perch AI members, looking down your snouts at everyone else and be sure to reap everything that you have sown with your own hands.

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    • Avatar Unfrozen Cave Man Appraiser says:

      We have appraisal organizations now? Wow . Where do I sign up and who will supply me with my fresh tablet material to scribe upon?

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  3. Avatar Frustrated Appraiser says:

    Maybe all of the members should have been more involved, and demanded transparency, ethics, and accountability. No sympathy for anyone that has not stepped up and demanded that the organization you consider “prominent” do better. Blind eyes to all of the warnings and rumblings. Plenty of appraisers have gone beyond what is required as far as education, does not mean they are any less than a designated member. The superiority complex needs to be stopped.

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    • Avatar Midwest appraiser says:

      So many assumptions and so little knowledge of what actually happened. How do you know what I or anybody else has done or try to take action on? You don’t. You’re just making a bunch of assumptions and whining because you couldn’t get a designation. The same, tired cliche “I took extra classes! I’m just as smart!” By the way, that’s not how you get a designation. It’s also not about being smart or “better”. But your inferiority complex prevents you from really understanding. You’re also incapable of any substantive response. So why don’t you tell me, smart guy, exactly how this is helpful to the overall appraisal industry? Specifically. You are hurting thousands of your fellow appraisers. You appear not to care. You think that because some of us weren’t successful in changing the organization that we deserve to be hurt. That doesn’t make you an appraiser that anybody should listen to. That makes you an enemy of my business who should be stopped. Go Pound Sand. Why don’t you tell me your name and what organizations you belong to so I can attack them and come after your business?

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      • Avatar Flash says:

        What about my feelings? Too funny. I sleep ok at night after a days work. When a person is self employed, it just means they work half a day or 12 hours a day to make things happen.

        Maybe the appraisal business is not your thing. Have been in the real estate industry as a broker owner and real estate appraisal before appraisal licensing was required and have two designations that don’t get me any free coffee or donuts. Gratis Coffee and Donuts are for government workers.

        Get a side gig like expert witness testimony since you are able to defend your position. Or, transition into mortgage loan origination. When the mortgage rates drop it will be very busy again for lenders, appraisers, realtors and property data collectors. As a position of protest, I am not going to the next Las Vegas Appraisal Convention that only wants to talk to and hire non licensed property data collectors rather than existing appraisers with or without designations.

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  4. Baggins Baggins says:

    Lawsuit quote: As a result of AI’s retaliation, Plaintiff has suffered damages including lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering, damage to her career, as well as other damages that are continuing to accrue. / Quote two; As a result of Plaintiff’s reporting of the fraudulent conduct and her refusal to engage in the fraudulent conduct, AI began making Plaintiff’s life “hell” and was promptly terminated from her job.

    Welcome to the club! GSE appraisers subjected to amc influence have dealt with a similar situation for decades. Play ball, be silent, be complicit, or get fired. Where is our legal redress for the over 12 billion dollars in lost income redirected to amc’s via their fraudulent practices? Where is our representation from the ‘accredited trade groups’ of the appraisal industry? The issue is perhaps reflective of the culture of covering problems over rather than dealing with them directly and honestly.

    We warned everyone that corruption of the process if left unanswered would have no limit, the consequences reaching out to everyone, including those whom believed their were insulated with designations or whom operated outside of the GSE space.

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    • Avatar Midwest appraiser says:

      I see, so this group id basically “if you got a designation 20 years ago, screw you, I want you out if business”. But also “oh please join our crusade to help the industry”. Want to know why appraisers won’t stand up and join together? THIS. Glad you all feel self-righteous as you destroy our industry. Good plan. Really sticking it to the man.

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      • Avatar Timothy Thompson says:

        Wait a minute… Who are you accusing of destroying our industry? Are you kldding? By chance, do you work for the AI? Do you suffer a conflict of interest?

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      • Baggins Baggins says:

        Nobody is destroying the industry by commenting on an article detailing real world legal activity. We’ve been fighting to save this industry, to have better accountability, fair and balanced process for decades.

        For the testing issues, first I’ve heard. Some online research indicated the testing company AI used was having financial problems then bought out by a venture capital firm a few years back. Do you know more?

        Why would this lawsuit be any more upsetting than all the amc malfeasance, billing fraud, destroyed small appraiser businesses, unfair practices, consumer harm, etc, etc? Is this a shoot the messenger type of moment?

        If members of any given group want corrections, they need to use their positions to effect change from within. If I had invested that much into a group I’d be on the phone demanding answers and accountability. That’s sort of why I always post on this website. Because the appraisal industry has so many problems, it’s going to take a lot of dedicated effort to set things right.

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        • Avatar Pray Hard says:

          Thank you.

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        • Avatar Midwest appraiser says:

          You are really clueless on how it works with membership of an organization. Do you think we all get together once a month like some kind of town hall and we can just demand answers? I’m just a regular working appraiser with a small business and lots to do. I don’t wear a suit and attend meetings at fancy country clubs. I’m just trying to feed my family And have something left for retirement. But jerks like you attack things that affect my bottom line. So I should what? thank you for letting me know something that we already know and can’t do anything about. It honestly takes somebody a little bit deranged to come after their colleagues like this. Because you like to justify it by thinking you’re coming after some big nameless organization or a few powerful people you don’t like. But in reality you’re coming after me. You’re coming after my family and my business. You need to learn some impulse control and when it’s appropriate to speak about things in public. Did you honestly think you could do this to a group of regular appraisers and then expect them to clap and say absolutely how can we help you? How can we help you while you are simultaneously hurting us? In what deranged world did you think that was a good idea? The truth is, you really don’t actually care. You’re happy for this. You’re sitting back and hoping it’s destructive. You don’t want to admit it, but you want to see people hurt. There’s a word for people like you and I can’t say it on this forum. It starts with A and ends with a whole lot of other letters. Because here’s the only response you’re going to get from any member of the organization no matter how we feel about the bad things they’ve done. You can go pound sand. And that is the absolute nicest way I can say that and not get my comment redacted here. Because there’s certainly other words I’d love to tell you to your face. Go to hockey sticks.

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          • Baggins Baggins says:

            It’s not my fault the industry or this organization is in disarray. There is a logical challenge here; Why would anyone be upset that honest people want honest process? And actually yes, people can get together in such a manner, by redirecting the time and effort they spend arguing with non members, to demanding answers from persons in their own member organization.

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    • Avatar Pray Hard says:

      A year or two ago there was an agent raising Hell about my measurement of a house. There was a discrepancy of about 300 sf from the appraisal district sf (imagine that, huh).The AMC called me and I told them that I’d be happy to remeasure it with the agent watching me. “Oh, no, we don’t want you to do that. They might think you didn’t know what you were doing.” That action by the AMC is just one of the many problems we deal with. Let’s just sweep it under the carpet and hope we don’t get nuked. Of course, the measurements all squared off and even matched the survey. But, what do I know?

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    • This Blog has become so tiresome … the same posters EVERY SINGLE TIME … talking about conspiracy theories that are laughable … do you posters actually do appraisals anymore?? Or do you just sit in front of your screens waiting for something to “Pray Hard” about … or Bilbo “Baggins” about? I have nothing else to say at this point. What a total joke. Go get some new clients and “shut the front door”. GEEEZZ!

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      • Baggins Baggins says:

        Nothing wrong with being a regular contributor. Welcome to the year 2025. I’m good with clients, thanks though. If you’d care to recommend any, I’m sure someone else could benefit from a new pickup. They’d probably appreciate such a gesture of good will.

        What’s your take on the article detailing alleged testing fraud with the Appraisal Institute?

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      • Avatar Frustrated Appraiser says:

        then leave? Stop following the blog? Is someone forcing you to read and participate? Some self accountability might do you some good. Some of us follow and comment because we actually care about our profession and other professionals/peers. Having input from others helps us come up with different way to deal with issues, and to keep up with important, relevant info.

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    • Avatar JR says:

      “Welcome to the club! GSE appraisers subjected to amc influence have dealt with a similar situation for decades. Play ball, be silent, be complicit, or get fired. Where is our legal redress for the over 12 billion dollars in lost income redirected to amc’s via their fraudulent practices?”

      It is amazing you devote your life to blaming AMCs for your appraisal practice. In a competitive world, if someone takes business from you, they aren’t always stealing from you. Usually you just lost. AMCs aren’t responsible for 12 billion in losses to appraisers. You just make up random numbers. If they were “fraudulent practices” something would have been done about it. They are not. You are hurt over their business model. You continue to cite 15-20 year old opinions and statutes that are not relevant today, not germane to your attempted application of them and never have been enforced.

      I know dozens of appraisers who make a tremendous living mixing in the good AMC work with their other clients. Funny I can’t find them starving and running to this board to blame the AMC for anything. Some AMCs are too greedy or difficult to work with. So don’t. Others are just as good as most other clients.

      This stuff is simple. Some would rather make $400 on 50 widgets while others would rather make $600 on 4 widgets a month because they think they are worth more than the market has proven they are. Some will work their butts of for the $20k. Others will lazily do the 4 and make $2400 and incessantly wine, complain and blame others (AMCs). And boy are the latter in good company around here.

      I held a designation with AI for 10 years and gave it up 10 years ago. I didn’t find that the residential appraiser was their focus and my clients didn’t care about it after a while, but I still support that they at least try to help our industry as a whole. I can and always could see the vitriol directed at designated appraisers by those who are not. Thats our industry in a nutshell.

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      • Baggins Baggins says:

        Bernie and SBF made ‘tremendous livings’ off of defrauding people as well. Don’t forget to include the amc consumer fraud, restriction of trade, racketeering, price fixing, data manipulation, and aspects of advocacy, all of which the amc model was imposed to prevent, but ultimately in the end promoted.

        The argument of efficient process for a lower price falls short with the simple fact that when amc’s receive lower cost appraisal service, that benefit is not passed on to the consumer. From a consumer perspective by your own analogy and financial comparisons, you the consumer when dealing with amc companies pays exorbitant pricing for a product which would otherwise cost far less in a direct to consumer free market setting. Amc’s have consumers paying the $600 for 4 widgets, even though the amc sources 50 widgets for $400 dollars. Does not sound like a fair deal from a consumer perspective. Why doesn’t the amc distribute the savings to the consumer, and instead bill for their amc handling service on a cost plus basis?

        Then we return to the consumer argument if they had a choice with the biggest financial investment in their lives, if they’re really go with the slash rate service provider whom uses outsourced labor and automated process, or if they’d more responsibly go with seasoned well vetted professionals whom charged fair market rates for detailed accountable service which used no outsourcing or third party assistance which may compromise the integrity of the work product and labor effort.

        These arguments are stale. The amc does not return cost savings to borrowing consumers but rather pockets the difference which then defines the difference as a junk fee or unearned billing fee, in clear violation of many rules. That is neither an arcane nor germane argument. Just because unethical process and a fraud has been going on for a long enough period, that does not mean the activity is moral, acceptable or magically somehow contemporaneously legal. Rather that means the fraud has gone unchecked for that long of a period.

        That is not the function of the real estate appraiser being required in frt loans. Independent check and balance to safeguard the liquidity of the nations GSE congressionally chartered lending programs backed by the taxpayer, protecting American consumers from predatory activity, supposed to be implemented in a manner which requires licensed and only licensed persons providing the service. The appraisal industry has been largely commandeered by those willing to exploit the system for their own gain.

        We’ve had this conversation before, my position is rooted in valid legal and moral principals. Amc’s do not embrace nor promote honesty, integrity, or free market principals which benefit consumers. It is a pay to play favoritism system only made possible by imposed regulatory prohibitions on independent appraiser vendors from dealing directly with their own customers. I was going to repost the FRB open letter writing comments from the initial HVCC imposition, so you could read hundreds of other appraisers voicing a similar opinion from the pre amc dominance era, but sadly it appears the GOA government accountability office took that content off line recently.

        Also here is a link to a notable letter which was also an article on this blog; 2012. FRB material. The original intention of the rules have been watered down, adulterated, and dismissed. Appraisers whom have played along with this system have unwittingly played a major role in disrupting secure housing markets for some time now. Also a NAR 2010 letter. This is how long the asc, asb, taf, ai, occ, fhfa, fannie, freddie, hud, and others have failed to properly oversee and implement a program designed to protect consumers rather than exploit them. All we have to do to understand how these programs were supposed to be implemented is review 2010 – 2013 regulatory guidance and industry opinion material.

        And no, the $12b dollar figure is not coming out of thin air. That is the unearned fee rake from amc’s which otherwise would have gone to appraisal industry growth or alternatively as you claim, would have been in part a cumulative savings of mortgage consumers via improved process efficiency rather than a profit rake towards amc’s. There would have been twice the number of appraisers there are today, no amc’s, more skilled professionals, and a much better more reliable appraisal service provided. AI could have been 10x the size and we could all have afforded designations. Instead we get the amc race to the bottom, unlimited outsourcing, continued fraud, the cosmic cobra book re re re re purchase effect, diminishing standards and failing ethic all around. Reference ARCC group, image attached. Any other questions? I’m here to help.

        https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/naihp-letter-to-cfpb-regarding-appraiser-independence-regulations/
        https://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/srletters/2010/sr1016.htm
        https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/petition-concerning-the-interim-final-rule-on-appraiser-independence/
        https://narfocus.com/billdatabase/clientfiles/172/3/1042.pdf

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  5. So other than a claim filed by an apparent disgruntled employee, that will need to be litigated and decisioned in proper due course, we now have annonymous blog reporting and commenters trying the claim here on the #1 AI hating blogsite. Credibility and public trust begins with real names…

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    • Baggins Baggins says:

      Brent has a point. The article was a little bit biased… I’ve never understood exactly what’s happening at the AI, except from a personal perspective as Mr Kennedy said; nobody in the GSE world ever once asked me for any accreditation. All I hear is what’s your fee and turn time. Daily GSE appraiser activities mean we’re often the only appraiser in the room. Panel approval on boarding, non appraisers. Order volume, non appraisers. Conflict management, non appraisers. Administrative review and stips, non appraisers. Appraisal department managers are rarely licensed appraisers. State board members often have no experience actually working for amc’s. That is whom amc board members influence.

      If the costs and commitment were not so prohibitive in relation to the ever falling opportunity and reduced compensation imposed by the amc and mortgage lending industry, the AI group would probably have twice the volume of members today. Does anyone have interesting stats on the percentage of appraisers whom are AI members?

      I don’t really understand this story. What’s the big deal about retaking an online CE test if one does not pass the first time? Is it different with AI tests or something, because with all other online CE providers, you never have to pay twice but rather are required to roll through all the class content again until you can pass the test, but it costs the student nothing more than time. Why would anyone get fired for seeking to correct such a simple process?

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  6. Avatar Older and maybe Wiser, J.D. says:

    I have always and will continue to……”take shots” at the Appraisal Institute. I have always maintained they were out for one thing. MONEY. MONEY. and more MONEY. Nothing more. The SRA and MAI programs are a money grab. I do not believe they started out this way. They morphed into a derogatory shell of their original self sometime during the first decade of the 2000’s. Their courses are extremely overpriced. The return on investment for obtaining the SRA designation means little to nothing. Many will disagree with me, that’s fine. Waste your money on them if you want. Me………..I’ll invest mine in something with a better return.

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    • Avatar Eric Kretz says:

      I agree 100%.

      Has anyone ever had a client ask you ‘are you SRA or MAI’? Not once in 25 years.

      AI designations mean nothing from a do-nothing organization. The clients don’t care, it is really about the fee and turn time for them. Maybe it means something to that smarmy appraiser who does reviews all day.

      Burn it all down.

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      • Avatar Spencer Paul says:

        I have actually, all private work, but still. In the MBS, no it does not matter. It does in court when you have opposing council hiring one with and one without. Similarly, there are clients that want green certified appraiser to complete work on green units – it does make a difference to those that are looking specifically for that. Admittedly, most are not.

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  7. Avatar Spencer Paul says:

    I’m still trying to get my designation regardless of this case. If AI did act in this manor, of which I have to follow the bread crumbs of the Cindy Chance debacle and what is stated in this complaint, along with long standing lack of transparency, I hope they will be brought to light and justice served. I also hope that other chapter presidents with in the organization that I know have high standards of ethics will step up and run for the said positions that would be vacated and right the ship. While one or more appraisers that choose to remain anonymous on the face of the blog, understand the moderators know who you are. I understand the desire to speak about such things and not be known, but we all need to be known here and in this profession. AI does have material benefit to many appraiser’s through mentorship and education, I being one. It is clear we have to recognize AI does not do all things the right way and have not been a leader in advocation of appraiser in this industry, nor its own members alike, seemingly damning the demands or questions member have, let alone those on the outside looking in. Work needs to be done, with transparency needed. So those that see a short coming are the ones that should step up and fill the need. I’m only at the beginning of this AI journey and as an appraiser of the past 13 years, I hope to be in this for as along as a I can and I need this community to act like professionals and this includes AI, it board members and all other members. Yes this would also require AI to step up and speak on the appraiser’s behalf without trying to white kid glove every single statement that is made. This is one of this items that must be clear, either you are for appraiser’s and the unbiased appraisal profession, or you aren’t.

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  8. Avatar Brady Gustafson says:

    Talk about clickbait, my gosh, how do people find this helpful to the discourse? In an era of misinformation, I hope people would avoid the clickbait articles created to get you all riled up. I am sorry that I got on the email list of this website. I will be removing my email now.

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    • Avatar Spencer Paul says:

      How is this click bait. This is an official complaint filed against AI for practices that have begun to light post Cindy Chance. This is clearing out the garbage that has been taking place within the wall of AI and is highly relevant to all the changes and exposures going on throughout the industry. If they are found to be not guilty of such, it is of public record. Right now, hopefully, the lack of transparency that members have been complaining about will be forced out. Lets see what’s under the hood and how it’s running. If it good, then it is good, if not, then it is time for a change.

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      • Avatar Eric Kennedy says:

        Well said Mr Paul, there is something rotten in Denmark – and the AI smells like dead fish.

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      • Avatar Frustrated Appraiser says:

        Yes. The documentation is out there for anyone to find. And to Midwest Appraiser, who claims I could not get a designation, that was BY MY CHOICE. I did research into AI after starting the process. So glad I did. Not an organization I would want to be associated with. What a lot of assumptions by him, while he claims we are making assumptions: there is an awful lot of proof out there regarding AI shenanigans and lack of transparency. It pays, as an appraiser, to be thorough at research and analysis. Chalk it up to more embarrassed AI sheep.

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        • Avatar Eric Kennedy says:

          I’ve been Appraising since 1995 and have yet to be asked for any qualification other than my “fee and turn time”…. at least since Dudd-Fwank was enacted. I do have my NCPAC CDA just so I can have some letters next to my name. 😉

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        • Avatar Spencer Paul says:

          I’m looking at solely from my own self benefit. I want and need an organization that speaks on the behalf of the appraiser and a place where I can get better education and guidance. I also want the designation, for now, lawyers, CPA and other view them and said designations as means of separation from one appraiser to another. No, I don’t assume all SRA, MAI and on are better just because they have the initials, no, they are not, but they did spend more time on education, similar to another degree in another field of work. Does the degree really mean you know what you are talking about, not all, but its a means to separation from others. It “can” make you more marketability to those outside of the industry. So, in that sense am I still a sheep? If so, bah I guess, or not…

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  9. Avatar HUDS_HARM says:

    Stay tuned for HUD being exposed for covering for the lender/AMC/appraiser

    https://appraisersblogs.com/uncovering-flaws-in-fha-appraisal-n-loan-review-process/#google_vignette

    The fraud is everywhere.

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  10. Avatar Frank P says:

    Well, shoot. Not a good look. I wish all the designated members the best of luck in the future. If you are paying dues, you are entitled to some answers.

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  11. Michael Perry on Facebook Michael Perry on Facebook says:

    Perhaps this explains why AI refuses to release exam results to the test taker, but rather only a ‘pass/fail’. How many appraisers were fraudulently forced to pay for a re-exam?

    What a joke AI has become

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    • Baggins Baggins says:

      What? That’s more surprising than public schools refusing to provide A-F grading. They don’t even give people a percentage of answers they got right? I mean, how many questions are on these tests? Don’t they tell you when you got the answer wrong? Normal online CE for appraisers hits us with a giant red x instead of a green passing icon, and we immediately have to read again or take the mini quiz again. They re enforce learning based education by providing the correct answer or a reference to where the course content has that information.

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  12. Tim Lane on Facebook Tim Lane on Facebook says:

    I am, for one, am shocked! Completely shocked. Yes, I’m being a smart ass.

    Honestly, did anyone think this wasn’t going on already the past several years?? I doubt it, unless you are truly drinking the kool-aid.

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  13. Kevin Hescock on Facebook Kevin Hescock on Facebook says:

    AI has now officially lost all the remaining minimal credibility they had. This does prove that they were “in it for the appraisers” though,,,,,, Pa DUm TSSSS! 😉

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  14. Avatar Xpert says:

    It’s disappointing to see Appraisal Institute members attacking this blog and their fellow appraisers, instead of holding AI accountable for their alleged corruption. This story has been widely reported across the industry, with major outlets like Bisnow, HousingWire, CRE Daily, and The Real Deal covering the lawsuit that accuses AI of providing fraudulent test results to states for years. I’m surprised to see AI appraisers trying to dismiss this as “clickbait” and misinformation when the evidence seems quite substantial. We should be focusing on getting to the bottom of these serious allegations, not shooting the messengers.

    Here are some of the headlines:

    Bisnow: EXCLUSIVE: Lawsuit Alleges Appraisal Institute Has Given States Fraudulent Test Results For Years
    https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/commercial-real-estate/lawsuit-accuses-appraisal-institute-of-giving-states-fraudulent-test-results-for-years-128719

    HousingWire: Former executive sues Appraisal Institute, alleging wrongful termination
    It’s the latest chapter in a simmering feud between the Appraisal Institute and its members
    https://www.housingwire.com/articles/appraisal-institute-lawsuit-wrongful-termination-alissa-akins/

    CRE Daily: Appraisal Institute Hit With Lawsuit Over Alleged Years-Long Test Fraud
    https://www.credaily.com/briefs/appraisal-institute-hit-with-lawsuit-over-alleged-years-long-test-fraud/

    The Real Deal: Appraisal Institute accused of widespread test-score fraud
    National certifier allegedly falsified test scores for years
    https://therealdeal.com/chicago/2025/03/31/appraisal-institute-accused-of-test-score-fraud/

    11
    • Avatar Flash says:

      Thank you for your research to quickly see these new articles. There seems to be a pattern of impropriety emerging here. What we have here, is a failure to communicate the true test score results. When an educational business puts their thumb on the scales to create a different out come its corruption pure and simple with no one to gain for the hard work to prepare for these tests.

      3
  15. Avatar Frank P says:

    I shall get to the bottom of this

    3
  16. Avatar BDL says:

    To quote “Something About Raymond”, “Holy Crap”. This certainly explains their failure supporting appraisers during the racist, biased witch hunt. They had a lot to hide and fear of government investigations In retaliation threw all appraisers under the bus. My sincere condolences for their members who were obviously used as a cash cow. Despicable.

    5
  17. This Blog has become so tiresome … the same posters EVERY SINGLE TIME … talking about conspiracy theories that are laughable … do you posters actually do appraisals anymore?? Or do you just sit in front of your screens waiting for something to “Pray Hard” about … or Bilbo “Baggins” about? I have nothing else to say at this point. What a total joke. Go get some new clients and “shut the front door”. GEEEZZ!

    3
  18. Avatar Flash says:

    I have more work to do everyday and I am turning down work that I don’t want in my portfolio . This ain’t No Joke. Clearly, we are being unburdened by what has been.

    2
  19. Retired Appraiser Retired Appraiser says:

    A.I. appears to be the appropriate acronym for their organization then.
    AI = Artificial (faked) Intelligence

    6
  20. Per the Appraisal Institute

    The Appraisal Institute is aware of a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a former employee, which includes allegations regarding our appraisal examination process.

    We take these matters seriously and remain committed to the highest ethical and professional standards.

    Our examination and certification procedures are rigorous and designed to uphold the integrity of the appraisal profession. The allegations of fraud are entirely without merit and misrepresent our processes. Accusations of this nature are not only misleading but harm the reputation of dedicated professionals in the field.

    We will present the facts through the appropriate legal channels.

    #appraisalinstitute

    2
  21. Avatar Jeff Boyd says:

    It is the same thing that is going on throughout the education system in the United States. Wouldn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings by telling them that they FAILED!!! I am not surprised.

    1

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Appraisal Institute Scandal – Widespread Fraud Uncovered

by AppraisersBlogs time to read: 1 min
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