I had high hopes when I enrolled in the PAREA program. I was genuinely excited about starting a career in real estate appraisal and was willing to invest over $4,000 of my own money to get the education and credentials I needed. Unfortunately, my experience with the program has been extremely frustrating and disheartening.

From the start, the program presented itself as a guided pathway through the appraisal process. However, what I encountered was mostly self-taught learning, dense materials, and very little interactive instruction. When I repeatedly asked for help, I was told that due to time constraints, one-on-one support wasn’t possible—which is exactly what I needed in order to learn the software, understand how to complete the appraisal forms correctly, and build confidence in the process.

There was no consistent mentorship, no step-by-step walk-throughs of how to complete assignments, and no real-time guidance. For someone who learns best through interaction and hands-on instruction, this program was not only ineffective—it was emotionally and financially draining. I put everything I had into trying to make this work, but ultimately, I had to withdraw from the program out of frustration and lack of support.

This may work for those with prior experience or those who thrive in a completely independent learning environment, but for new entrants like myself who need real instruction and mentorship, PAREA is not the right fit.

I’m sharing my experience not to complain, but to help others make an informed decision before investing their time and money. If you’re expecting a structured class with personal guidance through the appraisal process, this is not it.

Unfortunately, they will grab on us and we will fall with them. The profession will loose its credibility and all will yell for a solution: replace appraisers with AI?

More government: means greater loss of Appraisers contracting ability. Our ability to choose our clients, rather than the People to assume who our clients is wrong.
We wont be able to protect ourselves in what ever kind of R.E. we agree too. We automatically are wrong when we project a down market, we are wrong when we do an estimate of H.&;B. use, if it differs from zoning, no mater what the evidence. Our only protection is to ability to defend ourselves in the present with the present rules and laws with the system which has existed since 1780*.
We must choose our CLIENT or continue as a politicians bait.
*wasn’t Ben Franklin a real estate lawyer among other things.
A lot of us worked for little for a long time Many are still complaining about prices and collections, ain’t that life!

https://www.appraisalfoundation.org/imis/TAF/Resources/Educators/PAREA/TAF/PAREA.aspx?

Still waiting for someone in the upper echelons of this industry to have that eureka moment where something parea is on their desk, while they simultaneously read some news piece regarding the SCOTUS decision striking down affirmative action in higher education. Circling the water hole, they want what you have.

That’s quite interesting. What do you suppose the states application on file retention period is, when an appraiser submits their papers to gain initial approval? Because over time, as these licenses are doled out, there would be no way to distinguish parea appraisers vs those coming via mentor. They really should have created a different licensing designation for parea, but then again, the entire program was meant as a silver spoon to the appraisal management industry.

Not that it really matters, the systemic failure of mentorship has long since claimed a lasting presence in this valuation services industry, as amc appraisers churn out more amc appraisers, whom churn out more… While the most qualified skilled appraisers usually do not train. I recall the certified appraiser class and used to remember their names, roughly a fifth or less of them are still involved in this industry. From my very first initial class so long ago, I think only me and one other guy out of about sixty people made it all the way.

I’ve met several people whom count not pass the psi exam and just gave it up. I passed all three first time around but still lament the lack of testing on quite relevant topics such as legal frameworks, regulatory authority, appropriate limitations to practice and other competency related items. There are all too many appraisers out there whom have confused alamode’s how to automate your business type tools with actual competency building education. They slap a class label on anything and most appraisers bite.

I’m quite certain at some point in time, poorly developed appraisals have caused human beings to suddenly clutch their chests and fall over backwards dead on the spot. The appraisal likely floated away in the breeze directly into the trash bin, and nobody was the wiser as to the true cause of death. People are like I worked my entire life to make this happen, and some appraiser with his outsource crew just ruined everything in two minutes. Unlike the nurse scandal you mentioned, I think we’re well past the point of accountability being firmly tied to competency. Boy those were the days though, back when respectable society actually mattered. Now it’s all just dog eat dog, lie after lie, power struggles and policy for sale, whomever can get ahead fastest with propagandized messaging.

Images coming from the crystal ball indicate going through this class will be a company write off, and many an amc manager and upper level employee will assign themselves licenses, taking the PAREA class during normal working hours.

I was a glutton for punishment, having a few million extra brain cells to shed this morning and was reading reddit appraisal threads. Amrock amc just laid off two hundred and fifty employees they said. A genuine good feeling came to me, for a moment. Then I read more posts, nearly lost consciousness while dealing with a measurable intelligence quota reduction before self preservation kicked in and I clicked the page away. Appraisers here really are hands down better experienced and smarter. Pepsi challenge to join that group and redirect some of them here instead so they can actually learn something.

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

Agree! Short sighted corporations only thinking of immediate cash gains while shooting themselves in the foot! Gee what a surprise!

Agree, The article has some inaccuracies. PAREA didn’t take effect until Jan 2021. Also Mckissock’s site says there are virtual mentors. Too early to tell if the diversity goal works because this administration is just getting started with targeting diversity.

Guess who’s going to make a fortune off of PAREA education… McKissock. And guess whom assisted in this effort and volunteered to create the virtual classes… I took a deep dive on McKissock owners, investors, and associated persons, as they related to the amc industry and other GSE connections. Not looking good for independent appraisers. Why would they kill their own golden goose? Short sighted at best. They’re too busy counting potential subscribers in a projected future subscribers model rather than actually caring about previous long term subscriber participation. Greed without regard for students well being or future prospects. We want some federal relief and refund for our excess educational expenditures too! Selling rainbows to the plebs, mandatory subscriptions are required.