AQB - Appraisers Blogs

When ‘Protected’ Becomes Pressure: You Have Until July 27 to Object

Guest Author — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 12:30:25 +0000

The new fair‑housing course weaponizes protected characteristics to pressure appraisers into outcome‑driven valuation, directly contradicting USPAP’s prohibition on advocacy. The Fair Housing Course Is Training You to Break USPAP. You Have Until July 27 to Say So. The Appraiser Qualifications Board’s Second Exposure Draft keeps a required course that pressures new appraisers to advocate an outcome based on protected characteristics. That is not fair housing. It is not lawful. And you can still stop it — but the comment window closes July 27. Let me say it plainly. We are being pushed — through licensing law and federal fair-housing regulation...

Bias Accusation Collapses as HUD Clears the Appraiser HUD just confirmed what the appraisal showed from day one: the accusation never had a pulse. If you read the…
Appraisers Freed from DEI Propaganda This bold move immediately resulted in the removal of all appraisal bias propaganda from the official whitehouse.gov website. With a…
USPAP’s Typical Buyer Standard in the Fair Housing Era The Irreconcilable Conflict Between USPAP's Typical Buyer Standard and the Current Fair Housing Compliance Regime. Retain this document as a…

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App-solutely Clueless: When Sales Tries to School Appraisers

Dave Towne — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:30:46 +0000

A newly funded bias-checking app claims to fix appraisal discrimination, by sidelining appraisers, duplicating existing standards, and redefining valuation from the sales floor. Appraisers, this bit of news about a new bias checking app fluttered across my office floor the other day, causing me to trip. From the article: “…eliminate home appraisal bias, which happens when Black homeowners’ properties or properties in predominately Black neighborhoods are valued less than comparable properties owned by white households or in primarily white neighborhoods.” This new electronic theoretical bias checker was developed by three women in Philadelphia, who ARE NOT appraisers. Instead, they are...

Objectionable Valuations Become Hate Speech,… The censorship, scapegoating and sidelining of appraisers has done real damage to borrowers and the purchasers of bonds... Attacks on…
Low Appraised Value = Racial Bias? When the appraised value didn’t meet the sale price, the first assumption was that the appraiser conspired to lower the…
Using Discrimination As a Bully Tactic As an appraiser who has been appraising in rural south for 20 years I have seen a few things. This…

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The Illogical Reality of Mortgage Appraisal Reviews

Dallas T. Kiedrowski, MNAA — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 12:30:28 +0000

Reforming the appraisal review process is essential to maintaining the integrity of the real estate market and protecting consumers and homeowners. In mortgage financing, the appraisal process is often seen as the foundation of accurate property valuation and market stability. However, beneath this façade of reliability lies a troubling rift: while real estate appraisers must navigate stringent licensing protocols and scrutiny, the individuals reviewing the appraisals often operate with minimal oversight, instead leaning heavily on automated systems and algorithms. This stark disparity not only undermines the credibility of the review process but also revives the threat of past missteps, once...

The Great Debate on Appraisal Fees She included several different fee split examples indicating AMCs retained as much as 70 percent of the total appraisal fee…
Lack of Fee Transparency: Exposing the AMC Exploitation By keeping the borrower in the dark about the true cost of the appraisal, the AMCs are able to charge…
Fannie Mae Filed a Complaint Against Me An appraiser shared the following with us which was posted on one of the appraisers’ groups. Fannie Mae filed a…

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AQB Initial Fair Housing Course

AppraisersBlogs — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 12:30:54 +0000

Mandatory completion of an initial fair housing course lasting 7 hours by January 1st 2025, as well as 4 additional hours every renewal cycle thereafter. Recently, the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) has proposed new requirements for those looking to become an appraiser or renew their certification/license. These include mandatory completion of an initial fair housing course lasting seven hours by January 1st 2025, as well as four additional hours every renewal cycle thereafter if this becomes standard practice. The following is taken right out of the new exposure draft on real property appraiser qualifications criteria. “The core goal is to...

Truisms - Taxes, Death... and Bias Training ...other states will also modify their appraisal license renewal CE class requirements to include some form of anti-bias training... Folks,…
I've Retired & I'm So Glad I Did What we got, was 30+ years of complaints from the lenders and politicians who blamed appraisers for all of the…
Marin City Discrimination Case Settled It’s unfortunate that this case was SETTLED in the way it was, because in reality, nothing about racial discrimination and…

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No End Date for Future Editions of USPAP

Dave Towne — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 12:30:23 +0000

Future editions of USPAP will have an effective start date but no end date. Folks, on Thursday August 11, 2022, the ASB/TAF announced the extension of the current USPAP to the end of 2023. Assuming that a ‘new’ USPAP is formally approved in time, the next issue of USPAP will become effective January 1, 2024. But here’s the interesting wrinkle about this, which I admit I missed in their 8/11/22 announcement: “How long is the current version of USPAP effective? With this announcement, the 2020-21 USPAP will now have an effective date through December 31, 2023. This is an additional...

TAF Charging for Misleading Classes From the organization that brought you the bat-shit crazy letter and the chickenshit letter, they are charging for classes that are misleading. ASC…
USPAP Absurdity From one of my appraiser colleagues in NYC on a McKissock class, taught by Dan Bradley, husband of Michelle Bradley…
Bias and Discrimination in Reports, Yes or No? Appraisers, should we include discussion of B&D in our reports? Wait, What?? Bondage and Discipline? No, not that. Bias and Discrimination.…

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Biased Appraisers? I Don’t Think So

Dave Towne — Wed, 18 May 2022 12:30:48 +0000

To judge an entire profession by anecdotal evidence is equally both stupid and harmful… The entire emphasis was on “anecdotal evidence” which is not documented or supported. Story after story was told about how appraisers had produced a “biased” report. No documentation and no evidence to support their claims was presented. Folks, after discussing this topic with and learning more about the appraiser who wrote this following essay, I have decided to distribute the essay below as a way to further support what we appraisers do in our work, and to expose the fallacies that have been presented to date...

HUD Dismisses Claims Alleging Racism ...white America (government) keeps trying to 'fix' Black People who are not broken in the first place! We’ve all heard…
How to Destroy the Appraisal Profession Anytime the government gets involved in an issue, it tends to have more adverse effects than positive ones. It makes…
Sales Comparison Approach is Racist "...the modern appraisal industry perpetuates racial inequality through its continued use of the “sales comparison approach”... the sales comparison approach…

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2022 7hr USPAP Update Course

Dave Towne — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 12:30:08 +0000

Appraisers, if your license renews in 2022, you will need to take the ‘new’ USPAP 7hr Update course. See below. The Update class you have already taken for the 2020-21 book, which has been extended to Dec. 31, 2022, cannot be used for CE credit again. However, I’m somewhat confused as to the effective dates of this ‘new’ Update class. It says “2022-23” which implies it will be valid through the end of (or into?) 2023. But the ‘current’ USPAP is presently undergoing Exposure Drafts for the proposed changes, which will be effective as of Jan. 1, 2023. Normally, the Update...

Advisory Opinion 16, a Game Changer? The Appraisal Foundation has issued an exposure draft for Advisory Opinion (AO) 16. Advisory Opinion 16 is Fair Housing Laws:…
The Town With No Bank: How Rural America Lost Its… For decades, we’ve been told that the problem is demand. That people don’t want to live in rural America anymore.…
USPAP’s Typical Buyer Standard in the Fair Housing Era The Irreconcilable Conflict Between USPAP's Typical Buyer Standard and the Current Fair Housing Compliance Regime. Retain this document as a…

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TAF Diversity & Inclusion Subcommittee

Jonathan Miller — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 12:30:12 +0000

TAF president Dave Bunton has made it a point in the last two monthly newsletters to mention TAF created a “Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee” which is great if it actually accomplishes something. The Appraisal Foundation Board of Trustees added a Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee in April of this year, one month before the death of George Floyd, which highlighted some of the inequities experienced by Black Americans. The thing is, the Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) hasn’t had a minority member and only 3 women in decades of existence. I really hope that this subcommittee is more than just window-dressing. Adding...

Uncovering Flaws in FHA Appraisal & Loan Review Process The story of this single mother's harrowing experience with a defective home purchase and HUD's negligent oversight exposes deep flaws…
The Town With No Bank: How Rural America Lost Its… For decades, we’ve been told that the problem is demand. That people don’t want to live in rural America anymore.…
Two Cheers for an 'Evolved' Beltway Entrepreneur...… We come not to bury David Bunton, the public figure, but to praise David Bunton, the evolved Beltway organism. Who…

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The Importance of Attending Live CE Classes

VaCAP Board — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 13:30:20 +0000

The most beneficial part of participating in live CE classes is what you learn from other professional appraisers attending… The Best Decision You Will Make in 2020! What was the one thing your parents answered your “Why” questions with that made you angry every time? You have probably said it to your own kids as well. “Because I said so” would get you every time. You knew you were never going to win that argument, whatever it was about. VaCAP is not going to tell you “Because I Said So”. But we are going to explain to you why you...

Bifurcation Policy Adopted By no means are we promoting bifurcated appraisal products... "Credible valuations of real property are critical to the health of…
Are Appraisers Really Professional? 2019 is winding down with just one more day remaining. As we reflect on the past, the changes we have…
Veterans Administration on Hybrid Appraisals See the announcement by the Veterans Administration basically telling lenders and appraisal management companies we are going to protect our…

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Should Appraisers Study Statistics?

George Dell — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 12:30:50 +0000

Yet what was (and still is) presented in appraiser education is the old inferential statistics. Difficult statistics. Convoluted statistics. Statistics for appraisers started to become a hot topic some 15+ years ago. I was more involved with the Appraisal Institute then, and often argued that with the changes in data sources — appraisers would have to learn to apply statistics. Around 2003, the AQB (Appraiser Qualifications Board) revised qualifying education to include the requirement for Finance, Statistics, and Valuation Modeling class. Although I was not solicited to write this class, I was put on the development team, which reviewed and suggested edits and improvements. The...

Uncovering Flaws in FHA Appraisal & Loan Review Process The story of this single mother's harrowing experience with a defective home purchase and HUD's negligent oversight exposes deep flaws…
Is the GSE's "Appraisal Modernization" Really Just… Mass Appraisal tend to exhibit a regressive nature... In the intricate landscape of real estate mortgage financing, the notion of…
The Town With No Bank: How Rural America Lost Its… For decades, we’ve been told that the problem is demand. That people don’t want to live in rural America anymore.…

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DOJ Goes after CoreLogic!

VaCAP Board — Tue, 28 May 2019 12:30:23 +0000

If the DOJ investigation proves fruitful, it is possible appraisal data could be investigated as well… The Department of Justice has sent a Civil Information Demand (CID) notice to CoreLogic. The CID requires CoreLogic turn over documents and answer questions. The article by Rob Hahn explains that the case revolves around not only the search features of the MLS systems, but the contracts and agreements on the use of MLS data by CoreLogic. If this investigation proves fruitful, it is possible appraisal data could be investigated as well. If this is the case, it will be a fast rolling snowball...

My Day as an Appraiser Big Corporations like CoreLogic are like sharks... This morning, as I do every morning, I made some coffee and began…
Theft of Appraisers' Data ...they charge appraisers an upload fee for the privilege of having their data stolen... I would never allow my data…
TEAPOTS Exposed: The PAVE Initiative’s Illusion of Justice The PAVE Initiative's lack of TEAPOTS case entries reveals a fraudulent scheme that betrayed homeowners, vilified appraisers, and hid the…

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Customary and Reasonable Fees?

Guest Author — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 12:30:47 +0000

…appraisal firm owners roll up your sleeves & hold the line on fees… I have been the owner of HF Appraisal Ltd since 1993 and I have sat on the sidelines in regards to Customary and Reasonable appraisal fees. I can no longer stand by and read nor hear about this issue. It is amazing to me that over the past five to ten years our fees have remained the same and in some cases are lower than they were 10 years ago. The more that I read about this and talk to appraisers across the country in classes and...

Fannie Mae Filed a Complaint Against Me An appraiser shared the following with us which was posted on one of the appraisers’ groups. Fannie Mae filed a…
The Great Debate on Appraisal Fees She included several different fee split examples indicating AMCs retained as much as 70 percent of the total appraisal fee…
The New & Improved Fannie Mae “FRAUDULATOR 2.0” Originally known as Fannie Mae’s Collateral Underwriter (CU), and subsequently Collateral Underwriter 2.0 (CU-2)i this always dubious product of Fannie…

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Is It Possible to “Prove” an Adjustment?

George Dell — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:30:26 +0000

We read articles and advertisements on how to prove an adjustment. Is this possible? How wonderful it would be. To prove an adjustment, just push a button and bam! Out comes the correct answer. How could we have we missed this? …prove an adjustment, just push a button…Of course, if such a simplistic and exact answer was possible – anyone could push that button. An AVM run, a BPO agent, an “evaluator”, or anyone else. Who needs all that USPAP competence and integrity stuff? Even a lender-appointed hybridized “field inspector” could just push the button. The whole process could even skip working with the licensed appraiser completely!...

Uncovering Flaws in FHA Appraisal & Loan Review Process The story of this single mother's harrowing experience with a defective home purchase and HUD's negligent oversight exposes deep flaws…
The New & Improved Fannie Mae “FRAUDULATOR 2.0” Originally known as Fannie Mae’s Collateral Underwriter (CU), and subsequently Collateral Underwriter 2.0 (CU-2)i this always dubious product of Fannie…
The Illogical Reality of Mortgage Appraisal Reviews Reforming the appraisal review process is essential to maintaining the integrity of the real estate market and protecting consumers and…

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Appraisal Simulator

VaCAP Board — Wed, 23 May 2018 12:30:15 +0000

The industry is working of an appraisal simulator… The US House of Representatives Passed S 2155 today! Section 103 allows for waivers of appraisals by licensed appraisers in certain situations. See the bill here. Other News: Last week The National Association of Realtors held their Real Property Valuation Committee meeting. We have 2 VaCAP members on this committee. Here is a brief over view of the meeting from our representative in attendance. John Brenan with the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) spoke at the meeting and gave an update on the roll back of licensing requirements that went into effect May 1st....

The Town With No Bank: How Rural America Lost Its… For decades, we’ve been told that the problem is demand. That people don’t want to live in rural America anymore.…
Dear Representative, FNMA Has Gone Rogue! Dear representative, waiving/eliminating property appraisal for lending purposes is wanton recklessness. Fannie Mae’s decision to waive/eliminate property appraisal for lending…
The Great Debate on Appraisal Fees She included several different fee split examples indicating AMCs retained as much as 70 percent of the total appraisal fee…

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When is Enough, Enough?

Michael Ford — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 12:30:45 +0000

Yet another expert who is making gazillions of dollars using "virtual assistants and outsourcing"… I have been blessed in my life with more than my share of good friends. I’m talking about the lifelong kind. The kind we maintain friendships over 30; 40 or even 50+ years. My Mother and Father have always told me you can never really have too many real friends. They were right. So, at my age I don’t need or consciously seek to make enemies. Just as I have had more than my fair share of true friends, I’ve probably also had my share of...

Overseas AMC Staff: Could I Speak to “Villiam?” AMC Staff: “HELLO! Bill. Could I please speak to Villiam?” At least one appraisal management company (AMC) put a new…
BPOs 'Made in India' $10 a pop 'Made in India' BPO... When saying you’re 'sari' just won’t do. The Blackstone Group is nothing short…
Send it to India & Save Billions! Appraisal? Obviously its only worth ten bucks - off to India with it... Most appraisers (and consumers) know the difference…

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AQB Qualifications Criteria Changes

Dave Towne — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 13:30:48 +0000

Folks, I wanted to wait to send info about this until the AQB actually published a document showing the actual ‘new’ Qualifications Criteria for Real Property Appraisers. When first announced a few days ago, no official document was posted – only a news release. These take effect May 1, 2018. See the attached 4 page PDF. Due to ‘states rights’ issues in 54 jurisdictions (states & territories), implementation may not actually happen on 5/01/18. The document says this: “Because state appraiser regulatory agencies are only required to adopt minimum AQB Criteria, it is crucial that candidates contact their state to determine if the state intends...

AQB Moving Like a Turtle Appraiser Qualification Board moving like a turtle in solving how to get more people into the appraisal profession. I recently…
Competition & Joe Above-Average The appraisal profession is in competition with other professions Ask any appraiser nowadays, and they can give you numerous details…
Experience Requirements Reduced Sometimes the only substitute for experience, ...is more experience. Dear Mr. Traynor: The American Guild of Appraisers has long been…

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How Fast Can Your Head Spin?

VaCAP Board — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 13:30:00 +0000

Hopefully you have been busy and have not noticed VaCAP has been quiet over the past few weeks. Not by choice, but necessity. You see, there has been so much happening, we have been overwhelmed and our heads are spinning out of control. VaCAP needs more members to volunteer to help us help you. Let us know how you can help. Let’s start with the easy stuff: The Virginia Real Estate Appraiser Board Quarterly Meeting will take place on February 21, 2018. The meeting will begin at 10:00 AM and there will be a public comment period for anyone who wishes to address...

Legislative Call to Action Bill removes consumer protection and legalizes bad behavior by AMCs. Now is the time to contact your legislators with comments.…
Reclassifying Appraisers as Employees Classifying Appraisers as Independent Contractors - an Issue for Appraisal Firms and Maybe AMCs Too A hot legal issue that…
Dangerous Pending Bill in US Senate Appraisers, If you work in Rural Areas [that definition is referenced in (b)(1) below], your appraisal livelihood is threatened by this…

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New Hybrid Desktop Hucksters

Michael Ford — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 13:30:33 +0000

What could lure these successful 'professionals' from their chosen careers? Fellow appraisers, I just received an advertisement for a company that wants to pay ‘me’ $50.00 an hour to do desktop appraisals. Actually, probably not me, because they prefer a degree. Now, my routine hourly rate for complex appraisal assignments is $150 ($500 for EW and something variable in between for pretty much everything else). So they are asking me to take a cut of 2/3… assuming I could meet their degree requirement “preference”. It got me thinking. I cannot always command my hourly rate for 8 hours a day,...

'Preference Falsification' - Why Licensees Parrot… Preference falsification has resulted in some appraisers parroting talking points they know to be untrue. People who live under authoritarian…
The Great Debate on Appraisal Fees She included several different fee split examples indicating AMCs retained as much as 70 percent of the total appraisal fee…
The New & Improved Fannie Mae “FRAUDULATOR 2.0” Originally known as Fannie Mae’s Collateral Underwriter (CU), and subsequently Collateral Underwriter 2.0 (CU-2)i this always dubious product of Fannie…

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Careless Order Takers?

Michael Ford — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 13:30:55 +0000

Appraisers were simply order takers… A friend that refers a lot of commercial work to me forwarded the following communications from an AMC. He’s been telling to ‘go away’ for some time now. This time he played along to see exactly what it is they are hustling. I’ve redacted my friends name and eliminated excessive line spacing and repetitive email signatures. I also bold highlighted references to John Brenan & AQB communications. Otherwise it’s as copied from my email. We’ve all heard enough about hybrids so you can either read the copied emails or skip them. It’s the article from...

Homeowner Rejects Hybrid Appraisal Appraiser Alert: Don’t Mess with a 4’ 10” Senior Citizen! Last week I called a borrower to schedule the appraisal appointment.…
Appraisers Need to Learn to Stop Being Doormats! Being a bad businessman is not an excuse not to pay me. Period. The borrower pays the AMC up front.…
Appraisers Pushing Back! Solidifi has taken the disrespect to another level... Appraisers Pushing Back Against AMC Bad Behavior! Appraisers have finally had enough…

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Action Reminders

VaCAP Board — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 13:30:01 +0000

Topics getting a lot of attention… Life can be hectic around this time of the year and we wanted to remind everyone of a few items that need your attention and action: First: The AQB has another exposure draft out concerning appraiser licensing qualifications. The big issues are Degree Requirements, Alternative Tracks, Practical Applications and Experience Requirements. These topics have been getting a lot of attention as the “perceived appraiser shortage” card is being played by lenders and AMCs. Please take a few minutes and share your thoughts. The exposure draft and comment instructions can be found here. VaCAP urges every appraiser to comment on these topics. The deadline...

Have AMCs Gone Dark? Clarocity May Have Gone Dark... VaCAP has learned from one of our members the Appraisal Management Company, Clarocity Valuation Services,…
Another AppraiserLoft? If you do work for Clarocity Valuation Services, you definitely should pay attention... Simple Wall St reports: “Clarocity has limited…
Tracking Appraisal Delays Help us track appraisal delays... VaCAP and your fellow colleagues need your help! As you all have probably heard, according…

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AQB - Appraisers Blogs

When ‘Protected’ Becomes Pressure: You Have Until July 27 to Object

Related Posts:

App-solutely Clueless: When Sales Tries to School Appraisers

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The Illogical Reality of Mortgage Appraisal Reviews

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AQB Initial Fair Housing Course

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No End Date for Future Editions of USPAP

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Biased Appraisers? I Don’t Think So

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2022 7hr USPAP Update Course

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TAF Diversity & Inclusion Subcommittee

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The Importance of Attending Live CE Classes

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Should Appraisers Study Statistics?

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DOJ Goes after CoreLogic!

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Customary and Reasonable Fees?

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Is It Possible to “Prove” an Adjustment?

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Appraisal Simulator

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When is Enough, Enough?

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AQB Qualifications Criteria Changes

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How Fast Can Your Head Spin?

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New Hybrid Desktop Hucksters

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Careless Order Takers?

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Action Reminders

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