The PAREA Program: Costly Promises, Empty Support
The PAREA program markets itself as a shiny, mentor-free express lane to becoming a real estate appraiser, but its steep price tag and lofty promises often lead to a dead end. For many, it’s less a pathway to success and more a costly detour. Eriv V, one frustrated hopeful, recently shared a raw, unfiltered account of his disillusionment with PAREA, exposing a system that falls short on support and delivers more headaches than help. Below, his candid review is quoted word for word, offering a stark warning for those eyeing a career in appraisal.
⭐ 1-Star Review
PAREA Appraisal Program Review – A Disappointing Experience for Students Who Need Support
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.
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PAREA was marketed as a modern solution to the appraiser shortage—an accessible, mentor-free fast track into the profession. But let’s call it what it really is: an expensive, poorly structured program that leaves most students stranded without the support they were promised.
Eriv V’s review nails it. Over $4,000 for what? Self-guided learning, dense material, no interactive instruction, and no real mentorship. If you’re not already experienced or extremely self-sufficient, you’re basically on your own. When students ask for help, they’re told support isn’t available due to time constraints. That’s unacceptable for a program with this kind of price tag.
And to make matters worse, PAREA still isn’t accepted in a majority of states. So even if you make it through the frustration, you may find out your certificate doesn’t qualify you for licensure where you live. That’s not a career path—that’s a dead end.
PAREA is failing to meet the needs of new entrants. It doesn’t reduce barriers; it creates new ones. It doesn’t solve the mentorship problem; it just removes mentorship entirely. Until it offers real guidance, reasonable pricing, and full state-level recognition, it’s going to continue falling short—for students, for the profession, and for the future of appraising.
And the mentorship is still needed after the program. Parea grads have no on site or in office knowledge, training or experience. There is so much in appraising that books and computer modules cannot teach. Sadly, I am not surprised by Eriv V’s experience, I have heard similar from other Parea participants. Glad someone finally spoke the truth.
Appraisal Institute..need I say more?
Typical to online instruction promoted by an increasingly consolidated and limited base of companies whom have reached into the appraisal industry. Most of the independent continuing education outlets created by appraisers for appraisers have been consolidated, bought out, co opted and limited by amc industry interests, or went under due to continued attrition of licensed appraiser head count. So what’s left is the maximized profit model with limited student benefit. A completely different model than one on one apprenticeship training under a dedicated employer supervisor. The idea a new appraiser could competently participate without a mentor has always been out of reach for most practical purposes, no collegiate or special program development will change that.
Welcome to real estate appraisal. Unless one pays for high cost in person education the alternative is a repetitive recycling of existing content, republished over and over again with slight changes in order for that provider to gain a fresh round of state based education approval. Create the content once, give it a minor update every few years, sell it over and over again. Much of the cost of class implementation lies in the providers requirement to constantly submit and re submit class content for approval, paying repetitive fees and filing redundant paperwork at each individual state for said course offering.
The experience is typical, which is why many applicants even via the trainee process do not make it to final licensing. If one is not exceptionally adept at self study in an independent all or nothing everything on you environment without a safety net, independent appraisal is unlikely to be a good fit. There is no guarantee a licensed appraiser will provide adequate education either. Systemic training deficiencies carry on down the line, perpetuated by an exploitative amc model which rewards the appraisers whom provide the least effort at the lowest cost, unreasonable fhfa and gse tolerance for outsourced automated often deficient servicer preference and disproportionate assignment volumes. ‘Appraisal modernization.’
Perfect description of the extortion racket we, maybe, survive under. I remember when most guys really wanted to learn and become as educated and experienced as possible so that they could do a good job. Now, it seems that the entire goal of appraising is follow the rules and hit the number and prepare to get yelled at or don’t hit the number and get yelled at. “No, no, we’re not putting pressure on you, but that other appraiser from two years ago appraised it higher than you did or that broker has comps that you didn’t use or that builder says that you don’t know what you’re doing because he needs a couple of new pickups, a Rolex and some extra gold chains.”
I cannot imagine what has happened to the 3,000 hours of mentorship, on-the-job training, etc. I always considered it an important part of the education to have a mentor whom you “shadowed” for a time, then who “shadowed” you for a time – to see if you were understanding the aspects of appraising, and guided you through doing the work on your own, and then you go on your own. At that time, you call if you need clarification, etc. This profession has gone down so badly – it’s no wonder we are not treated like professionals anymore. I guess we can thank the GSEs, etc., for putting the nail in the coffin for even allowing PAREA. If we weren’t constantly underpaid, treated like expendable garbage, and allowed to do our jobs in a professional manner, there would be no shortage of appraisers. So many good appraisers have left the business, or been forced out due to low fees and no work.
PAREA = Failure
Appraisal Institute = Failure
DEI = Failure
Hybrid/Desktop = Failure
Rather then reinventing the wheel, improve on what we have.
Sometimes the old ways, are simply the best ways.
Embracing every program developed to help new appraisers is the old method called an apprenticeship. Under senior appraisers, on-hands research,guided by the senior appraisers, each step in the list of subject characteristics (inspection, photos, measuring and doing field work at planning and zoning and personal inspections, verification) can be learned by experience. No need for PAREA.
While modernization is being sold by the Appraisal Institute, we are all competitors not showing fraternity in our expensive club. They are pushing untested and beta Artificial Intelligence instead. When te goal of getting more members designated, if you are not a board member, or selling something to other appraisers, there is only one way to gain entry into the club. Find a good mentor and learn this profession from a high-end litigation/forensic valuer, not a bank or GSE client.
My entry was before licensing. I was busy for the first 35 years of my career. I will be a mentor to a serious candidate, anywhere you practice!
I give a lot of time for this and I am inviting candidates to call me and select me for your advisor. I will advise you based on your passion and desire to be the best appraiser in your location. I love this work, so don’t let the absence of this flopped program and demand a refund from any of the PAREA that failed you..
Hello Debra, I’m serious. sporjo@aol.com
Been in the business for 47 years. Nothing wrong with the old days. It worked.
Damn straight
I totally agree, and only 24 years. It all went to H….ll after HVCC, IMO
This is ENTIRELY the WRONG time to be trying to get into the appraisal business. The mortgage business climate sucks, the amount of appraisal mortgage work sucks, the appraisal institute sucks, amc’s suck for sucking off 50+% of the appraisal fee. The PAREA program was instituted at the entirely wrong time frame nb order to be successful. It was doomed from the start. Sorry but this is just reality!
Good comments! The leaders are exposed for their double-talk.
Hello Debra, I’m serious. sporjo@aol.com
You should contact local appraisal groups, surf and post on the Reddit r/appraisal threads, or post on Appraisers Forum, they have a specific find a mentor section last I checked. And you’ll definitely want to set up a new and fresh email address. Some people make it in round about by getting jobs at county assessors offices and training under licensed appraisers there. Please provide us a few links for what classes you took, and what educational outlet offered this to you.
In 1983-1984 I followed my mentor around like a puppy. There is simply no substitute for in-the-field, one-on-one training from someone who knows what they are doing. I heard “no, do it again” so many times I lost count. 42 years later, the lessons Ross Boumann SRA taught me are still relevant. Thank you sir.
Welcome to the appraisal field, Eriv! Get used to being exploited and lied to. Better yet, run away as fast as you can. You’d be better off getting a skill such as being an electrician, a plumber, an HVAC guy, etc. I ran across a young guy a few years ago who’d gone to diesel mechanic school and his first job paid him $48 an hour! I’m getting out of it and hardly even bid on jobs any longer. The jobs I do bid, I typically have to spend and quarter to half a day trying to figure out if I want to even tackle it. Half the time, the address is wrong or the contact is wrong or the legal is wrong or the phone contact number is wrong and or none of the above is provided. On proposed or under-construction houses they don’t provide the builder, the specs, the cost figures, nothing. And, yeah, I can figure it out, but doing that is just for fun being that I’m not being paid for it. But, if you enjoy a life trying to outrun the money, best of luck to you.
One of my trainees left to go into construction – made more money, and actually got vacation, sick and health benefits. There are several trades that pay better, so if you are young enough to do the work – I whole heartedly recommend making another choice.
Someone showed up in one of my FB groups asking for mentorship. They stated they went through the AI PAREA program but didn’t feel they knew how to appraise. They offered to pay an appraiser to mentor them. Some people offered them help. They also told them to follow the groups and search the groups for answers.
Appraiser shortage? Yes there is. A shortage of appraisers who are willing to work for peanuts in order to obtain more work. Sorry to see that you invested in a costly false hope.
Please excuse my grammar! Ranting!!!
Is anyone going to mention the corrupt AMC’s using the program to create a slave class of appraisers locked to the desk filing inaccurate appraisals, fearful to cut a purchase out of fear of losing their job… While we’re talking about it, lets not forget about Opteon. Having a supervisor not even located in the state signing off on appraisals.
My solution, get rid of AMC’s and go back to appraisers building a rapport with lenders’ credit departments so that they are seasoned. Having lenders feeling confident in their appraiser requires them to have years under their belt and not hiring freshly licensed appraisers. This would give some assurance to bring on trainees that once they are licensed they are not going to run with your clients.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AQBComments
Today is the last day to take the AQB survey on ‘alternative pathways to credentialing.’
These people don’t know what they’re doing. Of all the things to focus on right now, they’re rewriting the rules again.
Jay, take the survey and please do write about the need to cancel the amc dominance. I certainly did.