I was originally mildly annoyed with my favorite National Membership Coordinator for sending me a link without telling me what it’s about.

This is for a webinar registration that features a cast of characters that alone makes it worth attending or watching.

It’s titled “What’s Going to Happen to Appraisers in 2017”. It’s to be moderated by Jacob Gaffney, editor of Housing Wire.

Usually I’m pretty careful about who I give an opportunity to pollute my mind but this cast of characters includes a truly noteworthy Rogues Gallery. Their bios are interesting.

“Brian Coester, CEO, Coester VMS “For nearly a decade, Coester has immersed himself not only in the appraisal industry but in the mortgage industry as a whole. As a certified appraiser, he has a firm understanding of what is important in a valuation and how it affects the industry.”

Alan Hummel, Chief Appraiser First American Mortgage Solutions (Anyone remember the folks that bought ACI or developed PACE PRO?) Now for the good part:

“Alan is a past national president of the Appraisal Institute and is also a representative member on the Appraisal Subcommittee Advisory Committee (ASCAC).

Zachary Dawson, Director Collateral Strategy & Policy. FannieMae “Responsible for Fannie Mae’s Single Family collateral strategy as a whole, covering both Selling Guide policy and use of collateral technology tools including Collateral Underwriter®. He also oversees the Appraiser Quality Monitoring initiative, collateral analytics & reporting, and other strategic appraisal initiatives”

I’m deliberately leaving the fourth off because I have no knowledge of them other than info that speaker is a reported partner in a multi county Florida appraisal firm owned by MAIs, and that he is a former Florida State Regulator.

Seeing who the featured speakers are helps us to better understand why the state of our profession is what it is today.

Show me one AMC whom operates nationally that utilizes state approved fee studies in each and every state they operate in, regardless if the law requires that or not.

There are none because their ethic only goes as far as the law demands and is otherwise absent.

When it comes to dealing with new guy or gal appraisers, it’s best to put them to the test early. If they can’t handle the discourse between appraisers peers, they probably don’t know what’s coming when they stand between 30k+ of agent and distributor amc company commissions on every side.

Heard some disconcerting stories already early 2017, fees declining again from previous 2 year highs. That’s why I don’t chase high fees anymore and instead seek out clients with permanent increased minimums. We all need a chair and if I can’t continue to get 550 or better, I probably will bounce to something else. It felt good to finally earn as much as your everyday terd herder plumber or attic rat sht crawling around in the dark electric worker grunt. I almost earned as much as a pizza hut manager last year.

The new normal will certainly be that in any given hot market there will suddenly be inadequate appraisers. Not only have amc’s squeezed the supply chain virtually dry, but when times turn up most experienced appraisers immediately bounce to sales anyways. It’s no coincidence that in the nations hottest markets like tx, or, and co, there was an undersupply of appraisers. But amc’s are not that bright, they have still yet to add 2 and 2 together.

Bags – I’m not overly concerned what non appraisers say in the end. She’s either a troll intentionally trying to lower the level of discourse or believes what she posted.

It just proves how lucky we are to have an appraisers site where issues and dissenting views can be voiced without fear of censorship (crude personal attacks or language aside).

Thanks AB!

Retired Appraiser specializes in hurting feelings and doom and gloom. It’s his forte.

“What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:4-11

Christ already saved the world. If you’re waiting for another hero to show up and save it again, you’ve stared at the sun too long.

That’s an interesting blip of dialogue.

Is a consultant a non advocate? That is what unbiased appraisal is all about.

It’s not that this industry needs smarter people, that is not the proper measure of demand.

This industry needs more people capable of being unbiased non advocates. Being that the industry is riddled with backwards rewards and criminals on every corner, the measure of success is best lined up with ethics, not cash.

I watch them come and go. It’s easy to undersell the competition in this business and even easier to have it all blow up in your face the very next day. You’re only as good as your last appraisal.

Shoot, I put out about 10 to 15k a year in tax write offs. There is about a 2.5k yearly base cost regardless of other expense write offs, and you’d probably land on dial up hand writing reports on recycled paper with a pencil if you tried to be that thrifty.

A popular misconception about real estate ownership is that it’s a privilege and not earned. Nobody forces all the little joe and janes of the world to go into debt, they do so willingly, at their own expense and risk.

There are entirely too many appraisers already, and too many; brokers, bankers, inspectors, underwriters, investors, etc. If people owned their homes and escaped debt, the would be better balance to it all. The monstrously oversized mortgage market continues to roll downhill, and will continue to do so as long as the financially ignorant continue to be slaves to debt. This is the pump before the pop, get ready for the same cycle and what comes next is the smart money and reo activity, accompanied by the financially dependent crying about spilled milk.

Current status; down to about 10 years on 1st home, only 5 years in. Quick flipped refi to a 15 and I’m leaving this nightmare which is slave to monthly housing costs behind me at the very first possible convenience. People ask me; how do you get the best deal and stay safe with mortgages? The answer is simple; You’re at risk until the final payment is made and the deed is in your safe. You don’t own it until you own it 100% and only fools rush in for repeat finances.

Hurt me with the truth, but never comfort me with a lie. Being an appraiser is about the art of the deal. Most existing appraisers never deserved to be licensed in the first place. They have no sense of fair deals and that’s why amc’s proliferated.

Let me clear it up for you Mike;

When on any social network platform and someone cries about hurt feelings, the proper denotion is; “Snowflake.”

This blog site is run by a lady, and a lady whom is not afraid to stand up against any and all opposition. Her ‘little blog’ carries about 20x the experience of the noobs and is the only appraisers site online not controlled by corporate sponsors and which does not seek to sell you anything. Being for sale is easy. Being independent in the face of massive special interest opposition is the hard part.
The beat skips on and this industry crushed another one, in record time even! lol!

I’m getting out my tiny violin for all the hurt feeling people of the world right now. Perhaps some more time on tumbler and facebook will make the world right again? If you can’t take the heat, gtfo of the kitchen, noob. Nobody wants to hear all the crying. I worked 4 years for practically free and now I write my own ticket all these years later. Most hopeful trainees mistake apprenticeship for employment, but that’s not the case. Pay me 15k a year, and I’ll be happy to train you, but if you’re lucky I’ll accept a no pay scenario without any no compete clauses. Otherwise, tough cookies, too bad, so sad, better break into mortgage brokerage, sales, or inspections instead. Appraisal is the top tier, not the entry level gig. People think because they took the apprentice class that they’re somehow in. McKissock and Jones swindled another one, happens every day of the week.

This just in, partially related;

Obama Robbed Private Investors to Fund Obamacare

You used he or she…not a biggie…another poster merely assumed masculine. I was taught to respond as if there was no gender or to give both as you did if unsure…never to assume one or another.

I’m not sure what “social behavior windmills left to tilt with” even means. I am quite easy going but don’t tolerate troll behavior well admittedly. The internet has done many great things but allowing anonymity so that the worst in human tendencies can appear is not one of them.

I’m sure you were insulting me…but y’know…anyone unwilling to try to help a newbie get into an industry should be the one to look at themselves a bit more closely. I run a successful consulting business in which I have helped others get into the same line. I have enough confidence in my product to accept competition.

I’m done here…life is short and I believe in surrounding myself with people who want me around. You guys have made it quite clear that you don’t.

Enjoy your little blog…

Rainey, Your words speak volumes. I’m not versed on the myriad number of obscure seemingly gender neutral names. The use of he or she was intended to avoid giving offense &  using an unsupported assumption about your gender.

It appears from your posts that you have more than a few social behavior windmills left to tilt with. I’m sure you will love being an appraiser…if you can find anyone willing to accept your requirements of conduct. Good luck.

and if you will read my original post…you’ll note that I did NOT pretend to know anything except that here in Montana it is EXTREMELY difficult to get into the business. I did not pretend to know anything else (except that I know there is a need based upon my own state).

I also never said I wanted to “appraise for fun on the side”…I merely stated that I’d like to do it in addition to my existing consulting business.

I still would like to be an appraiser, but if you all are examples of who I would be working with…I question my desire. I prefer people trying to make things better instead of bitching about things and making “outsiders” feel exactly like that.

don’t worry…I’ve stopped following the blog…so you guys got rid of me…

Hi Mike, just FYI, your edited comment was posted. However, the original comment had already been emailed to people who had subscribed to be notified of followup comments. And so Bubba responded to your original comment without realizing that you had edited it. No biggie but just wanted to let you know that your edits were properly saved. The edit and delete functions are working properly.

wow…you might want to at least get a person’s gender right…I may have short hair but it’s somewhat obvious that I am female. really nice…

and as for a clueless ego…nah. and I do have a thick skin…but I don’t tolerate bullshit and assumptions.

maybe the business is not for me…as I prefer not to work with a**holes.

Hi Bubba, I caught that after posting-tried to correct by deletion but apparently that doesn’t work. Bubba, I disagree re  newcomers. I try to tell them the cold truth but no reason to be mean in the process. I suspect poster may not be thick skinned enough to last in this business; but if he or she pursues it they should be aware THAT is one of the ‘job skills’ that also has to be acquired.

Other than that, I had a rude email of mine that blew up into FAR more trouble than it was worth or the circumstances warranted. I may be a slow learner but I DO learn *g*.

the poster is someone trying to break into the profession Mike. that was made pretty clear in the original post. no licensed record of him will be found.

i am always fascinated by bloggers who have no clue what they are talking about, but whos ego is so large that it makes them to post things anyway, and then try to come off as some kind of expert on something. clearly the OP is not in the appraisal business at all, and therefore has no history knowledge, or current knowledge of all the problems that plague(d) the business. well, i guess he does know its hard to get in.

there are many problems with the profession right now, its no longer anyones opinion, the statistics show this. most people are getting out, few are getting in, many who are in are not happy. i see no problem with complaining, otherwise how else would anyone know that something might be wrong? if one person is complaining, i can guarantee you that there are atleast 50 who arent. many people who are actually IN the profession, know all the problems, and are very negative right now, and are upset for good reasons. appraisers who have been in the business the longest, probably do tend complain more because they have seen a lot of changes over DECADES.

i think now IS the time to be negative, and complain, and try to change things before its too late. its called trying to make a difference. if people who are trying to make a difference are seen as being negative, then whatever, so be it. but i say now is not the time for the people who are actually IN the business, and may have TOTAL SKIN IN THE GAME, to wear rose-covered glasses.

how can seasoned veterans not laugh at a complete outsider, with zero appraisal experience, who say they want in to appraise for fun on the side, and talk like they have any clue as to whats really going on?

sorry Mike, but i say let the guy take his clueless ego down the road, and dont let him make it sound like a board full of seasoned veterans who actually know what the h*ll they are talking about, will be the ones missing out. they wont be.

Rainey, this site is a source of unfiltered, honest information as perceived by the posters making the observations..

We have our resident curmudgeon who shares his unfiltered views with us as a reminder hat there are better ways to live. Most posting here will try to post seriously and toward the substance of your posts.

Regardless of where you live, a little bit of a thick skin is a necessary attribute…LOTS of people will yell at you over the course of an appraisal career.

I had an uncle who used to say advice was something that was not worth a damn unless it is what you already want to hear! If Montana is not big enough for you…come to TEXAS! We have 254 counties with 74 of the counties having zero appraisers. There is another 50 counties with only one appraiser! This covers at least 50,000 acres. Texas is the fastest growing state in the union!…Could there be a reason that 74 counties do not have a single appraiser? I do wish you well! Hop in, the water is just fine!

I just spent 9 months buying a property…part of that was because we needed to get the appraisal done twice (and on the second time…it was a mere formality but it did give me time to find several errors in the original)…bear in mind that I paid $1000 the first time…and $500 for the name of the bank to be changed the second time! This was because that was the ONLY appraiser who could do anything faster than 90 days.

So…you guys can think I’m stupid if you want (you appear to)…and you can tell people there is no need etc…but here in Montana, we don’t always mimic the rest of the world. We have big swaths of rural areas…lots of real estate transactions…and very few appraisers to do them. The banks…oddly…require that an appraisal is done…so yes Virginia’s, there IS a need up here.

enjoy your “retirement”…no job or profession should be hated…so you did right by quitting. Let someone who wants to do it have at it. I’m sure there are plenty of options for someone who likes to belittle someone for trying something new and someone who assumes that everyone is dumber than they are.

been real…glad to not see any of your posts again!

I just spent 9 months buying a property…part of that was because we needed to get the appraisal done twice (and on the second time…it was a mere formality but it did give me time to find several errors in the original)…bear in mind that I paid $1000 the first time…and $500 for the name of the bank to be changed the second time! This was because that was the ONLY appraiser who could do anything faster than 90 days.

So…you guys can think I’m stupid if you want (you appear to)…and you can tell people there is no need etc…but here in Montana, we don’t always mimic the rest of the world. We have big swaths of rural areas…lots of real estate transactions…and very few appraisers to do them. The banks…oddly…require that an appraisal is done…so yes Virginia’s, there IS a need up here.

enjoy your “retirement”…no job or profession should be hated…so you did right by quitting. Let someone who wants to do it have at it. I’m sure there are plenty of options for someone who likes to belittle someone for trying something new and someone who assumes that everyone is dumber than they are.

been real…glad to not see any of your posts again!

Just a FYI retired, appraisal buzzard is allowing comments again via Facebook , LMFAO.