How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser

How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser In May of 2018, the Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) lightened the burden for becoming a real estate appraiser.   They reduced the educational requirements and cut the hours of trainee experience in half. Theres good reason for thisâ€"not only is the projected growth rate for the profession double the national average, but they may soon be facing a retirement crisis.     The ranks declined 20% from 2007 to 2015, and as of 2017, 62% of all appraisers are 51 or older.   Were already seeing an increasing shortage of qualified appraisers as the old guard retires. That all makes today a good time to consider whether real estate appraisal is the right career for you and learn what it would take to begin your journey. What Does a Real Estate Appraiser Do? As you might suspect, real estate appraisers provide an objective estimate of a propertys value.   They can be employed by an appraisal firm (large or small), by a bank, or as a freelancer.   Typically, a mortgage lender or financing organization hires the appraiser or appraisal firm, though individual property owners occasionally do as well. Appraisers then assess a propertys exterior and interior condition with a systematic walk-through, evaluate amenities, and look for safety or health code issues.   Then, they compare their findings to similar properties in the area to decide its value. Appraisal is more lucrative than being a real estate agent, and rather than commission, appraisers receive a fee for each property. The fee varies by the size of the property, the type of assessment required, and how stiff the competition is for appraisers in your area.   If you work in a large city with many appraisers, anyone offering the cheapest fee is most likely to get hired first; this drives the appraisal fee down.   If you work in a rural area or a region with an appraiser shortage, you can name your price. On the other hand, appraisers work longer hours. According to the National Association of REALTORS ®, appraisers in their organization evaluate an average of 243 properties per year, and over a third of them appraise more than 300.   Since there are typically 255 business days per year (with holidays), appraisers handle at least one property a day. You need strong analytical and critical thinking skills to be an appraiser.   Writing proficiency is also necessary for extensive report writing. How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser The requirements are going to vary by stateâ€"the AQB sets the minimum national requirements, but individual states can impose additional standards.   Its critical to check your states requirements. The steps below address the national minimum to become a Licensed Residential Appraiser (the most basic appraisers license). Step 1: Take Your Real Estate Appraisal Courses In order to become a trainee real estate appraiser, you need to complete and pass specific pre-licensing coursework.   This includes: Basic Appraisal Principles (30 hours) Basic Appraisal Procedures (30 hours) Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) (15 hours) Supervisee/Trainee class covering the expectations and responsibilities of both roles (4 hours) Thats a minimum of 79 hours before you can begin as a trainee.   This is actually a good thingâ€"learning the basics of the business will give you a chance to judge whether this is the career for you before youre too committed. Step 2: Find a Mentor This might be the hardest step, and if you have any connections to a licensed appraiser, you should take advantage of them.   Youll be responsible for finding your own mentor, so if you dont have existing ties, youll need to network and/or cold-call appraisers near you using your states licensing board. Some appraisers refuse to take on trainees because its more work for no real compensation.   If they do agree, youll earn either a modest hourly wage or a small percentage of the appraisal fee. Dont expect to get rich during your trainee hours. Step 3: Earn 1,000 Trainee Hours There is no national requirement to pass a real estate appraiser course before working as a trainee, but some states require it. Once youve got your mentor and passed any state-specific tests, youll start doing appraisals under your mentors supervision.   Before you can get your license, you must log at least 1,000 hours of supervised experience in no less than 6 months. This is the new national minimum.   In the past, it was twice that. Its theoretically possible to manage 1,000 hours in 6 months, but in all likelihood, it will take you longer.   This is because: You may not be able to pay your bills on trainee income alone. That means making the time for a second job. Your mentor may not have enough work to constitute full-time hours for two people, or enough time to supervise and teach you on a full-time load. You may want to work through your additional pre-licensing coursework at the same time. For these reasons, this can be the longest step in becoming a real estate appraiser. Some people spend two years earning their trainee hours. Step 4: Take Additional Pre-Licensing Coursework Its no longer necessary to obtain an associate degree before you can be licensed (hooray!).   To become a real estate appraiser, however, youll need to take additional appraisal coursework before your licensing exam.   In most states, it wont matter whether you take them before, alongside, or after your trainee hours. The minimum coursework required by the AQB includes: Residential Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use (15 hours) Residential Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach (15 hours) Residential Sales Comparison and Income Approaches (30 hours) Residential Report Writing and Case Studies (15 hours) Thats a minimum of 75 additional class hours. Step 5: Register for and Take the Exam Once you have your coursework and trainee hours completed, youll submit all documentation to your state board and register for the Licensed Residential Exam. You can find sample questions, content outlines, and other helpful information on the Appraisal Foundation website, but essentially youll be tested on what youve learned in your courses. Step 6: Submit Your License Application Once youve passed the exam, youll submit an application to your states board for approval.   Then, you can begin work as a Licensed Residential Appraiser. What Can a Licensed Residential Appraiser Do? As a Licensed Residential Appraiser, youre allowed to appraise residential properties that: Contain 1 to 4 residential units, AND Are worth less than $1 million with no complex appraisal factors, OR Have complex appraisal factors but are worth less than $250,000 Appraisals earn the designation of complex when the property is atypical in some way.   For example, the property may be: Atypical for its area Unique in architectural style Historic Luxury The form of ownership and the market conditions can also make an appraisal complex. Unfortunately, many large lenders and appraisal management companies require their residential appraisers to be certified, which is the next level up.   This is probably because Certified Residential Appraisers can appraise any 1- to 4-unit residential property, regardless of worth or complexityâ€"making them more flexible for assignments. This means finding work with a larger organization before youre certified may be difficult.   Youll need to stick to smaller lenders and credit unions. Earning additional certifications will require more coursework and additional hours of experience under your belt.   It will also open up doors and increase your revenue. If youre ready to begin your journey to become a real estate appraiser, we offer all the coursework your state requires online.   No commuting to a classroomâ€"you can work around your existing schedule, at your own pace. Our coursework is developed by industry experts and always up-to-date with the latest requirements.   Plus, we have exam prep programs to help you get ready for your test!