There’s been a lot of talk within the industry about appraisals lately, especially on issues like turnaround times, higher and/or “rush fees,” and the challenge of bringing new appraisers into the profession. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) just wrapped up a survey of appraisers to get their take and the results offer some fresh evidence on what’s driving this conversation. In total, 2,248 appraisers completed the survey. Most questions, however, were asked only of appraisers who currently work in the field of who have done so during the past year, resulting in a sample size of 2,116. Below is a glimpse of the survey findings.
- Training is a real issue. Few seasoned appraisers are doing it, and those who do often do so for no pay. One challenge highlighted is the unwillingness of lenders to accept appraisals performed in part by a trainee, as well as concerns with liability. Fewer than 20 percent of appraisers will train others.
2017 Appraiser Trends Study by NAR - Appraisers are working to address turnaround time: But there’s less willingness to perform FHA/VA loans. Appraisers also complained of lower compensation from bank-owned asset management companies, or AMCs, as opposed to work done for law firms, lenders, and independent AMCs.
2017 Appraiser Trends Study by NAR - Dissatisfaction with the profession is high as challenges with FHA, others persist:The average tenure of an appraisal hovered around 22 years, but roughly 10 percent of respondents said they may leave the field within 5 years. Frustrations with regulatory burdens and insufficient compensation are the top two reasons cited for a desire to leave. NAR has worked with FHA closely to address some of these concerns, and those conversations are ongoing.
William E Brown, President for NAR stated:
“The work of an appraiser is indispensable to our industry. Appraisers provide the credible, outside opinion on a property value that agents, lenders, and ultimately the consumer depend on to guide them through a transaction. If the regulatory burdens holding appraisers back go unaddressed, the challenge of providing that timely appraisal will only get worse. We have to work together as an industry to clear the way for appraisers to continue doing their good work while building an environment that encourages talented newcomers to get in the game.”
Click Here to view the full report of survey results. Bottom line, if there is an appraiser “shortage” in certain markets, the combination of lack of training and dissatisfaction among those currently in the profession may be something to watch.
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