The Appraisal Update: The Official Podcast of Appraiser eLearning

With more than half of the appraiser population in their mid-60s, retirement (or at least a work slowdown) might be around the corner. Have you thought about where you might like to retire...or slow down? The wonderful thing about real estate is: no matter where you go, there's a need for agents and appraisers. Join Bryan and his guest, Sabrina Crooks, to talk about what it's like to app...

What's it like to be a family member of a hard-working appraiser? Are appraiser relationships impacted by the long working hours, stress, and heavy demands? Work, work, work, and then die – please tell me that is not your plan.  A listener reached out to Bryan on this topic, so he invited her and her husband to join the conversation. Bryan has a blast speaking with this interesting couple and...

Are you thinking of retiring? Have you planned for the day when you exit the profession, or even slow down?  Bryan asked appraisers to consider an exit strategy that may help you and others for years to come: Become a mentor and secure your professional legacy. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:  /appraiserelearning ✅ GET your APPRAISER CE here: appraiserelearning.com 🔥...

Are you doing the very minimum to comply with USPAP and secondary market guidelines? Do best practices dictate you should do more?  Sometimes doing a little more on the front end can help keep the revisions down—and maybe even keep you out of hot water. Listen in as Bryan tells a story he recently shared with his trainee about best practices and thinking upstream.  🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube chan...

Bryan asks attendees to share their reasons for going to the ACTS conference and their takeaways from the event.  First time ACTS attendees Jason Covington, Nakia Manning, and Mark Skapinetz and Ken “Big Fish” Williams, second time attendee, give their account of the event.  🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:  /appraiserelearning ✅ GET your APPRAISER CE here: appraiserel...

Listen in as Bryan Reynolds travels to Bay St. Louis, MS for the Appraisers' Conference and Trade Show — and reflects on the NAA's 10 year-celebration. It's not too late to join him there! * * * * * Appraiser eLearning produces high quality online training and continuing education for boots-on-the-ground real estate appraisers. Our motto: Learn because you want to, not because you h...

Look in the mirror. Do you like what you see on the outside? And what about the inside? Maybe you should fire yourself.  Listen in to hear why appraisers should remove themselves from certain tasks they are not best suited for. Like real estate is unique, so are we. Identify your best attributes and focus on those. * * * * * Appraiser eLearning produces high quality online training and continuing...

NAA president and Appraiser eLearning partner Bryan Reynolds suggests two simple but powerful changes lenders could make to help appraisal companies grow their businesses and work more efficiently.  * * * * * Appraiser eLearning produces high quality online training and continuing education for boots-on-the-ground real estate appraisers. Our motto: Learn because you want to, not because you have t...

Appraisers are busy. Remarkably busy. But have you given any thought to what is lurking in the shadows?  Shadow Inventory includes mortgage loans in delinquency, recently reinstated loans expected to become delinquent again, foreclosures, forbearances, REOs and others. This inventory is growing and is reported to be larger than the most recent housing crisis. Listen in as Bryan gives his thoughts...

Appraisers have been super busy for the last many months and even years. It may seem counterintuitive to say this, but it's perfect time to secure more work.  You're in demand. Congratulations! Take this opportunity to seek new business from good new clients and to fire the lousy ones. Consider it weeding out the troublemakers after replacing them with some good ones.  Listen in to this...

Bryan sits down with two people working on becoming trainee appraisers. Listen to where they are and where they plan to go. Learn a simple trick to remember how many square feet are in an acre. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:  /appraiserelearning ✅ GET your APPRAISER CE here: appraiserelearning.com 🔥 STAY INFORMED with daily news and updates on The Appraisal Buzz: ap...

Many real estate professionals have taken precautions during this pandemic as we should, but we need to consider other safeguards to protect our well being on an ongoing basis — especially in the aftermath of an ice storm.  Listen as Bryan shares some close calls, what to avoid, and when to just say no. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:  /appraiserelearning ✅ GET your A...

Bryan had a student in a recent class who said he thought only the bank could order an appraisal. A few days later, a listener called Bryan’s office to ask some questions about what she can and cannot do as an appraiser.   Can an appraiser communicate the results of their opinion over the phone? How many hats do you wear? Can you provide valuation services when not acting in the capacity of an app...

Bryan sits down with two trainees, who share how they obtained their trainee licenses, including the classes required to do so and some recommendations for people wanting to become trainees. They also detailed their journey toward becoming certified appraisers, including courses taken, hours accumulated, test taking tips and getting stuck in the mud (literally). Below is the link for The Real Prop...

You have been a trainee working hard, logging hours, learning all you can, and it finally all pays off – you pass the national exam!  You are now a Certified Appraiser.   Now what?  Do you have any idea what you are doing?  Do you know how to run a business?  Are you an appraiser or a business owner or both?  At the request of a new listener to the podcast, Bryan reveals the history of his busines...

Does the age-old issue of appraisers vs. agents and vice versa need to change?  Agents can provide useful information to appraisers when verifying or confirming data for comparable sales, and appraisers can assist agents in measuring services and appraisals when they are faced with listing the challenging properties. Yet these two groups have traditionally not played together well. Listen in to Br...

Most things change. If you don’t believe that look in the mirror.  Can you as an appraiser impact change?  Here is another chance for you to get involved as The Federal Housing Finance Agency, FHFA, had a press release on December 28, 2020 and have a Request For Information (RFI) on Appraisal – Related Policies, Practices, and Processes.  The RFI covers four areas related to appraisals: Appraisal...

After Bryan's USPAP class of nearly 50 students, three stuck around to continue the conversation: Ms. Patty Cox is a veteran appraiser of 44 years from a rural town in Nebraska; Mr. Gregory McDonald is from Dallas, Texas, has been appraising residential properties since 1985, and now specializes in rehab work and owner financing; and Ms. Amanda Hobbs, a trainee appraiser in Oklahoma, is about...

A conversation with Kevin Melton, whose community had just been devastated by a hurricane, opened Bryan's eyes to the suffering that comes in the wake of disaster. Bryan vowed to find a way to call on the appraiser community to help fellow appraisers reeling from disasters, both natural and personal. From that idea, the Appraiser Relief Fund was born. As President of the National Association...

What did you have for Thanksgiving Dinner?  Me, a bologna sandwich along with a little pity party.  Although I snapped out of it rather quickly, it prompted me to think of all of the blessings I have to be thankful for and also reminded me of many people who suffer from actual depression and the challenges involved with this disorder.   Globally, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer fro...

Have you ever been asked to appraise a house with 5 acres when it sits on 40 acres?  Can you do it or should you do it?  Let us examine USPAP as well as secondary market guidelines on this topic.  Listen in to hear Bryan’s take on this type of assignment request and what action you should take.   🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:  /appraiserelearning ✅ GET your APPRAISE...

How do you measure a house and calculate square footage?  How do your peers do it?  Are you aware of potential changes coming to ANSI?  Size matters! Join Bryan as he discusses this important topic with Mr. Hamp Thomas, Mr. ANSI.  Please get involved and submit public comment on your thoughts to the pending changes to ANSI z765.  Public comments are accepted through November 8, 2020 via a web-base...

When I ask an audience or my students what is PAREA and what do they think about it, I rarely hear an answer. It is indeed difficult for any of them to opine on something they know nothing about. PAREA stands for Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal and might just be one of the biggest changes in the history of the appraisal profession.  Is it practical for someone to become an appraise...

In this episode, Bryan discusses the importance of taking a break from the weekly grind.  When is the last time you took a one-week vacation? Have you ever had a two-week vacation? Maybe you should consider mini vacations, developing a hobby, or simply engage in some non-appraisal functions.   As an appraiser it is difficult to take time off, but it might just be what you need to be more productiv...

Have you raised your fee lately? Do you charge more for more work? Bryan had a client try to reduce his fee, but they did offer to pay him more the higher the value opinion. How do you think that went? Listen in to find out.   🔔 SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to watch these episodes:  /appraiserelearning ✅ GET your APPRAISER CE here: appraiserelearning.com 🔥 STAY INFORMED with daily news and...