I cannot believe that I must agree that licensing probably has been the problem. It puts the Skippy right up there. Hardly anyone asks about the SRA anymore, or any other coveted and respected (in the past) Residential designations.
However, many in here have their noses in the sand, or positions to promote or defend in making so many erroneous statements.
This has been going on for a long time. Is data mining the issue? Hardly, my colleagues. Is it the touchstone? Perhaps. The beginning was a movement to get appraisers to voluntarily pony up to the data collection service(s). That was soundly defeated by just the professionals that it would directly impact. DEFEATED>can you understand that? So then..inventions were made in software that allowed such collections.....and the AMC's, software vendors, etc, etc, reassured their clients (the appraisers) that they were a direct conduit straight to the lender/client. HMMMM....then it got to the point after a couple of years.....it came to the public light that oh yeah....data is gathered.....collected.....perhaps stolen(?)......and then perhaps resold......all with the suppliers of this data being kept in the dark.....then it appears things grew.....more and more AVMs.....more and more AMCs....profit driven....with staff that did nothing but call state after state after state to find the lowest price point available.....and we all have lived long enough to know you get what you pay for.....then the responsible, committed, and loyal long time appraisers began to ask questions. Why are the best of the best being ignored? Why is there little to no business left to be proud of? Why is the NEWEST appraiser on the street the busiest......and THEY were so stupid as to admit that "oh yeah" I looked at 10 properties today, and have 8 to see tomorrow" AND WOW I am being paid $175.00 to $200.00 each.....what a deal.
So, with questions being asked, petitions put before Appraisal Boards, rocks being overturned...those that are serious, questioning, proud, and dedicated appraisers are being ridiculed and cajoled.....by their own serious colleagues who think they may have all the answers......wait until it lands in YOUR lap and it will be way too far gone.....I am seriously amazed at how we still attack each other....We have to work together...or we will have nothing to work for...all viewpoints should be openly discussed in a mature, objective, and fair manner. Not to the benefit of anyone or any special interest groups. The results are in.....this mortgage crisis has a LOT of blame to be spread around to a lot of entities.....I would only hope that the appraisal profession can have its place at the table to point out failures in THE system.....our failures as well as the other players.....who by the way do pay our fees which allows us to pay our bills.....please participate in a meaningful and constructive fashion....