Don't Try to Come Back

[Terrel L. Shields]

Found out today another reason the states apparently do not want any new appraisers. OTOH, they claim they want to expand the profession with new blood while state boards and regulations are doing everything they can to destroy anyone wanting to return to the profession after a hiatus.

Example eh? A fellow I know and worked with 15 years ago starved out and accepted a job as an “evaluator” which required him to drop his certified general license. Seems if licensed you are about 100x more liable than if you are unlicensed. And your reports must comply with both the IAG rules and appraisal rules. Fine. The company eventually went under and he has tried to get his CG back.

What a mess! Not only do they want him to pay all the back annual fees, but also to get 140 CE hours. Cost? Well over $5,000. Can he simply start over? No. Still owe the dues. What kind of BS is that? And then I found out that in this same state, the same terms apply to other licensed professions. Drop the license then try to get it back and you will owe all the back years dues – architects, whatever. Only real estate licenses are exempt apparently. So this guy is making a living selling real estate because he did not have to drop his RE license.

I could still get my CE, renew my license and have had 2 people want to train under me. Too late. They cannot find a CG to train under with no pay. And I would need to take a course on how to be a mentor. Don’t get me started on that nonsense.

So, don’t recover from a long-term illness, just die and get it over with. Don’t pursue other more profitable things until the profession recovers. Don’t have your mentor/employer die during your tenure with his company. Nobody wants you. Go away, you bother the powers that be.

 

[Trihard]

Wait until he finds out the fee for a 1004 appraisal through an AMC is the same $375 that it was 15 years go. I'm sure that will get him to fork over that 5k quick.

 

[John Hassler]

This appears to be a state issue. In CA you have rights to reinstate your license for up to two years after you let it lapse. You need to take some classes and pay a few hundred in fees but not a big deal. After that, you must start anew.

 

[chad hampton]

Why would the states even care? They let uber drivers perform appraisal services and allow 3rd party AMC companies to be appraisal firms too.

I don't see how states can enforce any laws after they let those 2 giant violations slide.

 

[Zoe]

This appears to be a state issue. In CA you have rights to reinstate your license for up to two years after you let it lapse. You need to take some classes and pay a few hundred in fees but not a big deal. After that, you must start anew.

I think there is a difference depending on where you are. Like you can put it on hold in some States and still pay some fees but if you want to go back active, then you have to pay additional fees and do back continuing education. You may be right it varies per State.

When you put it on hold and go inactive, then you can't practice when your license is inactive.

I want to say that is how Tennessee works but they have new leadership now where one director is over both real estate agents/brokers, and appraisers.

I am almost certain that is how Tennessee used to work. Surrendering the license is different ballgame. Then you did have to start over I think.

There may be a grace period if you surrender the license but the hold or inactive status is better if you plan on coming back.

If you surrender the license, you are done with fees or continuing ed or whatever. Then you have to start over if you want to.

 

[Bobby Bucks]

There is a level of weirdness in this industry with some in authority that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. The character of Inspector Javert the police inspector in Les Miserables comes to mind, the dedicated public servant who hounds a bread thief for life. Review appraisers on steroids.

 

[Surf Cat]

A fellow I know and worked with 15 years ago starved out and accepted a job as an “evaluator” which required him to drop his certified general license.

Well.....self imposed. With how hard it is to get a CG, why on earth would one agree to that?

Plus..... why would one want to get back in? More oversight, more liability, and more administrative burden than many other small professional practices....on top of the big elephants in the room, stagnant/illegal immigrant compensation (actually, they probably make more) and technology substitutions.

Newbies are appraisers today....not "independent" appraisers which was the big lure to the former profession. The autonomy is gone. This may not be true for the CG yet..... but it appears the snowball rolling down the hill is getting bigger for CG's.

You can't blame your acquaintance for wanting to go back to what he knew. Probably an older dog like many of us. No place to go. If the doors really are closed for good, I hope he finds something.

 

[Zoe]

Well.....self imposed. With how hard it is to get a CG, why on earth would one agree to that?

Plus..... why would one want to get back in? More oversight, more liability, and more administrative burden than many other small professional practices....on top of the big elephants in the room, stagnant/illegal immigrant compensation (actually, they probably make more) and technology substitutions.

Newbies are appraisers today....not "independent" appraisers which was the big lure to the former profession. The autonomy is gone. This may not be true for the CG yet..... but it appears the snowball rolling down the hill is getting bigger for CG's.

You can't blame your acquaintance for wanting to go back to what he knew. Probably an older dog like many of us. No place to go. If the doors really are closed for good, I hope he finds something.

Another thing. In Tennessee, you used to could be real estate agent and do evaluations and be licensed appraiser and do appraisals. It may still be the same way.

In practical manner, an evaluation was like a broker's price opinion and an appraisal is way more.

This guy probably thought I want to do broker's price opinion or evaluations and lose the appraisal license.

 

[TC]

Why would the states even care? They let uber drivers perform appraisal services and allow 3rd party AMC companies to be appraisal firms too.

I don't see how states can enforce any laws after they let those 2 giant violations slide.

I'd really like to get confirmation that Uber drivers are performing inspections. I thought they only took drivers by photos that agents do as well.

 

[Tom4value]

Kind of reminds me of my career. I entered the appraisal world on 1/21992. Worked for 2 appraisal firms and had a side client on my own. In February 2001 I started doing mortgages full time. Kept my license for the “side client”. Mortgage boss didn’t care. During the “mortgage meltdown” of 2008, all of a sudden through my company and the next one I went to, they wanted me to give up my appraisal license.

My inside head said, “state gives you a license, you don’t give it up!” Told my boss and he said, in kripted English, “do what you want but if you get caught, I won’t defend you.”.

For eight years I couldn’t excel in either. Get too well and it I was like, couldn’t go to the big party with the girlfriend or the wife would find out. Couldn’t go to the party with the wife or the girlfriend would find out.

Got to the point where I decided do a bang up job at one profession instead of a half *** job at two. Chose appraising and never looked back!