Advice For Career Trajectory

[Deracon85]

Thanks you all in advance for your insight.

I will be a Certified Residential Appraiser in November of this year and currently work in mostly rural communities for a very small, independent outfit, with 90% of our work coming from AMCs. I have learned quite a bit, but rural work in Southwest VA does not afford the opportunity for growth and work I will need to become a CGRA, ideally with an MAI or ASA designation. As it stands, I am 32, single with no kids and willing to move to just about any area in the country that will provide an opportunity for growth that would be most beneficial for my career. With that in mind, I ask these questions:

Would either MAI or ASA be more beneficial as far as designations are concerned?

What market(s) do you consider to be the strongest in the country currently? Raleigh (Triad area), Charleston, SC, etc...

Are there any national or local firms you would recommend or recommend that I stay away from in my search?

Any other advice that you are willing to give would also be greatly appreciated.

Thank you again for your time.

 

[BRCJR]

Thanks you all in advance for your insight.

I will be a Certified Residential Appraiser in November of this year and currently work in mostly rural communities for a very small, independent outfit, with 90% of our work coming from AMCs. I have learned quite a bit, but rural work in Southwest VA does not afford the opportunity for growth and work I will need to become a CGRA, ideally with an MAI or ASA designation. As it stands, I am 32, single with no kids and willing to move to just about any area in the country that will provide an opportunity for growth that would be most beneficial for my career. With that in mind, I ask these questions:

Would either MAI or ASA be more beneficial as far as designations are concerned?

What market(s) do you consider to be the strongest in the country currently? Raleigh (Triad area), Charleston, SC, etc...

Are there any national or local firms you would recommend or recommend that I stay away from in my search?

Any other advice that you are willing to give would also be greatly appreciated.

Thank you again for your time.

What areas of SWVA do you cover?

 

[Deracon85]

What areas of SWVA do you cover?

We cover Danville City, Pittsylvania County, Carroll County, parts of Grayson County, Galax City, parts of Franklin County, Henry County, and Martinsville, for the most part.

 

[Garfield]

Denver is supposed to get over 1,000,000 people in the next decade.

 

[Deleted member 152047]

I am looking for a new team member in FL. Large commercial shop, let me know if you want to talk further.

 

[Walter Kirk]

The MAI designation in my opinion is the only designation that is recognized by the public. Unfortunately AMC's don't care about the quality of your work only your speed and price. If I were in your position I would transition to commercial work and get a general certification as well as an MAI designation.

 

[Financially Feasible]

The MAI designation in my opinion is the only designation that is recognized by the public.

I don't know that it's the only designation recognized by the public, but I think it's the most widely recognized. If you're going to get into VFR (valuation for financial reporting) appraisals, the ASA is a good designation as well as the MRICS. They are also used for appraisers who do RE appraisals in conjunction with capital equipment and business valuation (again, mostly for VFR purposes but there are other purposes as well). However, I don't think that you can go wrong with the MAI.