Appraisal Institute Last-minute Shakeup

[Surf Cat]

No, it wasn't.

Anyway, my chapter is bleeding. Down 8% from last year with not even a phone call to the members who didn't renew. But it was all hands-on deck when the topic of dropping advanced education course exams came up. The chapter fired off a strongly worded letter to national opposing the 45 day notice dropping the requirement.

Rome is burning.

There's no need for any of the continuing education if appraisers are just going to be checkbox chimps.

 

[glenn walker]

No, it wasn't.

Anyway, my chapter is bleeding. Down 8% from last year with not even a phone call to the members who didn't renew. But it was all hands-on deck when the topic of dropping advanced education course exams came up. The chapter fired off a strongly worded letter to national opposing the 45 day notice dropping the requirement.

Rome is burning.

Question? Your chapters bleeding down 8% from last year that's below the rate of attrition of appraisers just retiring or dying so your chapter is doing good. BUT the AI has not been growing for many years and therefore it's just dwindling into a slow non existence as the old guys die off.

Finally ones who leave now just want to have a good excuse to quit but they were dying or retiring anyways. Just like ones who say their quitting or retiring because of the 3.6 forms. I call bull**** they were quitting or retiring anyway but want an excuse.

 

[djd09]

There's no need for any of the continuing education if appraisers are just going to be checkbox chimps.

no need for USPAP if the mortgage brokers and borg dont use it...

 

[Surf Cat]

I call bull**** they were quitting or retiring anyway but want an excuse.

Making chump change is not an excuse.... it's a reality. They couldn't even get PAREA up and going with scholarships. A quick Google search from interested parties probably led a few to here where they read a couple threads then ran for the Hills.

Appraisal Institute remains the sole current provider of the program.
Despite ongoing enrollment, concerns have been raised about the program's effectiveness and sustainability. Reports indicate that the program has incurred significant financial losses, with one estimate suggesting a monthly loss of $80,000, and only a small fraction of graduates achieving licensure.

 

[djd09]

PAREA program has 20 graduates in 18 months and loses $80,000 monthly​

Just received another email from Jennifer Marshall (SRA, AI-RRS) with more information on the PAREA program [Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal]. They (laughably) have 20 graduates in 18 months. There has been over $2 million invested and the program loses $80,000/month. Of the 20 graduates, only nine became licensed appraisers.

https://www.reddit.com/r/appraisal/comments/1ioksyl/parea_program_has_20_graduates_in_18_months_and

...

 

[chad hampton]

These guys will come up with every gimmick in the book to try before they finally realize what the real problem is. They’re not interested in fixing the problem. They’re interested in coming up with smoke and mirrors solutions to try to funnel money up to their friends, that’s what makes them snake oil salesman.

I’m surprised it’s only lost that much. I wonder what the most recent numbers are for 2025. I’m sure we would hear about it if it was a success.

 

[Non Sequitur]

Question? Your chapters bleeding down 8% from last year that's below the rate of attrition of appraisers just retiring or dying so your chapter is doing good. BUT the AI has not been growing for many years and therefore it's just dwindling into a slow non existence as the old guys die off.

Finally ones who leave now just want to have a good excuse to quit but they were dying or retiring anyways. Just like ones who say their quitting or retiring because of the 3.6 forms. I call bull**** they were quitting or retiring anyway but want an excuse.

I'm not sure why you're trying to sugar coat this mess. While drawing a parallel between the overall decline of the profession to the number of appraisers who are walking away from designations they've rented for years (decades in some cases) seems reasonable on the surface, it's just an excuse. And a lazy one.

The insta-toot has more committees than Saudi Arabia has princes, and all are just as useless. So why not have one more committee? It could be named "Let's Save The Sinking Ship: Member Retention." The first order of business would be to stop with the "everyone is dying or retiring" nonsense and acknowledge the ship is sinking. Second, come up with actual membership numbers, including past members who stopped paying dues. Third, put together the list and start reaching out. And don't make excuses, the idea that it's hard to get in touch with appraisers or discover that someone has died is ridiculous. Fourth, financial transparency (including no more secret meetings and votes), listening to members and provide an avenue for discussion and participation in bailing out the ship.

Now here's the real hard part; Once you get in touch with past members you will likely get an earful. Why? Because long standing back door dealing and politics on the national and local levels has to be acknowledged and solved. Former members who walked away from designations they earned through a lot of hard work and money didn't walk because they were happy with the insta-toot. They got disgusted with the secret meetings, lack of financial transparency, the preference for instructors and paid positions on the national and local levels. The only way the insta-toot will stop the bleeding and regain some members who walked away, and possibly start growing numbers again, is to reform. Major reform. Starting with having actual elections at the local and national levels. But none of this will happen with our current leadership. Not even at the state level, because anyone who speaks out gets frozen out.

 

[Non Sequitur]

Merry Christmas from the insta-toot. From el-presidente's Christmas Eve newsletter (which didn't even mention Christmas, so no one gets offended). Another missive full of "WTF" information. If anyone needs any more proof that the lack of transparency is intentional, see below:

"As a result of these investments, we will finish the year slightly below our budgeted forecast, but importantly, well within the range anticipated when the Board approved a deficit budget for this year. While some speculation has circulated regarding the size of the variance, I want to reassure members that the actual figure is far smaller than rumored."

Who knew the board approved a deficit budget? Not the members, that information was never disclosed. And if the "size of the variance" is "far smaller than rumored" why not proudly disclose it to members? Wouldn't that be good news? BTW the rumor is a several million deficit.

 

[Non Sequitur]

Someone did a little digging. Here's the 2024 numbers filed 11/17/25. Definition of a sinking ship:

 

[Non Sequitur]

From the email: As bad as those figures appear to be, it seems the Appraisal Institute is on the hook for additional $4,831,640 to State Chapters.