Cynthia Sulamo
Freshman Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2005
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- California
As of the end of 2009 REAA has 3 active chapters with 2 more coming online. Sacramento Chapter has over 150 members, the North Bay Chapter I believe has a similar number and East Bay the newest chapter have over 100 last I heard.
The biggest difference between REAA and AI in my opinion is AI (appraisal institute) quickly became all about the Commerical Appraiser a long time ago and many of their decisions hurt the residential appraiser (such has making the AI ready report so lenders could mine our data, coming out for the HVCC when it first came out and giving seminars saying it would never come to fruition because it did not come about legally). AI has since appeared to see the error in it's ways or realize it is missing out on the largest group of licensed appraisers - the Residential Appraiser - and is now trying to do more to support the Residential Appraiser. Since AI is the largest group they certainly need our help and input in order to represent Residential Appraisers.
REAA has been a grass roots group about all appraisers with their largest contingent being the residential appraiser. Their monthly meetings typically give 2 hrs of continuing education credits and at least once a year the head of the OREA and investigators attend the meetings giving valuable time for appraisers to understand our governing body here in Calif and ask questions one on one. John Brennan of the Appraisal Foundation speaks typically once a year about what is going on in the industry.
Rumor has it REAA's website is being redone to give it a new face and more valuable information to the appraiser as it had become a photo opp for board members and little else. This will be a great improvement so when folks go to the website they can get real information and understand what it is and has been all about.
The biggest difference between REAA and AI in my opinion is AI (appraisal institute) quickly became all about the Commerical Appraiser a long time ago and many of their decisions hurt the residential appraiser (such has making the AI ready report so lenders could mine our data, coming out for the HVCC when it first came out and giving seminars saying it would never come to fruition because it did not come about legally). AI has since appeared to see the error in it's ways or realize it is missing out on the largest group of licensed appraisers - the Residential Appraiser - and is now trying to do more to support the Residential Appraiser. Since AI is the largest group they certainly need our help and input in order to represent Residential Appraisers.
REAA has been a grass roots group about all appraisers with their largest contingent being the residential appraiser. Their monthly meetings typically give 2 hrs of continuing education credits and at least once a year the head of the OREA and investigators attend the meetings giving valuable time for appraisers to understand our governing body here in Calif and ask questions one on one. John Brennan of the Appraisal Foundation speaks typically once a year about what is going on in the industry.
Rumor has it REAA's website is being redone to give it a new face and more valuable information to the appraiser as it had become a photo opp for board members and little else. This will be a great improvement so when folks go to the website they can get real information and understand what it is and has been all about.
