California makes another change re: trainees!

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Alan, As long as a licensee is NOT AQB compliant, they will not be used by the vast majority of lenders. Please do not think it's just for FHA and VA.

 

[George Hatch]

It almost won't matter if an AL is AQB compliant if they're still working under supervision, except that most lenders probably won't require personal inspection by the supervisor. If an non-AQB AL is working on their own they could run into a lot of rejections, depending on how aware the reviewers and underwriters are. A lender wouldn't want to get caught with an appraisal they can't sell.

I'm going to make sure that every reviewer who works for my review client knows to check ALs with high license numbers for AQB compliance, so they don't run into this problem. That's a pretty good chunk of the residential market here in this region. I imagine Brad Ellis and any of the other chief appraisers for the major lenders who frequent this forum is going to do the same. It won't take long for the word to get around.

Since this is going to cause some confusion at the state level I'm hoping the OREA just does away with the broker exemption altogether. I think having restrictions on some ALs detracts from the utility of the license for all ALs. I mean, some lenders could choose to refuse to deal with all ALs in California as the easiest means of avoiding problems.

The OREA goes to lengths to be in step with The Appraisal Foundation. Now that they know this is a problem, I can't imagine they want to be out of step with the AQB on this.

 

[Caligirl]

I am happy with the job that OREA is doing, and this is another example of how our state agency is listening to appraisers, improving the profession, and making positive changes.

I have had ONLY positive experiences with OREA. I have gone through several difficult situations during my training period, including a vindictive complaint filed against me and a former supervisor by a REALTOR who thought our value estimate on their property was too low. OREA handled that in an impartial, fair and thorough way, and have always been polite and gone out of their way to be helpful, in my experience.

They really are working so hard there and are painfully understafffed.

 

[Alan Ayoub]

Alan, As long as a licensee is NOT AQB compliant, they will not be used by the vast majority of lenders. Please do not think it's just for FHA and VA.

Not what I think, Im just repeating what the OREA rep told me. She specifically said FHA and HUD is AQB compliant.

If there are more dimensions that affect the Broker excemption, she didnt mention them to me on the phone. Just those two...

 

[Smokey Bear]

and this is another example of how our state agency is listening to appraisers, improving the profession, and making positive changes.

They didn't do it because they listen to appraisers. They did it because they listen to the AQB.

 

[icisic7]

Jodie, what do you think about OREA cutting the license fees? I think we'd be better served if they kept the fees the same, and used the surplus to hire more help. It seems silly to be so short-handed, and then lower the fees.

 

[Alan Ayoub]

Its my opinion that they cut the fees because Trainees cant find jobs and its pointless for them to pay 310 bucks for a license they cant use.

Yes it would be nice if OREA was better staffed...lets raise the license fee for the working appraisers who can afford it....

 

[George Hatch]

The OREA knows from past experience that the glut of licensing fees is temporary and that a large percentage of ATs and to a lesser extent the licensed/certifieds will not renew. As a state agency, they know better than to hire additional permanent employees when faced with an unstable base of licensing fees.

 

[Shirley Hoyle]

Washington state question!

I read alot about California and the doomsday reports for wanna be appraisers, but I would like to hear from anyone in Washington state!
Is it as gloomy as elsewhere in our nation? In your estimation has the market slowed? And is it just as hard to find work as a trainee? I have not found any info about Washington law changing to follow CA!

 

[erick anderson]

Its my opinion that they cut the fees because Trainees cant find jobs and its pointless for them to pay 310 bucks for a license they cant use.

Yes it would be nice if OREA was better staffed...lets raise the license fee for the working appraisers who can afford it....

As I recall, it's around $600 for the combined exam and license fees, and don't forget the fingerprinting fee.