Declining Calif. Licenses Over 5 Weeks

[Mike Phillips]

Thanks! I'm a newbie of sorts or as far as posts are concerned. I've been a member for a while though. I use this site a lot for CE. I'm humbled by the knowledge of many the appraisers who post here. I gotta admit, though, some times I go through spells were I don't want to check in because of all the doom and gloom. I don't blame anyone I'm just saying.

As far as the data, those were the active licenses.

Sorry - should have said welcome back. You were a Newbie at the time of your OP. You were just upgraded to Aspiring Forumite - your pin is probably already in the mail.

 

[tjcou812]

In Connecticut all appraisers had to renew in April and only 100 appraisers did not renew. I thought it would be much higher. We still have over 1,500 active appraisers in CT. Way to many for a small state. I was told in USPAP class that an appraiser has up to 3 years to reinstate their license after not renewing as long as they continue taking the required CE courses mandated by the state. So it makes me wonder if appraisers not renewing now will wait until things get better and then reinstate their license.

 

[bschmidt]

Since I've had so much time on my hands lately I've decided to monitor silly little things like tracking the number of appraisers licenses in the State of California. It looks like licenses are dropping at a rate of 44 per week or .23% per week of the total licenses. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing an uptick in business as a result. Hopefully a tipping point is reached soon before I have to put on suit and tie, act p.c. and get a job I don't really want.

06/02 06/09 6/22 06/26 07/02 07/08
AG 3,576 3,575 3,584 3,582 3,586 3,580
AL 5,183 5,162 5,147 5,107 5,092 5,075
AR 6,060 6,077 6,102 6,116 6,113 6,110
AT 4,390 4,359 4,325 4,297 4,269 4,224
Total 19,209 19,173 19,158 19,102 19,060 18,989
Net change -36 -15 -56 -42 -71
Cumulative -36 -51 -107 -149 -220

On Jan 2, 2008 we had 19,725 active licenses, so in just over 6 months CA has lost 736 appraisers. Approximately 8,989 more to go.

Here in the Coachella Valley we have lost 11 appraisers since the first of the year, now we have only 200 appraisers for an area with a population of 400K +/-.

 

[starmansf]

Jeez,

I was thinking of opening up a branch office is Cathedral city. It's only a 10 hour drive from SF. I'm glad I read your post.

 

[Michigan CG]

......now we have only 200 appraisers for an area with a population of 400K +/-.

In my analysis of the appraiser population I have determined (through no scientific study) that the market needs about one residential appraiser for every 3,000 households. This would mean that you have 70 appraisers too many in a normal, stabilized market assuming you don't have out of town appraisers coming into your market.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I've noticed that Arkansas and Oklahoma numbers are fairly stable, not much movement except as it relates to changes in the way SL's were treated or creation of trainee rules. The CR's and CG's were relatively flat with CG's actually declining slightly. For farm and small commercial there is still a lot of work for CGs imho...

 

[bryanknowlton]

I enjoy the dropping rates as well, but at the same time I am only getting a few orders a week and then some AMC work that might dry up as well. I have to think about future job opportunities at this point until things get better. But on a good note, I have done 2 sales transactions this week! Wohoo! maybe things are turning around here in San Diego?!

 

[Mystery man3]

Brian how much you getting paid for AMC work?

I have been appraising for 5 years and have yet to see a single AMC assignment. I think my prices are too high for them. What is the going rate? I am curious

 

[Inegg]

Wanted to find out if anyone is planning to take the LA County Assessors upcoming exam...if so what to study..Does anyone know about their exam..is it similar to just the regular civil service test??

 

[LordofTexas]

You most likely haven't considered that numerous value smart appraisers saw the decline long coming and cashed out of California to move to a different state where they could get a home 90% larger on a lot 8 times larger for 1/3 the money with money in the bank to boot (me).

There are 8 appraisers in the Los Angeles area which I know from reviewing that have done just that. I only hope those that had large equity homes got out, most of my appraiser friends just took the hit.

Lordy