Opinion: Does it pay to have an MAI?

[reviewer]

Vernon, I'm not trying to push the MRICS/FRICS qualifications. Notice I said 20 years and that's if current trends persist. The AI is doing better in China and Korea than any other countries but there are 200+ MRICS/FRICS in China and 80 additonally hold the Chartered Valuation Surveyor specialism which is the equivalent of the MAI. I am encouraged by the fact that the AI is at least giving RICS a run for their money in China. Unfortunately, don't think there are any MAIs in India vs. 200 MRICS/FRICS and growing fast. RICS has offices in Hong Kong, India, Middle East, US. I'd like to see the AI open overseas offices.

I'm going to agree with stephen on this. I work for an international consulting firm and have noticed that when I mention the MRICS, I get the perked-up ears of my EY and Caribbean/Bermuda/Latin America/Central America/South America clients. I pick up a lot more work non-US with the RICS than I get, US, with the MAI.

AI is, sadly, on fumes at this point. I worked damn hard for my MAI and I never regretted getting it. I think it will still be a selling point for the next 10-15 years. But I can see a time in the next 5 years where it will not matter if the property is US or non-US, the RICS and MAI will be a tie.

This will be especially true with our economy's finance base shifting to Asia and in particular, China. Japan has a certification program similar to our own, but their economy is in shadow, as is ours. My China-based clients who are in the banking and finance worlds like the dual-nature of my designations, but I also know that without the RICS there I'd have less of a chance of making their cut.

 

[NevCG]

Good luck. The good email gets out in a week or so, while the bad email takes a month.

That's not always true. I passed all 4 modules but it took about a month to get the email. (And that was the longest month of my life...)

 

[John Glass]

That's not always true. I passed all 4 modules but it took about a month to get the email. (And that was the longest month of my life...)

My bad. I had a few "bad" emails regarding Mod. III, before the "good" email. The bad ones took a month, while the good one took a week. The Lord only knows why, I guess.

Congrats again.

 

[residentialguy]

Bit of a side topic, but do you think the SAI is equally important in the Residential field as MAI is in the Commercial?

 

[Michigan CG]

Bit of a side topic, but do you think the SAI is equally important in the Residential field as MAI is in the Commercial?

That would be SRA.....and although it will set someone out from the rest it does not have nearly the weight that the MAI does in commercial.

 

[Calvin the Airedale]

That would be SRA.....and although it will set someone out from the rest it does not have nearly the weight that the MAI does in commercial.

What you say is certainly true as far as the significance to the general public. I would say, however, that among our community and peers, the SRA generally sets one apart and especially in terms of experience and training.

This is a generalization and is not meant to take anything away from those holding the IFA, AM, ASA, or RAA.

 

[residentialguy]

That would be SRA.....and although it will set someone out from the rest it does not have nearly the weight that the MAI does in commercial.

LOL...SAI is SRA in "before morning coffee speak" :laugh:

I know that a SRA does not have the weight of a MAI. Let me word that differently. Would a SRA provide a similar boost to a CR appraiser as a MAI would to a CG appraiser? I don't know that it would in lender appraisals...but I would think with non-lending types of appraisal work, it might.

 

[JSmith43]

I think it gave AI a boost when Denis D. decided to add his support to the SRA designation program

For other views on the matter, someone could interview Davey Roy Six Pack in the Blog section of the forum and
get the opinion of a colorful & long time holder of the SRA designation.

 

[residentialguy]

just waiting for Anon's support

 

[Michigan CG]

.......Would a SRA provide a similar boost to a CR appraiser as a MAI would to a CG appraiser? .......but I would think with non-lending types of appraisal work, it might.

The experience of getting the SRA would make one a far better appraiser but would not have nearly the affect as the MAI for commercial work. For non lending work it would be a benefit. When one gets the SRA (or even is a member of the AI) they are listed on the AI website in the Find an Appraiser area. I pay for my AI membership a couple of times just from business from the AI website.

Being designated would make one more desirable than the non designated. The designation also gets you referrals from the MAI appraisers who typically do not do residential work.