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Recently C.r.a. Looking To Transition To Az

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azbassman21 said:
I've been certified in AZ for a little over 9 years, and it was a grind to get any traction with clients as Maricopa County has an abundance of appraisers. I was able to carve out my own little corner by becoming competent and well versed in outlying towns others did not want to go to because they don't want to take the time to become familiar with those areas. I will tell you that the SE Valley (Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa) is flooded with appraisers, and the AMC's typically pay less than the national average as they can always find some desperate part-timer to take a $275, 1004URAR assignment. It's irritating, but I set a bottom line and don't get out of bed for anything less. You have to value yourself and your work, otherwise there is not point in doing this job. Don't be that guy, becuase once those clientsknow you're cheap, they will always expect you to be cheap.

Complex assignments can vary. I've had 7000sf custom homes on 5 acres with a bass pond and 12 car garage, and detached 2000sf workshop in the middle of town. I've also had 10 acre properties with a manufactured home and high end horse facilities on the outskirts of town. It's all relative to what's available to compare it to in the area, but there are definitely complex assignments, even moreso if you get in close to Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, etc. I don't go to those areas, because they just won't pay what I would charge to deal with complex properties and realtors in those areas.

As far as finding a house for $200-250k, good luck. They do exist, and it depends on what your looking for, but Chandler has become the Scottsdale of the SE Valley with Intel, Honeywell, GoDaddy, Infusionsoft, and other companies in close proximity. There are parts which will contain houses in that range, but you may be surprised as to how expensive it's become here in the SE Valley, particularly Chandler. You may have better luck in parts of Gilbert, Queen Creek, and East Mesa.

I reside and work exclusively in the SE Valley, and I'd also happy to share my knowledge and help any way I can. I'll send you a PM.
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Excellent! I plan on taking you up on that offer when that time comes,
 
RyanJTrainee said:
Have you always resided in AZ?
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I came down here for college and never looked back. I've been here almost 18 years now.

If you need help finding a house, I'm also a licensed Realtor and would be happy to assist.
 
RyanJTrainee said:
Excellent! I plan on taking you up on that offer when that time comes,
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The Phoenix area is generally homogeneous and easy to appraise in. 95% are just simple assignments. Population of Phoenix has roughly doubled in the past 15 years and nearly all the suburbs are homes built since that time. Tract home Heaven, most people are from elsewhere, not a whole lot of native Phoenix people. Its a big city and has its own issues though is much newer than most cities so visually a lot nicer. This place was pretty much uninhabitable before AC became prevalent. People were smart and the heat kept them away. I rarely see a home built prior to 1960 and would guess 80% of what I do is built after 2005. There are a lot of appraisers here and work is slow for most people and will continue to be with rates and a stagnant market, not a great time to transition if you want/need to work full time.

As noted from above 200-250k won't get you much anymore. Lots of websites will help you out on that. We lost over 50% of values in the crash and just regained that line this past summer. It has dropped a few points since then. In my Western suburb city the cheapest home available is 210k and will get you 1100 sf of a single family home in a newer neighborhood, not much. I bought several like that in the 40ks during the crash. Oh, the days.

What people often fail to realize coming from elsewhere is although that spring break or one week vacation people take to AZ from out of State may seem amazing, the heat here does not stop and is brutal. Everyone else leaves after vacation and we are here to grind it out. Its above 90 nearly 8 months a year and you do not get a break. Its generally over 100 from May-September and doesn't cool down until November. I've been trick or treating at night with the kids when its still over 90. You may hate the rain now but when you see the rain only a handful of days a year you will miss it. This past year we went nearly 3 months without a measurable drop. I have been here 15 years and would leave if I could, solely based on the weather. However it is sweatshirt weather for now and is great. The heat grind will start again in March and not end until sometime in October. Never thought I would loathe the sun but clouds are so rare they are my new best friend. Good luck with whatever you do.
 
KYLECODY said:
The Phoenix area is generally homogeneous and easy to appraise in. 95% are just simple assignments. Population of Phoenix has roughly doubled in the past 15 years and nearly all the suburbs are homes built since that time. Tract home Heaven, most people are from elsewhere, not a whole lot of native Phoenix people. Its a big city and has its own issues though is much newer than most cities so visually a lot nicer. This place was pretty much uninhabitable before AC became prevalent. People were smart and the heat kept them away. I rarely see a home built prior to 1960 and would guess 80% of what I do is built after 2005. There are a lot of appraisers here and work is slow for most people and will continue to be with rates and a stagnant market, not a great time to transition if you want/need to work full time.

As noted from above 200-250k won't get you much anymore. Lots of websites will help you out on that. We lost over 50% of values in the crash and just regained that line this past summer. It has dropped a few points since then. In my Western suburb city the cheapest home available is 210k and will get you 1100 sf of a single family home in a newer neighborhood, not much. I bought several like that in the 40ks during the crash. Oh, the days.

What people often fail to realize coming from elsewhere is although that spring break or one week vacation people take to AZ from out of State may seem amazing, the heat here does not stop and is brutal. Everyone else leaves after vacation and we are here to grind it out. Its above 90 nearly 8 months a year and you do not get a break. Its generally over 100 from May-September and doesn't cool down until November. I've been trick or treating at night with the kids when its still over 90. You may hate the rain now but when you see the rain only a handful of days a year you will miss it. This past year we went nearly 3 months without a measurable drop. I have been here 15 years and would leave if I could, solely based on the weather. However it is sweatshirt weather for now and is great. The heat grind will start again in March and not end until sometime in October. Never thought I would loathe the sun but clouds are so rare they are my new best friend. Good luck with whatever you do.
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I see what you're trying to do here! Honestly, I dig the desert. November through April is beautiful. We had a great October this year, and even September cooled to a pleasant temp. June features nights in the 60s, and at the end of August you can see the nights already starting to dip. July and August suck, as does September as you are ready for fall, but other than that, Arizona is a beautiful state with a lot to offer. Is it hot? Of course, but I'd take 3-4 months of annoying heat where you can cool off inside than 9 months of unbearable cold and snow, where to leave you have to shovel snow out of your drive way. You do have the annoying tourists from every nothern state and Canada which flood in every spring training season, usually January through April. You deal with it, and the first day of 100 degree weather in late May usually flushes them out of here rather fast.

Give it some time, and you should appreciate the beauty of this state. It has a lot to offer, and is absolutely beautiful with a ton to see. You can go from desolate, Sonoran desert, to Ponderosa Pine forests in less than 90 minutes. Our average elevation is somwehere around 2500'. Fun fact, the Phoenix Suns play at Talking Stick Resort Arena, which has the second highest elevation next to The Denver Nuggets.

I just thought I'd give Arizona credit, where it is due.
 
KYLECODY said:
The Phoenix area is generally homogeneous and easy to appraise in. 95% are just simple assignments. Population of Phoenix has roughly doubled in the past 15 years and nearly all the suburbs are homes built since that time. Tract home Heaven, most people are from elsewhere, not a whole lot of native Phoenix people. Its a big city and has its own issues though is much newer than most cities so visually a lot nicer. This place was pretty much uninhabitable before AC became prevalent. People were smart and the heat kept them away. I rarely see a home built prior to 1960 and would guess 80% of what I do is built after 2005. There are a lot of appraisers here and work is slow for most people and will continue to be with rates and a stagnant market, not a great time to transition if you want/need to work full time.

As noted from above 200-250k won't get you much anymore. Lots of websites will help you out on that. We lost over 50% of values in the crash and just regained that line this past summer. It has dropped a few points since then. In my Western suburb city the cheapest home available is 210k and will get you 1100 sf of a single family home in a newer neighborhood, not much. I bought several like that in the 40ks during the crash. Oh, the days.

What people often fail to realize coming from elsewhere is although that spring break or one week vacation people take to AZ from out of State may seem amazing, the heat here does not stop and is brutal. Everyone else leaves after vacation and we are here to grind it out. Its above 90 nearly 8 months a year and you do not get a break. Its generally over 100 from May-September and doesn't cool down until November. I've been trick or treating at night with the kids when its still over 90. You may hate the rain now but when you see the rain only a handful of days a year you will miss it. This past year we went nearly 3 months without a measurable drop. I have been here 15 years and would leave if I could, solely based on the weather. However it is sweatshirt weather for now and is great. The heat grind will start again in March and not end until sometime in October. Never thought I would loathe the sun but clouds are so rare they are my new best friend. Good luck with whatever you do.
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I understand what you're saying, but you have no idea how terrible the weather is in the Northeast. We literally just had the longest "dry stretch" (4 days of consecutive somewhat sunny, rain-free days) since the previous 9 months +/-. It's also been the wettest year on record; It rained more in Northeast PA than Seattle. High desert heat is preferable to the 70-80 degree, full humidity summer weather we have here. The humidity is so bad that you can't do a damn thing outside because its so stuffy. So if I'm going to be stuck inside, why not be stuck inside somewhere where the sun actually shines and the winters are enjoyable?
 
azbassman21 said:
I came down here for college and never looked back. I've been here almost 18 years now.

If you need help finding a house, I'm also a licensed Realtor and would be happy to assist.
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I'm relocating to AZ as well, And licensing there also, I was there a while ago and got to drive around and see some of the West Valley house hunting, I know you focus your appraising on th SE Phoenix, . What do you think about appraising in the West Valley, there's some cities there that I was focusing on, and feel competent just from driving the areas, and analyzing the subdivisions.
 
CindyR said:
Goodyear is booming. Microsoft is buying. But we have lots of appraisers around here. i think yavapai county has a shortage...

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Yeah?, Wow, I looked at some homes when I was there , I liked certain parts of Goodyear, love Surprise (Marley Park), Verrado is also nice just further away, off to itself. One appraiser was telling me that the West Valley will probably being more business than the SE Phoenix, Mainly due to fact that most appraisers are comfortable in the Metro Area of Phoenix and don't prefer to commute to the West Valley.
 
I was
devin said:
Yeah?, Wow, I looked at some homes when I was there , I liked certain parts of Goodyear, love Surprise (Marley Park), Verrado is also nice just further away, off to itself. One appraiser was telling me that the West Valley will probably being more business than the SE Phoenix, Mainly due to fact that most appraisers are comfortable in the Metro Area of Phoenix and don't prefer to commute to the West Valley.
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In your opinion, do you feel I'll be better off taking a staff job initially, or as long if I'm competent with the areas, from analyzing the MLS, and driving to comps , start to establish clients , continue registering with AMC's, market and network with agents and stay fee?
 
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