Austin-
I agree with you completely, opportunity is out their everywhere with people who possess apprasing skills/knowledge and have access to the data we have.
SO MANY posts on this board are apocolyptic for our industry. BS. Yes it may and probably will change dramaticly. So what are you going to do, sit around and talk about how you wish things were the way they used to be, or roll with it use your skills and never skip a beat. I will be part of the later, and Austin you sound like you are with me.
AVM'S will put appriasers out of business. At least the ones who cant adapt to a changing industry and still utilize their skills. My whole philosophy on avms is that I still plan to be around appraising the forelcosures and foreclosures resales in 4 or 5 years, as corporate America realizes that avms dont work en masse, and by utilizing them predominately they have just got rid of their favorite scape goat, the appriaser.
Everything runs in cycles in this industry. My bet is this AVM fad will come full circle, just give it time. However, more than likely things will get alot worse before they get better......Meanwhile, go buy one or two or ten foreclosures/rental properties/fixer uppers, you name it. We all have access to the data and you are in position to minimize your downside exposure alot more than the average investor. Guarentee everyone knows a loan officer who can give them a sweatheart deal on a loan

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Have a great weekend all
MRM