Appraiser licensing varies from state to state. To participate in what is called a "federally-related transaction," which is, for example, a mortgage being underwritten by a national bank, an appraiser must be licensed or certified by his or her state. The license or certification is evidence that the appraiser has performed a certain number of hours as a trainee under the supervision of a practicing appraiser, may have passed an examination, and completes a certain number of hours of Continuing Education Training.

Prior to the Savings and Loan crisis of the 80s, which gave rise to appraiser licensing, appraisers had to market their expertise, service, professionalism and association designations. Many feel that state licensing has diluted the appraisal profession. Many consider licensure a bare minimum of what you should expect from an appraiser.

We have worked hard to establish a reputation for quality and prompt work, performed professionally and ethically, with outstanding customer service. You should never just look for a licensed appraiser; you should be discriminating in choosing your service providers. Tour our website for valuable information on the experience we have and the service we provide, and please feel free to contact us if you have any questions of would like references.  

You should always be sure your home appraiser is licensed and in good standing. The Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) maintains a national database of appraisers and their license/certification status. Among other things, this database, which relies on reports from each state appraisal board, will tell you if a service provider you are considering has had his or her license suspended, revoked, or whether the license has lapsed. The State of California Office of Real Estate Appraisers, or OREA also has a database of California appraisers. This listing includes information on current licensees, prior licensees that have resigned, been revoked, or had the right to renew their license revoked. This information is typically updated on a bi-weekly basis. For information that is more recent than the "Last Updated" date shown on the page, or for any additional information, you may contact their office at (916) 552-9000.