More than 525 real estate professionals from around the world attended the opening session of the valuation profession’s most important annual event, hosted by the Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers.

The 2019 Appraisal Institute Annual Conference, held at the downtown Hyatt Regency Denver, featured world-renowned keynote speakers, 30 breakout sessions on trend-setting valuation topics, networking opportunities for industry professionals, an exhibit hall featuring cutting-edge products and services and an awards ceremony honoring the valuation profession’s best and brightest.

By Pete Schroeder and Richard Leong

The Trump administration’s hotly anticipated blueprint for overhauling mortgage guarantors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may not be published until September as the U.S. Treasury juggles several other pressing issues, the housing regulator told Reuters.

The nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers vigorously condemned today’s action by the National Credit Union Administration, calling the NCUA’s decision to effectively reduce the number of appraisals required for commercial real estate loans irresponsible, radical and dangerous.

“This is an outlandish scenario for anyone who cares about the safety and soundness of the nation’s commercial real estate lending system, and it could recreate conditions that led to the financial crisis of the late 2000s,” said Appraisal Institute President Stephen S. Wagner, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS. “The NCUA’s ill-conceived, damaging decision shows overwhelmingly the need for immediate, rigorous congressional oversight.”

Two Appraisal Institute Designated Members share why they think someone should consider being an appraiser in AI’s latest video.

The Appraisal Institute designated 58 members in June, including; 1 who received MAI AND SRA designations; and 40 who received MAI designations; 3 who received SRA designations; 12 who received AI-GRS designations; 2 who received AI-RRS designations.

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Read the latest issue of Valuation magazine. 

The president of the Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers, encouraged Congress to act on valuation topics during today’s hearing on Capitol Hill.

Stephen S. Wagner, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, told the House Financial Services Committee’s Housing, Community Development and Insurance Subcommittee that the Appraisal Institute supports passage of H.R. 2852, which would allow licensed appraisers to perform appraisals for Federal Housing Administration loans.

The Appraisal Institute announced June 26 that its elected officers and others represented the organization at major industry events during the past month.

President Stephen S. Wagner, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS; Vice President Rodman Schley, MAI, SRA; Immediate Past President James L. Murrett, MAI, SRA; and CEO Jim Amorin, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, attended the Appraisal Institute of Canada Annual Conference, June 5-8, in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Wagner and Amorin also attended the Institute for Professionals in Taxation Annual Conference, June 23-26, in San Antonio.

President-Elect Jefferson L. Sherman, MAI, AI-GRS, represented AI at the International Right of Way Association Education Conference, June 9-12, in Portland, Oregon, where he sat on the panel for “Corridor Valuation: An Overview and New Alternatives.” AI also exhibited at the event.

AI’s 2016 President, Scott Robinson, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, AI-RRS, participated in the International Valuation Standards Council/World Association of Valuation Organizations Global Valuation Conference, June 13-14, in Frankfurt, Germany, where he presented on “Impact and Opportunity of Technology-Based Valuation.” AI’s 2010 President, Leslie P. Sellers, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, represented the Appraisal Institute at a June 18 meeting of the International Valuation Standards Council’s Advisory Forum Working Group in London, England.

The president of the Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers, encouraged Congress to act on valuation topics during yesterday’s hearing on Capitol Hill.

Stephen S. Wagner, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, told the House Financial Services Committee’s Housing, Community Development and Insurance Subcommittee that the Appraisal Institute supports passage of H.R. 2852, which would allow licensed appraisers to perform appraisals for Federal Housing Administration loans.

We have the opportunity to support two of our chapter members as they seek a position on the North Carolina Appraisal Board. There is no group more qualified to represent appraisers on the appraisal board than members from the North Carolina Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. Our organization has historically had members on the board. Please join in the effort to promote our organization on this vital regulatory board. Help promote our members who have volunteered to be nominated to the board; Lynn Carmichael, MAI, from the Asheville Area, and Claire Aufrance, MAI, SRA from the Greensboro Area. 

To support the chapter please click the button below to send the governor a supportive recommendation for these members.

Pledger M. (Jody) Bishop III, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, of Charleston, South Carolina, was nominated for 2020 Appraisal Institute vice president by the AI National Nominating Committee at its May 8 meeting in Chicago.

National Nominating Committee Chair James L. Murrett, MAI, SRA, submitted the committee’s nomination to the AI Board of Directors at its May 9-10 meeting in Chicago. Board members may file petitions for additional nominees in accordance with the Appraisal Institute Bylaws. The AI Board of Directors is expected to elect the 2020 vice president at its July 25-26 meeting in Denver.

The Appraisal Institute designated 40 members in April, including; and 20 who received MAI designations; 5 who received SRA designations; 10 who received AI-GRS designations; 5 who received AI-RRS designations. Special congratulations to NCAI members, David Ivey, AI-GRS and Thomas Lott, MAI, AI-GRS.

View list here.

Appraisal Institute Among Organizations Opposing Residential Threshold Increase

The Appraisal Institute on Feb. 4 was one of six organizations signing a comment letter that "strongly opposed" a proposal from the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to raise the residential appraisal threshold from $250,000 to $400,000. 

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The Appraisal Institute on April 17 announced that its 2018 Annual Report is available. The report highlights AI's accomplishments during the previous year in education, professional services, international activities, government relations, meetings, financial performance, professional practice and other areas.

View the report.

The Appraisal Institute’s National Nominating Committee is scheduled to interview two candidates for 2020 AI vice president in Chicago May 8, and the committee is expected to nominate one or more individuals for 2020 vice president at the Board of Directors’ May 9-10 meeting.

The candidates are, in alphabetical order, Pledger M. Bishop III, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS and Eric Schwartz, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS.

AI professionals may view the candidate biographies and questionnaires (login required) and provide input by 5 p.m. CDT May 6. Correspondence should be addressed to Jim Murrett, MAI, SRA, chair, 2019 National Nominating Committee, and emailed to Joan Barngrover, board secretary and special assistant to the CEO, at [email protected].

The Appraisal Institute designated 25 members in March, including 11 who received their MAI designations, five who received their SRA designations, four who received their AI-GRS designations and five who received their AI-RRS designations. 

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