Tough Questions on Appraisal Bias Deserve Real Answers

During recent Fair Housing Month forums hosted by the Maryland and New Jersey Civil Rights Commissions, Scott DiBiasio, the Appraisal Institute’s Director of Government Relations, delivered a series of pointed, public questions challenging ongoing claims about appraisal bias. His remarks, made during two separate events on April 11 and April 14, raised critical concerns that continue to go unanswered.

Speaking during both sessions - each focused on equity in valuation - DiBiasio challenged the narrative that appraisers are the root cause of racial disparities in property values:

“Why are appraisers and appraisals continuously being scapegoated for exposing real estate value inequities that stem from deeply flawed, government-imposed policies like redlining, exclusionary zoning, and other discriminatory practices?”
“Appraisers do not create the market - we report it. We do not have the power to artificially inflate or deflate property values. That would be illegal. Blaming appraisers for systemic injustices they did not cause is not only misguided - it’s outrageous.”

He continued:

“If you want to fix disparities in property valuations, fix the broken systems that created them. But stop unfairly targeting appraisers. Enough is enough.”

DiBiasio also demanded accountability on the evidence behind the bias claims:

Of the more than 300 appraisal-related complaints filed with HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, not a single case has resulted in findings that an appraiser acted illegally or inappropriately. How many fully adjudicated cases in the last five years - whether by HUD, a state appraiser commission, or a civil rights commission - have concluded that an appraiser violated fair housing law by considering personal characteristics in a valuation?

To date, the answer appears to be none - aside from a single case in Colorado that has resulted in a formal charge and is now under Department of Justice review.

By delivering these remarks twice in one week - first in Maryland, then again in New Jersey - DiBiasio sent a clear message: the Appraisal Institute stands firmly for fair housing and equity, but we will not allow appraisers to be unfairly vilified for systemic problems beyond their control.

These questions have been asked, publicly and unequivocally. We will continue pressing for the truth—and defending the integrity of the profession.