Once again, it is the time of the year to ask appraisers what their ideal gift from Santa Claus is. In just three days, everyone will discover what has been placed both underneath the holiday tree and inside their stocking.

Appraisers, legal experts and organizations were kind enough to reveal what they’re hoping for this year.

“The Appraisal Foundation (TAF) hopes to see the next generation of appraisers jumpstart their careers with the launch of multiple PAREA programs in 2023,” TAF President David Bunton said.

The folks at Freddie Mac suggest an appropriate gift under the appraiser tree would be “more diversity in the appraisal industry.”

The Appraisal Institute (AI) shares a similar present wish and sentiment.

“My wish would be to continue supporting  opportunities for aspiring appraisers to enter this wonderful profession through programs such as the Appraisal Institute’s Education and Relief Foundation scholarships for women and minorities, the Appraiser Diversity Initiative (ADI), a partnership with AI, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the National Urban League and the Appraisal Institute’s Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (AI PAREA) program and future efforts with the goal being the faces of the appraisal profession mirroring the faces of the communities in which we work,” AI President Jody Bishop said.

Attorney Craig Capilla, of Greenswag, Channon & Capilla, LLC, spoke with us about his ideal holiday gift for appraisers.

“If I could find one thing under the tree this year for the appraisal profession, it would be for all the professional organizations and regulatory bodies to start rowing in the same direction. I’ve met some wonderful people in the appraisal profession through the years and I do find that most appraisers I encounter really are trying hard to do the best job they can,” he said.

“But this profession has also been held back through the years by too many organizations working either in a vacuum or sometimes even against another which only serves to hurt the individual appraiser and the public trust,” Capilla, who regularly contributes to Valuation Review on the subject of appraisal legal matters, added. “While this has long been an issue, now, more than ever, the powers that be need to get on the same page for the benefit of the entire profession.”

“If I could have one gift under the Christmas tree that would be to have all state appraisal boards and commissions accept PAREA for 100 percent of experience credits toward appraiser credentialling,” veteran appraiser Greg Stephens said. “A second gift would be for several prospective providers to successfully complete a comprehensive PAREA program, receive approval from the AQB and make it available in the market.

“This would go a long way in addressing some of the barriers/challenges individuals experience when wishing to enter the appraisal profession, as well as address some of the issues facing the appraisal profession relating to diversification which the current supervisor/trainee model does not appear to be able to resolve,” Stephens added.

Clear Capital Chief Appraiser John Brenan thinks the gift he’d like to see for the appraisal profession is adaptability.

“I can’t think of a single profession where things are done today the same way they were done 50 years ago. Technological and societal changes are constant, requiring us to evolve and not hold on to the past,” Brenan said. “More and more, we’re living in an ‘instant’ society, where people want information and answers almost instantaneously. I’m not saying it’s a good thing or a bad thing, but it’s real and we can either adapt to the changes or watch the train leave the station from the platform.

“For appraisers, it means we must be open to new technology, new types of appraisal products, and new paradigms about the very nature of what we do. In this new era people want to know very quickly whether they’ll be able to buy their dream home, which means there’s no room for waiting six to eight weeks for an appraisal,” Brenan added. “As seasoned appraisers, we might not necessarily agree with this approach; in fact, we might very well believe that what is often the largest purchase of someone’s life doesn't need to happen immediately. But that’s irrelevant because it’s not our role to make such a judgment. What we must decide is whether or not we want to be part of the solution, and that means we might have to change how we think about our role.”

Brenan also said he is a strong advocate for adaptation.

“Not because it suits me personally or professionally, but because I have been part of the appraisal business for four decades and I have a fervent desire to see appraisers remain relevant,” he said. “We all need to have a clear understanding: as appraisers, we are not driving the bus. We may influence the driver, even suggest a route, but we don’t dictate how lending is done. This doesn’t mean we’re unimportant, quite the contrary. We are very important, and I believe in what we do. Let’s strive to remain important and stay in the game.”

“This year has been a roller coaster ride for us all, and within a few months, the mortgage industry changed drastically,” SettlementOne Chief Appraiser George Paquette said. “Most importantly, I hope that appraisers and everyone in the industry can spend the holidays with their families and those most important to them. The gift I would most like to see is for mortgage rates to level and for the industry to stabilize to find our new normal. The new year will have challenges and opportunities, so using this time to reflect on 2022 and strategize for 2023 will pay big dividends. The market has changed, so new products, services, and clients will be essential.”