Members and Friends

What a ride. It is both exciting and rewarding.

CCAP is excited because membership has grown dramatically in recent months. Also, because our work advocating for licensed appraisers is paying dividends. We did not get all we wanted in the Financial Reform Bill (we wanted Appraiser Independence as contained in HR 4173) but we did get few good things to build with. So lets build!

The first in a series of CCAP Survey’s will soon be reaching you. If it doesn’t reach you go to www.cacap.org .The Survey is on the website. Please take it; it is very important.

CCAP Survey #1 (Non Complex Appraisal Fees - pre March 2009) collects data about appraisal fees paid for the non complex appraisal products we worked with prior to HVCC and the 1004MC. That’s the key. Non complex; prior to HVCC and 1004MC.

In this regard I imagine you are hearing a lot about customary and reasonable in this regard. Don’t be fooled! Frankly, those words are meaningless unless appraisers can demonstrate, in clear and concise ways, were to begin. And I did say begin. What an appraiser charged before the HVCC and 1004MC, is history that we can document. If anything can come close to customary, assuming you agree with the dictionary definition, this is it. But, we can not let it get confused with what happened later when folks, AMC’s and lenders both were taking fees that should have gone to appraisers. Let’s get it right.

Survey #2, which will follow along behind, will be a Census. We need to be in a position to tell federal regulators and legislators, and consumers and lenders, as well as the folks in Sacramento, who and what we are. Speaking for myself I am proud to be an appraiser. And I think of myself as very much a professional. CCAP can’t speak for you yet but it will be able to once Survey #2 (the Census) is complete. Yes, professional and working to improve all the time. We need to build on this theme.

Finally, and in between Survey efforts, we will be asking you to comment and contribute on substantive issues. Issues that we all know will come up in the rule writing phase of the work the federal government will be doing specific to the Financial Reform Bill.

Colleagues, we have a good story to tell; its time to start telling it. And we have an honorable profession. We need to tell that story as well.

Please, keep an eye out for CCAP Survey #1 or go to the website and take it. Complete it the minute it hits your desk. The only agenda here is that the results work to the benefit of all appraisers. Remember, CCAP is a dues supported member driven organization of licensed appraisers from all over California.

All best,

George St. Johns, President

California Coalition of Appraisals Professionals (CCAP)