Value Meets Voice: Appraisers Rally on Capitol Hill
In this issue:
- PAREA Milestone: First Certified Residential credential earned by an AI PAREA graduate.
- Flexible Credentialing: States expanding hybrid pathways using PAREA and field experience.
- Free Webinar May 22: Chief appraisers share trends and insights in valuation.
- AI Advocacy: Members push for AMC fee transparency and appraisal policy reforms on Capitol Hill.
Insights
PAREA Milestone: First Certified Residential Credential Earned by AI PAREA Graduate
We are excited to share a significant milestone in the Appraisal Institute’s Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (AI PAREA) program. The first Certified Residential (CR) credential has been earned by an AI PAREA graduate in South Carolina!
Congratulations to Leigha Howell, who completed the Licensed Residential (LR) PAREA program and combined her logged field experience with PAREA hours to meet the CR credential requirements. Many states now allow this hybrid pathway—typically 500+ hours of field experience plus successful completion of LR PAREA—to fully satisfy the experience requirement for the CR credential.
Here’s what Leigha had to say about her journey:
I passed the exam on my first try with no refresher, and I was thrilled! While the exam leaned heavily on qualifying education topics, I felt PAREA truly prepared me for real-world appraisal work—how to identify, analyze, and report by the book. I’ve apprenticed and completed reports before, but after PAREA, concepts like highest and best use carry a whole new meaning. I’m far more confident in my analysis and reporting. I would strongly recommend the PAREA course for every apprentice—it should be required just like qualifying education. In my opinion, PAREA is the new standard for appraisal.
—Leigha Howell
Pathways to Credentialing: A Complex but Expanding Landscape
Many states now allow blended options to advance, with two general possibilities below:
- Licensed Residential (LR) + Field Experience = Certified Residential (CR): In most states, candidates can combine LR PAREA completion with 500+ hours of field experience to qualify for the CR exam.
- Pathway to Certified General (CG): Candidates can also combine LR or CR PAREA with field experience—2,000 hours for LR or 1,500 hours for CR—to pursue the CG credential. However, 1,500 of the 3,000 total hours must consist of supervised commercial real estate (CRE) appraisals, since LR and CR credentials do not authorize unsupervised CRE work.
These evolving regulations offer flexibility but require careful navigation. For questions about state requirements or to learn more about AI PAREA, contact us at Appraisal Institute PAREA FAQs.
Your Benefits
The Appraisal Institute has conferred 54 designations in 2025, with 13 thus far in May. We celebrate all our individual member accomplishments and recognize the hard work and dedication to the appraisal profession below.
May 2025 | ||
| MAI | ||
| FULL NAME | CITY, STATE | |
| Jason Davis, MAI | Denver, CO | |
| Katelyn J. Drosnock, MAI | Nazareth, PA | |
| Rosalynn V. Jovanovich, MAI | Lake Bluff, IL | |
| Kylie B. Klehr, MAI | Woodbury, MN | |
| Terry Shane McCarty, Jr., MAI | Burleson, TX | |
| Pon A. Sitzmann, MAI | Des Moines, IA | |
| Michael Allen Stavinoha, MAI | Dallas, TX | |
| SRA | ||
| Michael D. Congemi, SRA | Acworth, GA | |
| Matthew Gayda, SRA | Santa Rosa, CA | |
| Joseph M. Lynch, SRA | Woodland, CA | |
| Denton Woodward, SRA | Rockville, VA | |
| AI-GRS | ||
| John Bryan, MAI, AI-GRS | Seattle, WA | |
| AI-RRS | ||
| Megan Johnson Judd, SRA, AI-RRS | Belle Isle, FL | |
Trending Topics Thursdays:
Sign up for our next free webinar
Appraising the Profession: Chief Appraisers on Trends, Performance, and the Road Ahead
Thursday, May 22, 2025
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CT)
Join us for a candid conversation with two leading chief appraisers—one in commercial real estate and one in residential—as they share what they’re seeing across the profession today.
In this exclusive webinar, you’ll gain insight into the trends shaping the valuation landscape, how chief appraisers are evaluating appraiser performance, and the guidance they’re offering to help appraisers thrive in a changing environment. Whether you specialize in residential or commercial work, this session will offer practical takeaways and thought-provoking commentary from two voices at the center of the industry.
Panelists:
- Tom Boyle, MAI, Chief Appraiser, US Bank
- Michelle Rogers, SRA, Chief Valuation Officer, New American Funding
Advocacy Updates
Appraisal Institute Leaders Advocate on Capitol Hill
This week, participants of the Leadership Development and Advisory Council (LDAC) meeting and Legislative Day brought critical issues affecting the valuation profession directly to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Their goal: to advocate for transparency, modernization, and fairness in appraisal-related policy.
- AMC Fee Transparency
Appraisers urged Congress to support fee transparency by asking the CFPB to require separate disclosure of AMC and appraiser compensation. This would bring fairness to consumers and ensure appraisers are appropriately valued for their expertise. - Portal for Appraisal Licensing Act (PAL Act)
Members advocated for reintroduction of this bipartisan legislation, which would streamline the appraisal licensing process nationwide, reduce regulatory burdens, and encourage new entrants into the profession. - IRS Appraisal Review Panel
To protect due process and reduce legal risks for appraisers working on charitable contributions, members called for the creation of an independent IRS Appraisal Review Panel to fairly resolve disputes. - FHFA Oversight of GSE Appraisal Policy
Appraisers raised concerns about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s expanded use of appraisal waivers and hybrid appraisals—particularly for high-risk, high-LTV loans—and the increasing use of unregulated property data collectors. They asked Congress to strengthen oversight and ensure consumer protections remain intact.
These meetings reflect the Appraisal Institute’s ongoing commitment to advocacy and to advancing policies that support professionalism, public trust, and the future of the valuation profession.
Real Estate Horizons
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Your Community
2025 Award Nominations
The Appraisal Institute would like to recognize some of the brightest, most committed and deserving AI Professionals. If you believe you know an AI Professional who fits the criteria below for the J. Scott Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award, Outstanding Service Award, William S. Harps DEI Award, or the Women’s Initiative SPOTLIGHT Award, please nominate that person. Submissions for these Awards must be completed by July 31.