The President of AARO and a Discussion on Change and Efficiency

The appraisal industry has seen its fair share of changes in the past five years, especially due to Dodd Frank. Though some change can make one feel uneasy, that shouldn’t be the case with the new offerings brought by the Association of Appraiser Regulatory Officials (AARO). Nikole Avers, President of AARO joins us to speak on changes within the agency and what to expect following the AMC Final Rules.

Buzz: Nikole, tell us a little about AARO and its mission.

Avers: Our mission is to be an advocate for the member jurisdictions as to the enforcement and administration of appraiser and appraisal management company regulatory laws. The Association is committed to the success and advancement of state appraisers and appraisal management company regulatory programs and seeks to accomplish these objectives through: Leadership, Cooperation, Communication and Education.

Buzz: What are the emerging issues AARO is faced with?

Avers: AARO’s recent endeavors have broadly ranged from the recently released final AMC Rules to the new appraiser criteria for qualifying to become a licensed or certified real estate appraiser.

Buzz: As the director of the appraisal agency in TN what issues are the most pressing?

Avers:  To me it is very important that our office be efficient and effective both for our licensees and the public.  That means we need to change with the times to stay relevant.  Customer service is our number one concern and that is true whether it is a consumer filing a complaint or a licensee is renewing or upgrading a license.  They shouldn’t find our office to be a barrier to their goals.  We have implemented a lot of program changes to make things easier for our customers, such as a new licensing system that allows applicants to renew or apply online and upload documents. An entity number ties all licenses an individual has together. So if a person has more than one type of license, they can change their address or other information all at the same time at Commerce and Insurance.  We have online complaint forms also but we will also accept paper complaints or applications. However much of today’s professionals want quick service and we are working to change the stigma of government means slow service, because that doesn’t have to be true.  There are some things our licensees have to do to become licensed or certified, but I don’t want the hold up to be my office.  Balancing the protection of the public with the efficiency of service to our licensees is our most pressing issue currently.

Buzz: Are there any changes with AARO that our readers can anticpate?

Avers: AARO has had some really exciting changes in the last year.  We have a new website which brought back the ability for regulators to have a discussion forum and a place to share resources such as documents and training materials from conferences.  We had an amazing turn out at the spring conference in my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee in May 2015.  It was a fun and educational event with a lot of dynamic discussions between regulators and industry participants.  We have another conference coming up on October 16 – 19, 2015, in Washington D.C. where my term as the president of AARO will end and our new president, Anne Petit, from Ohio will be taking on the challenges for the year ahead.  She is going to be an excellent leader for AARO.  I am really excited to see what benefits will come next for the regulators that attend our conferences and how that will in turn help those we regulate.  There are so many wonderful leaders in AARO that contribute so much to the appraisal profession. I would recommend to your readers that if they get an opportunity to meet with any of these people, or attend one of the conferences through an affiliate organization, it would be well worth their time.  There are nearly always AARO members present at Appraisal Foundation meetings and Appraisal Subcommittee meetings, and even some of the professional organizational events.  Take the time to talk to these people! They are inspiring and dedicated leaders that are donating their time for the betterment of the profession.

Buzz: What impact will the AMC Final Rules have on both the appraisal community and the AMCs?

Avers: I hope the AMC final rules will move the appraisal regulatory community towards greater consistency, but I think it is too early to know.  This is like the early 90’s when appraisal regulation was getting up and running towards consistency between the states.  I wasn’t a regulator then, but I am certain it took a few years before the states, the users of appraisal services and, the licensees worked out the basic common ground.

When I think of all the changes that are going on in the appraisal, AMC, and lending world it reminds me of a Walt Disney quote; “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity leads us down new paths”.  I believe that AARO’s mission of bringing the regulators together to encourage leadership, cooperation, communication and education is central to success in my own career.   I have learned so much in my time with AARO and really enjoy being a leader in the appraisal community.  In whatever small ways, I have been able to pay that gift back through sharing my knowledge with others and encouraging the leaders yet to be. I know that is worth the work I have put into it.

Thank you so much Nikole Avers for joining us today. If you would like to learn more about AARO and their upcoming conference, please visit http://www.aaro.net/

About Nikole Avers 
Nikole Avers is the Executive Director of seventeen regulatory boards, including the Real Estate Appraiser Commission, at the Department of Commerce and Insurance. She is a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser with experience in residential real estate appraisal and having taught a variety of appraisal courses. She is an AQB certified USPAP instructor. Ms. Avers has been involved in the real estate appraiser industry since 1998 and has been director of the Tennessee Real Estate Appraiser Commission since 2006. Avers worked as a subject matter expert for the Appraisal Foundation on the 2008 licensed level examination. She currently serves as its 2014-2015 president of the Association of Appraiser Regulatory Officials (AARO).