TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
Issue link: http://digital.themreport.com/i/1398400
M R EP O RT | 31 FEATURE ting some of the appraiser trainee coursework (75 hours total) out of the way before seeking out an in- ternship or supervisory appraiser to make yourself more market- able. This demonstrates your eagerness and commitment to the field to a potential employer. 3. Determine Ways to Offset Costs I f you can secure an internship or get into a training program with a corporation or appraisal management company (AMC), in some instances, they may sponsor you and offer to pay for your licensing coursework or exam fees necessary to become an appraiser. In my case, I was able to secure a full-time job post-graduation and do my training part time, which helped to lessen the burden of payment as I was earning a paycheck in tandem with the coursework. We recommend also seeking out scholarships as a way to offset some of these costs. For example, the Appraisal Institute Education & Relief Foundation provides scholarship opportunities for those pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees with a con- centration in real estate appraisal or related fields. Taking a proac- tive approach is key to offsetting some of these costs before you are ready to enter the field full time. While the requirements and training necessary to become an appraiser can seem daunting, a career in the field is worth the investment in oneself. The flex- ibility, emerging technology, and rewarding and fulfilling work that comes along with it make an appraisal career something that young people should consider. I have never once regretted the time spent investing in myself to become a certified real estate appraiser, and I know that many young people—if exposed to the idea early and often enough—will feel the same, too. . ALEC MARCUS is a Staff Appraiser with ServiceLink, the nation's premier provider of digital mortgage services to the mortgage and finance industries. SOMETIMES, IT'S GOOD TO BE A FOLLOWER. Follow MReport on social media to put the latest mortgage banking news, stories, strategies, and insights at the touch of your fingertips. MReport @TheMReportNews The MReport powered by THEFIVESTARINSTITUTE