Chapter News and Awards

End of Year Chapter President Message - Byron Miller

Northstar Chapter Appraisal Institute End-of-Year Chapter President's Message

As 2024 winds to a close, I’d like to take a moment to thank you all for being members, as well as reflect on all of our chapter accomplishments. This year has had many challenges for the appraisal profession. On the residential side, the biggest form change in 50 years is on the horizon. Specifically moving towards a cloud based dynamic form input for use by the mortgage industry, otherwise known as UAD.  You may have read about the use of non-appraiser Property Data Collectors (PDCs), in lieu of appraisal inspections. Also concerns over the increased use of waivers, the expansion of the loan-to-value amount, and the discussion and adoption of a standardized Reconsideration Of Value (ROV).

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past several years, it’s been had to ignore the attention appraisers are getting regarding racial valuation bias. In response the Appraiser Qualifications Board is reviewing whether or not to keep the college degree requirement for the certified residential and certified general licensing credential. On the Appraisal standards side, we’ve seen a new version of USPAP come out without an expiration date. And a discussion, regarding what constitutes an inspection.

With all of the changes occurring, many are very pessimistic about the prospects for their future, let alone bringing in new appraisers into the profession. I tend to take a different view, and am optimistic. Our industry is going through a massive upheaval. Other professions have seen this in the past too. Technology and market influences dictate that we update and change our workflow to accommodate a 21st century marketplace.

This is no different than what occurred during the industrial revolution, the transition from the horse and buggy to the automobile, and the transition from rail travel to air travel. The important distinction to consider is how all of these legacy industries dealt with the disruption. Those that adapted still exist today.  Those that were resistant and attempted to, do the same old, same old, are a distant memory.  Anyone remember the elevator or phone operator?  That said, changes in technologies is inevitable, those changes don’t signal and end into the Appraisal profession, but an opportunity for those that adapt. I believe as members of our organization, appraisers are the adapters. By joining our professional organization, taking our education, staying abreast of professional topics and engaging, you have invested in your professional development ensuring a future.

If you are not currently a member and believe as I do in the future of this profession, I strongly encourage you to join AI.  Joining as a practicing affiliate is just $400 per year, and allows you access to our education and other resources to excel.
Our chapter has had a very active year. We offered over a dozen of CE and QE offerings, as well as brought in some of the top appraisal industry people like Rick Carlyle and Jason Tilema to instruct our members on residential and commercial appraisal topics. We also hosted our 25th annual Real Estate Trends Seminar. We also co-hosted a joint IRWA/NSAI event in Duluth which was well received. Recently, we had this year’s national AI president Sandy Adomatis, SRA as well as last year’s national president Craig Steinley, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, AI-RRS as our guests at our November installation event.

As the 2024 chapter president, I have worked with the executive team and board to focus on member benefit. That is, focusing on providing a tangible benefits to being a member of the North Star Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. One initiative that we started this year was Java with the President. this is a once a month event or we meet on the third Friday of the month at a coffee shop around the metro area to work and discuss issues affecting the Appraisal profession. Did I forget to mention that we buy Java if you come? We have had good turnout and a core group of attendees. From Java initiative, from this event we have had multiple tangible actions. The first has to do with a upcoming Appraisal modernization CE seminar. The second is an Appraisal Management Company or AMC outreach to small banks and credit unions to let them know about the alternatives to using an AMC panel. The third is a national Appraisal salary survey published through OREP magazine. And finally is a member benefit project team, which will be looking at ways to engage existing members and attract new members.

As my tenure as your president comes to a close, I am excited that you are in good hands with our executive team of Kelsey Hornig, MAI, Sam Adesiji, SRA, and last but not least, incoming president Andy Totzke, MAI.

Speaking of our new incoming president, Andy Totzke, he is keeping up the momentum of providing member benefits through his Four - Cs initiative: College Outreach; Collaboration with other organizations; Cool Events; Cardboard. You’ll be seeing more of his efforts prominently an upcoming months. And when you see him, be sure to ask about the cardboard!

It has been an honor and privilege to serve the members of our chapter this past year, and I look forward to an impactful 2025 under the leadership of your incoming executive team and the board.

Thank you all for allowing me to serve you.

Byron Miller, SRA, AI-RRS, MSSE