Peace Garden News

U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer and Ruben Gallego have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at improving the home appraisal process, particularly in rural areas facing a shortage of trained appraisers. The Appraisal Industry Improvement Act seeks to address workforce shortages that contribute to delays in the homebuying process.

The legislation responds to current dynamics where two-thirds of appraisers are over 51 years old, while only 13% are under 35. This age disparity is contributing to worker shortages, with North Dakotans experiencing an average wait time of 21 days for home appraisals compared to the national average of six to nine days.

To enhance the appraisal workforce and expedite processes, the bill proposes adding state credentialed trainee appraisers to the national Appraiser Registry managed by the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council. It also suggests including representation from both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service.

Furthermore, ASC grants would be available for state appraiser certification and licensing agencies to support education and training efforts addressing industry needs. The legislation authorizes ASC to reduce annual registry fees if deemed necessary and renews licensed residential appraisers' ability to conduct FHA property appraisals.

Senator Cramer highlighted, “Housing markets, and especially rural markets like the ones we see across North Dakota, are negatively impacted by a shortage of trained appraisers,” adding that supporting training efforts can help speed up homebuying without compromising appraisal quality.

Senator Gallego noted that "Appraisals are a critical part of the home buying and selling process," emphasizing that current shortages delay purchases and increase costs in Arizona's rural and tribal areas. He expressed pride in introducing this bipartisan effort aimed at boosting workforce numbers and improving service delivery in underserved regions.