Becoming a real estate appraiser is not as easy as it may seem. In the State of California, the governing body which licenses appraisers is called the Office of Real Estate Appraisers or OREA for short. The OREA oversees licensing of four levels of appraisers: Trainee, Residential, Certified Residential and Certified General. Here are the ten steps to become a fully licensed appraiser (Residential Level), one step above a Trainee level.

Many more articles can be written on each step. It generally takes 2-3 years from start to finish. Many people think that all appraisers do is go out to a home, measure it and think up a value. It takes many years to hone the skills necessary in developing an opinion of value. Since no two properties are alike, and all properties are unique, an appraiser’s ability to take all the experience they have and apply it to a new situation becomes key in the success of their business.

A minimum of three comparable properties are used in paired sales analysis. In many cases, a forth or a fifth comp is used to further validate the opinion of value. Once the appraiser adjusts the comparables, they decide on a value within the range of the values of the adjusted comparables. Another approach to value called the cost approach is often used to estimate the costs attributable to the land and the improvements on the land. Either way, adjusting comparables and considering the costs helps the appraiser decide on the subject’s value. However, ultimately an appraisal is an OPINION of value. This value should not be disputed by a homeowner or lender.

The whole job of a real estate appraiser is to develop an opinion of value based on the scope of work determined by the appraiser and based on information researched by the appraiser and given to the appraiser by the client. Scope of work, as defined by USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice), is “the amount and type of information researched and the analysis applied in an assignment.”

On a most basic level, in residential real estate appraising, and for relatively simple properties (a house on a small piece of land, for instance), I generally use paired sales analysis. That is, other properties that have transferred recently, usually in the past 3-6 months, in close proximity, with similar size, features, utility and condition are compared to the subject property. Using dollar amount adjustments, the comparable properties are adjusted higher or lower to account for inferiority or superiority of that comparable property to the subject property.

Suffolk County is situated in New York State USA. The county makes up most of the eastern and central portion of Long Island. It is a part of New York’s metropolitan areas and houses many suburban homes. According to the national census of 2010, Suffolk County has the fourth highest population in the state. Due to its proximity to New York’s major business and urban areas, many people seek homes in Suffolk County. Competition for housing specs in this area is stiff, so getting a good home requires some skill, finance, luck and knowledge about the local area. Given below are some tips that can help you look for Suffolk County apartments.

Firstly it is important to decide the type of residential space you want to narrow down on for your search. An apartment is cheaper and can be found more easily than independent houses. Note down the different elements you need in your apartment such as the number of bedroom, bathrooms, laundry services and appliances. Make a rough calculation of the amount of square footage you need in your Suffolk County apartment.

Determine the location where you want your apartment to be situated in. If you already live in the area, it is better to look for an apartment that is close to your current home. If you are in the city for business, consider an apartment near your office as it will help you to commute easily. You can look for an apartment space near good schools if you have children. If you are an immigrant looking for residential space in USA, you have a lot of options other than Suffolk County. Medford city has many good residential neighborhoods that offer many affordable Medford apartments.

You can start your Suffolk County apartments search by looking into local newspapers and classifieds. Many landlords and renters use local publishers to advertise apartment for rent. You can also try online classifieds to get more options for apartments. Online classifieds allow you to look at pictures of the apartment and its neighborhood.

Once you have found the apartment you are looking for, conduct a careful inspection of the space to see if all the appliances and fixtures are in working condition. Check the electrical outlets of the house, fixtures and the piping in the bathrooms as well as the kitchen. Try to negotiate the apartment rent with the landlord. Suffolk County apartments may be in high demand but most landlords will not want to lose a good tenant. Read the rent agreement carefully before you sign up as a tenant.