Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate Appraisers) Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established January 19, 1994

Scope

This series specification describes three Appraiser/Investigator classifications used in the Office of Real Estate Appraisers' Licensing and Compliance Programs to conduct and supervise complex and sensitive appraisal reviews and investigations related to alleged violations by licensees.

Definition of Series

Property Appraisers/Investigators perform a variety of independent complex property appraisal, appraisal review, and investigative functions related to the licensing and certification of real estate appraisers, the accreditation of real estate appraisal education courses, and the investigation of complaints of unethical or illegal activity against real estate appraisers who are licensed or certified by the Office of Real Estate Appraisers (OREA).

Typical Tasks

In the investigation of complaints against licensed or certified real estate appraisers, Property Appraisers/Investigators conduct appraisals, review appraisals, and market research and analysis to identify deficiencies in the appraisal reports under investigation, form an opinion as to whether the analyses, opinions, and conclusions in the report are appropriate and reasonable, determine if there has been a violation of the Government Code, Business and Professions Code, California Code of Regulations, Penal Code and other related codes, the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), or the mandatory and voluntary guidelines as set forth by the Federal Appraisal Subcommittee; locate and interview witnesses, and analyze and evaluate testimony; examine a variety of records and data to secure or verify information concerning suspected violations; gather, assemble, preserve, and report facts, statements, or affidavits and other evidence for use in legal actions and appear as a witness to present facts and evidence supporting administrative action or criminal prosecution at legal or administrative proceedings; conduct reviews of appraisal experience logs and work samples to determine that applicants meet the minimum experience requirements for appraiser licensing and certification; conduct on-site audits of appraiser records to verify claims of experience and education; perform on-site audits of accredited real estate appraisal courses to assure conformance with educational requirements for licensing and certification; conduct investigations of educational course providers against which complaints have been filed; analyze licensing and certification and compliance policy and procedures and recommend the adoption of new procedures or the revision of existing policy or procedures for statewide implementation; consult with and advise management and administrative staff on technical issues concerning real estate appraisal methods, compliance, and professional standards and ethics; act as technical advisor; and investigate and recommend administrative citations and fines.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Complexity, sensitivity, and variety of investigations; independence of action and decision making; and degree of supervision exercised and received.

Entry Level

Entry into this series is typically at the Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate Appraisers) class.

Definition of Levels

Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate Appraisers)

This is the entry and full journey level in the series. Under supervision, incumbents conduct the less difficult, sensitive, or complex investigations of complaints of unethical or illegal activity against licensed or certified real estate appraisers; conduct and review appraisals, market research, and analysis on all types of property (e.g., residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural) to identify deficiencies in the appraisal report under investigation, form an opinion as to whether the analyses, opinions, and conclusions in the report are appropriate and reasonable, and determine if there has been a violation of the Government Code, Business and Processions Code, California Code of Regulations, Penal Code, other related codes, the USPAP, or the mandatory and voluntary guidelines as set forth by the Federal Appraisal Subcommittee; locate and interview witnesses and analyze and evaluate testimony; examine a variety of records and data to secure or verify information concerning suspected violations; gather, assemble, preserve, and report facts, statements, or affidavits and other evidence for use in legal actions and appear as a witness to present facts and evidence supporting administrative action or criminal prosecution at legal or administrative proceedings; conduct reviews of appraisal experience logs and work samples to determine that applicants meet the minimum experience requirements for licensing and certification; conduct on-site audits of appraiser records to verify claims of experience and education; perform on-site audits of accredited real estate appraisal courses to assure conformance with educational requirements for licensing and certification; conduct investigations of course providers for which complaints have been filed and submit a written report of findings; interpret and explain appraiser licensing/certification and compliance laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to members of the appraisal industry, financial institutions, government agencies, and the public; and investigate and recommend administrative citations and fines.

Senior Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate

Appraisers)

This is the advanced journey level. Under direction, incumbents in this class independently conduct the more sensitive, difficult, or complex criminal or administrative investigations of complaints; may act in a lead capacity to direct or review the work of lower-level appraisers/investigators; conduct and review appraisals, market research, and analysis on all types of property (e.g., residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural) to identify deficiencies in the appraisal report under investigation, form an opinion as to whether the analyses, opinions, and conclusions in the report are appropriate and reasonable, and determine if there have been administrative or professional practice violations; appear as a witness to present facts and evidence supporting administrative action or criminal prosecution at legal or administrative proceedings; conduct reviews of the most complex appraisal experience logs and work samples to determine that applicants meet the minimum experience requirements for licensing and certification; conduct the most sensitive or complex on-site audits of appraiser records to verify claims of experience and education; perform on-site audits of accredited real estate appraisal courses to assure conformance with educational requirements for licensing and certification; conduct the most complex or sensitive investigations of course providers for which complaints have been filed and submit a written report of findings; analyze licensing and certification policy and procedures and compliance policy and procedures and make recommendations concerning the adoption of new policy or procedures or the revision of existing policy or procedures for statewide implementation; consult with and advise management and administrative staff on technical issues concerning real estate appraisal licensing and certification, compliance, and professional standards; act as technical advisor; investigate and recommend administrative citations and fines; and perform or act in a lead capacity over special projects as assigned.

Supervising Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate

Appraisers)

This is the working supervisory level. Incumbents have full supervisory responsibilities to plan, organize, and direct the activities of a staff of appraisers/investigators engaged in the statewide program of real estate appraiser compliance; supervise and provide direction to staff in the performance of appraisals, review appraisals, and market research and analysis; evaluate the work performance of professional and technical staff under his/her supervision; perform the most difficult, sensitive, or complex investigations; appear as a witness to present facts and evidence to support administrative action or criminal prosecution at legal or administrative proceedings; act as technical advisor; investigate and recommend administrative citations and fines; provide assistance to high-level staff in the development of policies or procedures or the revision of existing policy or procedures for statewide implementation.

Minimum Qualifications

All Levels:

Experience applicable to one of the following patterns may be combined, on a proportional basis, with experience applicable to another pattern to meet the total experience requirement.

Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate Appraisers)

Either I

Experience: Two years of experience in California state service performing property appraisal duties of a class equivalent to an Assistant Property Appraiser. (Applicants who are within six months of meeting this requirement will be admitted to the examination but must satisfactorily meet the requirement before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Experience: Three years of experience preparing formal real estate appraisals or technical appraisal reviews. and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college, preferably with an emphasis in real estate, finance, business administration, or economics. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for two years of the required education on a year-for-year basis.) (Experience in California state service applied toward this pattern must include two years of experience performing duties in a class equivalent to an Assistant Property Appraiser.)

Must hold in good standing a full license, residential certification or general certification, issued by the OREA. (Applicants who do not hold such a license or certification but meet the education and experience criteria for a real estate appraiser license or certification will be admitted to the examination and may be appointed, but must satisfactorily meet the requirement within six months. Failure to do so may be considered evidence of unsatisfactory progress and cause for rejection during the probationary period.)

Senior Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate

Appraisers)

Either I

Experience: Two years of experience in California state service performing property appraisal duties of a class equivalent to a Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate Appraisers). (Applicants who are within six months of meeting this requirement will be admitted to the examination but must satisfactorily meet the requirement before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Experience: Four years of experience preparing formal real estate appraisals, including technical appraisal reviews. and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college, preferably with an emphasis in real estate, finance, business administration, or economics. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for two years of the required education on a year-for-year basis.) [Experience in California state service applied toward Pattern II must include two years performing duties in a class with a level of responsibility not less than that of a Property Appraiser/ Investigator (Office of Real Estate Appraisers).]

Must hold in good standing a full license, residential certification or general certification, issued by the OREA. (Applicants who do not hold such a certification but meet the education and experience criteria for general certification will be admitted to the examination and may be appointed, but must satisfactorily meet the requirement within six months. Failure to do so may be considered evidence of unsatisfactory progress and cause for rejection during the probationary period.)

Supervising Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate

Appraisers)

Either I

Experience: Two years of experience in California state service performing property appraisal duties of a class equivalent to a Senior Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate Appraisers). (Applicants who are within six months of meeting this requirement will be admitted to the examination but must satisfactorily meet the requirement before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Experience: Five years of experience performing real estate appraisals, including technical appraisal reviews, at least one year of which must have been in a full supervisory capacity. and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college, preferably with an emphasis in real estate, finance, business administration, or economics. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for two years of the required education on a year-for-year basis.) [Experience in California state service applied toward Pattern II must include two years performing duties in a class with a level of responsibility not less than that of a Senior Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate Appraisers).]

Must hold in good standing a full license, residential certification or general certification, issued by the OREA. (Applicants who do not hold such a certification but meet the education and experience criteria for general certification will be admitted to the examination and may be appointed, but must satisfactorily meet the requirement within six months. Failure to do so may be considered evidence of unsatisfactory progress and cause for rejection during the probationary period.)

Knowledge and Abilities

All Levels:

Knowledge of: General appraisal methods, procedures, and terminology; provisions of the Government Code, Business and Professions Code, California Code of Regulations, and other codes applicable to real estate appraiser licensing and certification; Title XI of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) of 1989; the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Standards and their application; the guidelines of the Federal Appraisal Subcommittee and their applications; administrative and criminal procedures; investigative techniques and methods used in securing and preserving evidence.

Ability to: Apply the required knowledge; conduct appraisals, appraisal reviews, or other market analyses and research of real property; develop techniques, methods, and skills required to conduct administrative and criminal investigations and draw sound conclusions; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; prepare clear, complete, and concise reports; communicate effectively.

Senior Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate

Appraisers)

Knowledge of: All of the above, and OREA licensing/certification and compliance policy and procedures.

Ability to: All of the above.

Supervising Property Appraiser/Investigator (Office of Real Estate

Appraisers)

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles, practices, and trends of public and business administration; principles and techniques of personnel management, supervision, and employer-employee relations; departmental administrative goals and policies; a manager's/supervisor's responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

Ability to: Apply the required knowledge; plan, organize, and direct the work of a staff engaged in appraiser compliance functions; develop the skills and abilities of subordinate staff; resolve complex supervisory problems; effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

Special Personal Characteristics

All Levels:

Willingness to travel and work odd hours away from the office; integrity and objectivity to conduct all work ethically and with independent judgment; and satisfactory record as a law-abiding citizen.

Class History