New Laws, New FREAB Members

The Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board held their regular meeting in Orlando April 2 and 3, 2012. This was the first meeting for newly appointed Certified Residential member Matthew Simmons. Matt is a REALTOR® and the Residential Manager for Fort Myers based Maxwell & Hendry Valuation Services, Inc.

The Governor made additional appointments to the FREAB just prior to the April meeting. The current Chair, Evalyn (Fran) Oreto, was appointed to fill one of the Appraisal Management Company positions, and Certified General Appraiser, Mike Rogers, was appointed to a second term. Although she did not attend the April meeting due to the late date of the announcement, Governor Scott also appointed Tamara Jones McKee to fill the vacant Consumer spot on the FREAB. These appointments fill all the vacant positions on the FREAB. 


For fans of Burn Notice, Tamara Jones McKee might be familiar!

The FREAB considered over 20 disciplinary cases. At least six involved a voluntary surrender of license for permanent revocation.

One of the most interesting discussions involved the board developing an answer to a question about out of state reviewers of appraisal reports; must they be licensed in Florida? Although the FREAB did not issue a formal declaratory statement, the consensus made it clear they believe providing appraisal services related to a property in Florida requires registration, license or certification in the Sunshine State.

In addition to making appointments to the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board, the Governor signed two important bills into law. HB 887 and HB 517 were signed into law on April 8, 2012. HB 887 is effective October 1, 2012, and HB 517 is effective July 1, 2012. There are some important chances to Chapter 475, Part II in both. Most notably, HB 887 establishes discipline if an Appraisal Management Company:

(v) Has required or attempted to require an appraiser to sign any indemnification agreement that would require the appraiser to hold harmless the appraisal management company or its owners, agents, employees, or independent contractors from any liability, damage, loss, or claim arising from the services performed by the appraisal management company or its owners, agents, employees, or independent contractors and not the services performed by the appraiser.

Governor Crist Signs - HB 303 - Regulation of Appraisal Management Companies

It was a busy week in Washington, D.C. NAR Appraisal Committee Leadership met with 2010 President Elect, Ron Phipps and Senior NAR Staff to discuss appraisal issues. We also met with Professional Standards Committee leadership on a number of issues. There were trips to Capitol Hill to meet with our US Representatives and Senators.

The most anticipated event, however, was playing out right here in the Sunshine State. Despite the fact HB 303 - Real Estate Appraisers/Appraisal Management Companies passed both the Florida House and Senate unanimously, the AMC crew was lobbying the Governor's Office to veto the bill. The Florida Realtors sent a Call to Action to their members late on Wednesday, the 12th. By 8:00 A.M the next morning, over 800 members had responded and contacted the Governor, urging him to sign the bill. The Appraisal Institute initiated their own Call to Action on Thursday the 13th.

All day Friday, the 14th, there were frantic emails and phone calls among Florida Realtors legislative staff, the Governor's office and contract lobbyists for the Florida Realtors. The focus was on convincing the Governor to sign the bill. Shortly after 5:30 on Friday, we heard the Governor signed the bill!

There's still quite a bit of work to do. The bill is effective July 1, 2011. Now the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board has a little over one year to adopt the rules needed to implement the law.

Updates on the Appraisal related events from the NAR Meetings and Washington, D.C. a little bit later.

CRIST APPOINTS ORETO TO THE FLORIDA REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL BOARD

March 20, 2009

GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE

(850) 488-5394

TALLAHASSEE

Governor Charlie Crist today announced the following appointment:

Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board (Senate confirmation required)Evalyn “Fran” Oreto, 57, of Hudson, staff appraiser, Bank of America, succeeding Francois K. Gregoire, appointed for a term beginning March 20, 2009, and ending October 31, 2011

LINK

CONGRATULATIONS FRAN!!

December Meeting - Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board

During the second day of the December, 2008 meeting of the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board, administrative matters were discussed. This included discussion about a number of new rules. Some were advanced and will be published in the Florida Administrative Weekly.

Among those still in discussion are rules pertaining to expanding the Citation Authority of the DBPR and establishing Qualifications for Supervisory Appraisers. Suggested text will be published in the Florida Administrative Weekly to establish what amounts to a "time in grade" requirement for Licensed and Certified Appraisers that supervise trainee appraisers. The minimum time required as a licensed or certified appraiser will be decided at the February, 2009 meeting.

The FREAB also discussed the Proposed Interagency Appraisal and Valuation Guidelines. Comments from the audience were taken. Members of the FREAB will submit comments individually. They also encouraged licensees to submit their own.

At the request of Chair Joni Herndon, the FREAB discussed the need for Florida regulation of Appraisal Management Companies and the Appraisal Management Company Registration and Regulation Model Act. The FREAB adopted a motion to support legislation to amend Chapter 475 Part II to regulate Appraisal Management Companies. The amendments will be based upon the Appraisal Management Company Registration and Regulation Model Act, however neither the FREAB nor the DRE support the sections of the Model Act that regulate fees or provide for mediation between panel appraisers and the AMC.

A task force has prepared preliminary text for the amendments and will work with the Appraisal Associations (primarily the Appraisal Institute) and the Director of the DRE to refine the document to specific amendments to Chapter 475, Part II.

There are Three Vacancies on the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board.

• One Certified Residential Appraiser
• Two Consumer Members

If you know of an interested qualified individual, NOW is the time to get the application in to the Governor's Appointments Office.

As information becomes available about any of the above, more details will be posted.

Stay Well!!

Vote for Frank Gregoire August 26, 2008

Here are a few links to prior posts to save you the time of searching for pertinent information about the Primary Election.

List of Endorsements and Supporters - This includes appraisers, members of real estate appraisal boards and regulatory agencies and Past Presidents and current leadership of the Florida Association of Realtors. This is only a partial list of supporters as their are over 300 contributors to the Frank Gregoire Campaign

Frank's Qualifications and synopsis of Professional Experience - There is also a link to my resume

Letter from Governor Charlie Crist - Governor Crist recognizes Frank's service on the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board

St. Petersburg Times

My response to the St. Petersburg Times: (The Times limits a Candidate's response to 200 words)

August 6, 2008

Philip Gailey, Editor of Editorials
St. Petersburg Times
P.O. Box 1121
St. Petersburg, FL 33731

RE: Reply to: Times recommends

St. Petersburg Times

Dear Mr. Gailey:

Facts omitted from your endorsement:

I have been a licensed real estate broker for over 30 years and a state certified appraiser since 1989, the first year such a license was available in Florida. In addition to holding designations from two professional appraisal associations, I hold associate membership in a third. My appraisal experience in Pinellas County exceeds 30 years.

As owner and President of Gregoire & Gregoire, Inc., I have supervised staff and completed tens of thousands of appraisals of all types and classes of real property from Tierra Verde to Tarpon Springs. For the past ten years my concentration has been as a valuation and appraisal standards expert witness.

The Governor was satisfied enough with my education and appraisal credentials to appoint me to the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board. The Florida Senate agreed by confirming my appointment unanimously. My peers on the appraisal board elected me Chairman four times during my eight years of service.

Under my leadership, enforcement of valuation ethics, standards and integrity requirements were the focus of the appraisal board; something sorely needed in Pinellas County. Pinellas County deserves a Property Appraiser with an established commitment to restoring public trust in the office.

Frank Gregoire
Candidate, Pinellas County Property Appraiser

Update August 9, 2008

My response to the Times has been published and is available online HERE.

Thank You Governor Crist!

Excerpted from a June 17, 2008 letter from Governor Charlie Crist to Frank Gregoire........



"Serving as a member of the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board and as Chairman, you have showcased dynamic leadership qualities and have enhanced the real estate industry here in the Sunshine State.


Your faithful service has helped to develop exceptional appraisal regulation in the Sunshine State. Thank you for selflessly giving of your time, knowledge, ans skills to ensure quality business practices in real estate."


Copy of the letter is HERE.

Campaign Website Update

The Frank Gregoire for Pinellas County Property Appraiser Campaign website is in the process of being updated. There have been some important additions over the past few days.



Take a look at http://www.vote4frank.org/ to see some of the additions. One of the first you will notice is "the Gregoire Guarantee".


Another addition is titled "What They're Saying about Frank". This includes links to letters from Governor Charlie Crist, Governor Jeb Bush and a Resolution adopted by the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board.

Soon to be added to this section is the list of Endorsements and Supporters. Although there have been additions to the "Endorsements" page, the list has yet to be been added. Here is a preview of those names:

Endorsements and Supporters

James Amorin, MAI, SRA, President-Elect, Appraisal Institute

Paul Amirto, Appraiser
Ben Anderson, Appraiser
Timothy Andersen, MAI

Dennis Badger, Appraiser, Investigator-Kentucky Real Estate Appraisers Board
Patricia Birch, Past Chair, Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board
Harry Bright, Appraiser

Bruce Buzzell, Appraiser
Bill Coffman, Appraiser
Earle "Jack" Crahan, MAI
Thomas Crockett, MAI, SRA
Bruce Cumming, Chair, Membership Admissions, Development and Retention
Paul DelleDonne, Appraiser
Brent Diehl, Appraiser
Robert Dunham, MAI, SRA
James Earle, Appraiser
Henry Entreken, MAI, SRA
Ted Faravelli, Appraiser
Robert E. Galliher, MAI, SRA, GAA
Phil Gehres, MAI, SRA
H. Linwood Gilbert, MAI
John Gillott, MAI, SRA
Karen Goforth, MAI
Bob Gorman, MAI
Joni Herndon, SRA, Chair, Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board

Tom Hockensmith, SRA
Andrew Hupp, MAI
Patricia Kathman, Appraiser
William Barry Kelley, SRA

Debbie LaJeunesse, Appraiser, Past Chair Wyoming Certified Real Estate Appraiser Board

Charles Ledet, Appraiser
Leslie McKeon, MAI, SRA
Steve Marshall, MAI, SRA, Past Chair, Region X, Appraisal Institute
James Millspaugh, MAI
Stephanie Monaghan, Appraiser
Evalyn "Fran" Oreto, Past President National Association of Master Appraisers

Mack Provart, Appraiser, Past Chair Wyoming Certified Real Estate Appraiser Board
R. Wayne Pugh, MAI, President, Appraisal Institute

Janet Rabin, Appraiser
Gina Rascati, SRA
Jack Rawlings, GAA

Dan Richardson, PhD, MAI, AICP
Mike Rogers, MAI
Donald Rousseau, Appraiser
Donald Sarley, SRA, Chair, Florida Appraisal Council

David Sawyer, Appraiser
Sam Slater, RAA
Eric Schwartz, MAI, SRA
Jay Small, Esq., Past Chair, Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board
Joe Thouvenell, MAI, CRE
C. Richard Tobias, MAI
Joe Traynor, Past President, Indiana Association of Realtors, Member, Appraisal Foundation Board of Trustees, Chairman, Indiana Real Estate Appraisers Licensure and Certification Board
Joyce Tubb, GAA
Joan Trice, SRA
Chris Van Slooten, SRA
Steve Van Slyke, Appraiser
Jesse Vance, MAI, SRA, Chair, Region X, Appraisal Institute
Carl Velie, SRA, Vice Chair, Region X, Appraisal Institute

Robert Vespa, IFA, ASA
Andrew Wheaton, Appraiser
Judith Whitehead, Appraiser
Danny Wiley, SRA, Past Chairman Appraisal Standards Board
Cynthia Wright, MAI

Don Asher, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Chuck Bonfiglio, President, Florida Association of Realtors
Claude "Chip" Boring, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Todd Dantzler, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Michael Dooley, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Roger Enzor, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors, Member, Florida Real Estate Commission
Summer Greene, Secretary, Florida Association of Realtors

Russell Grooms, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Bob Hudgens, Treasurer, Florida Association of Realtors
Dale Jundt, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Jim Kasper, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Mike Owen, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Nancy Riley, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors, State Committeewomen, Pinellas County
Cynthia Shelton, CRE, President Elect, Florida Association of Realtors
Maurice (Moe) Veissi, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors

Harry Vordermeier, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors, Past Chairman, Florida Real Estate Commission
William Watson, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors
Cathy Whatley, Past President, Florida Association of Realtors, Past President, National Association of Realtors

Richard Butler, Vice-Mayor, City of Pinellas Park
Leslie Curran, St. Petersburg City Council

Neva Conway, Esq., Counsel, Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board
Henry Faircloth, Chair, North Carolina Real Estate Appraisal Board
Dr. Robert Melby
Dr. Jack Ross

Crist is engaged

CRIST IS ENGAGED

ST. PETERSBURG - Florida’s most powerful bachelor is getting hitched.
Gov. Charlie Crist, single for nearly three decades, on Thursday became engaged to his girlfriend of nine months, Carole Rome.

(Full Story)

Congratulations, Governor Crist!!

I have some news for you all too, but will just give you a picture for the time being

Governor Crist Signs - CS/HB 909 - Ad Valorem Taxation

Today, Governor Crist signed into law CS/HB 909 - Ad Valorem Taxation. This bill, sponsored by the Government Efficiency & Accountability Council and Representative Peter Nehr, adds clarification to the definition of Highest and Best Use, one of the eight criteria to be considered by County Property Appraisers in arriving at "Just Valuation". Representatives Jim Frishe and Ed Hooper, both of Pinellas County, co-sponsored this bill.

The legislation also requires important and much needed changes to the composition and conduct of Value Adjustment Boards.

The clarification to Highest and Best Use include requirements that the County Property Appraiser take into consideration the legally permissible use of the property, including any applicable judicial limitation, local or state land use regulation, or historic preservation ordinance, and any zoning changes, concurrency requirements, and permits necessary to achieve the highest and best use.

Both the clarification to Highest and Best Use and the change in the composition and conduct of the Value Adjustment Boards are important victories for Florida Taxpayers.

Congratulations!