About Appraisal Answers

I'm Richard Madsen, a Utah real estate professional completing appraisal education and qualifying experience through the PAREA program. I'm not currently a licensed or certified real estate appraiser.

Appraisal Answers is where I research the appraisal questions homeowners, buyers, sellers, and real estate agents actually ask and explain what I find in plain English.

The PAREA program — Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal — is an alternative pathway to appraisal licensure that combines structured education with supervised practical experience. It's designed for people who are serious about learning the craft of appraisal, not just passing a test.

I started this site because the appraisal questions people ask online rarely get straight answers. Most of what's out there is vague, secondhand, or written for appraisers rather than the people who actually need to understand what's happening with their home or transaction.

Every article on this site starts with a real question — the kind people type into search engines at 11pm when a deal is in trouble or an appraisal came back wrong. I research each one carefully and write up what I find in language that doesn't require an appraisal license to understand.