Michael began his career in 1996 and earned his certification in 1999. After 13 years as a field appraiser, he took on a Senior Appraisal role at an appraisal management company, where he trained staff and developed proper procedures to ensure a level of quality that would meet and exceed client expectations. Eight years ago, he launched his own appraisal business, serving Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery Counties in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Michael enjoys the analytical challenges of appraising, as well as the flexibility of the work. “With our individual geographical competence, we provide the client with a true objective analysis addressing the appraisal question we are presented with,” he explains. He also values the opportunity to deliver a superior experience to borrowers and clients.
Michael has a history of stepping in to meet tight deadlines. “It’s a rewarding feeling when the homeowner is thankful for me being able to quickly turn a report over so that all date requirements are fulfilled,” he shares.
The Philadelphia suburban housing market has remained stable despite low inventory. “Modest increases of around 5% year over year are typical, with some specific sub-markets showing increases upward of 12% annually,” Michael notes. However, sales activity has slowed. “The neighborhood I appraise with the most sales had 795 sales this year versus 948 sales the prior year—a decline of about 15% year over year.” Current inventory levels remain tight, with 69 units on the market compared to 57 the same time last year. Despite this, homes are selling quickly, with an average days on market of just 23 days compared to 16 days the previous year.