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About OREA
Mission Statement
Our Mission
To protect public safety by ensuring the competency and integrity of licensed real estate appraisers.
Our Values
We believe in:- Excellence
- Leadership
- Loyalty
- Integrity
- Accountability
Background
In 1989, Title XI of the federal Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act was adopted by congress mandating states to license and certify real estate appraisers who appraise property for federally related transactions. The federal law was enacted as a result of the savings and loan disaster.
In response to the federal mandate, the Real Estate Appraisers Licensing and Certification Law was enacted by the California Legislature in 1990 (AB 527, Chapter 491 of 1990). OREA was established within the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, and charged with developing and implementing a real estate appraiser licensing and certification program compliant with the federal mandate. To date, OREA has received over 25,000 applications and has licensed over 18,000 real estate appraisers.
OREA, which is entirely funded by licensing fees, is a single program comprised of two core components, licensing and enforcement.
The Licensing Unit sets the minimum requirements for education and experience, according to criteria set by the federal government and California law, to ensure that only qualified persons are licensed to conduct appraisals in federally related real estate transactions. Applicants must meet minimum education and experience requirements and successfully complete a nationally approved examination.
The Enforcement Unit investigates the background of applicants and licensees to ensure they are fit for licensure. The Enforcement Unit also investigates complaints of violations of national appraisal standards filed against licensed appraisers.
OREA is responsible for the accreditation of educational courses and providers for real estate appraisers. OREA has reviewed and approved over 1,800 pre-licensing and continuing education courses. In addition to the real estate appraisal related courses offered by California's community colleges and universities, over 90 proprietary schools provide appraiser education.
Meet OREA's Senior Staff
Bob Clark was appointed Director of the Office of Real Estate Appraisers by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on April 14, 2008. Mr. Clark has a wide range of public and private sector real estate experience. Prior to his appointment, he worked for the State of California for over 7-1/2 years in real property acquisitions, serving as a Senior Land Agent for the Wildlife Conservation Board, and as a Real Estate Officer for the Department of General Services, where he managed the acquisition program and served as Assistant Administrative Secretary to the State Public Works Board. He was previously employed by the Sacramento Regional Transit District as a Real Estate Analyst/Administrator, and he operated a sole-proprietor real estate brokerage and property management business for over 15 years. He is also an experienced real estate appraiser, operating an independent fee appraisal business for several years, and working as a staff appraiser for a bank and an independent fee appraisal company. He qualified as an expert witness before the Los Angeles County Tax Appeals Board in 1976, preparing numerous narrative appraisal reports on apartment properties. He began his real estate career in 1974 in multi-family development, management, and brokerage in West Los Angeles. Mr. Clark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Greg Harding, Chief, Licensing and Enforcement Division, is responsible for ensuring that California's real estate appraisers meet current criteria for licensure and that they comply with appraisal standards. The Licensing Unit issues new, renewal, upgrade and reciprocal licenses. It also approves real estate appraisal education courses and course providers. The Enforcement Unit protects the public against unlawful and unethical real estate appraisal practice. The unit investigates the background of applicants and licensees and complaints of violations of appraisal standards filed against licensees by lenders, review appraisers and the public.