Real Estate Appraiser Business Cards for MAI Certified and State Licensed Appraisers

Real estate appraisers provide the independent, objective opinions of value that markets depend on for fair transactions, lending decisions, estate planning, litigation, condemnation proceedings, and investment analysis. Licensed and certified appraisers complete state-mandated education, supervised experience hours, and examination to earn their credentials — and the Appraisal Institute's MAI designation represents the highest professional achievement in commercial real estate appraisal.

What Real Estate Appraiser Cards Include

Your Credentials

State appraiser licenses:

• Certified General Appraiser (CG) — the highest state appraiser license; authorizes appraisal of all property types without restriction; requires bachelor's degree or equivalent, 300 hours of qualifying education, 3,000 hours of supervisory experience (including 1,500 hours of non-residential), and passing the state certified general examination
• Certified Residential Appraiser (CR) — authorizes appraisal of 1–4 unit residential properties without restriction and non-residential properties below $250,000; requires college-level education, 200 hours of qualifying education, 1,500 hours of experience, and passing state examination
• Licensed Residential Appraiser — older classification still used in some states; may have restrictions
• State Appraiser License # — required on all appraisal reports; often included on professional cards
• Registered Trainee / Supervisory Appraiser — for those in the supervised experience pathway

Appraisal Institute designations (the most prestigious appraisal credentials):

• MAI (Member, Appraisal Institute) — the most recognized designation in commercial and complex property appraisal; awarded by the Appraisal Institute (AI) after meeting comprehensive education requirements (AI courses + college degree), extensive demonstrated experience (2,000+ hours minimum in income-producing properties), and passing a comprehensive Demonstration Appraisal Report and oral examination; widely required or preferred by financial institutions for commercial appraisal work
• SRPA (Senior Real Property Appraiser) — Appraisal Institute; primarily residential but with some income-producing properties; being phased out
• SRA (Senior Residential Appraiser) — Appraisal Institute; residential designation; requires education, experience, and demonstration of competency in residential appraisal
• AI-GRS (Appraisal Institute Designated Review Specialist) — for appraisal review specialists
• AI-RRS (Appraisal Institute Designated Review Specialist — Residential)
• FRICS (Fellow, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) — UK-origin; international real estate valuation; used by some US appraisers with international practice
• RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) member — international professional body

AMC and government credentials:

• ASA (Accredited Senior Appraiser) — American Society of Appraisers; a less common but legitimate alternative designation to MAI
• IFAS (International Federation of Appraisers) — international
• VA SAR (VA Supervised Appraisal Request) — appraisers on the VA Lender Appraisal Processing Program (LAPP) panel can note this
• FHA-approved appraiser — HUD-FHA approved roster; required for FHA mortgage appraisals

Your Appraisal Specialties and Property Types

Residential appraisal:

• Single-family residential (1–4 units)
• Condominium and co-op appraisal
• Multi-family residential (5+ units — CG required)
• Manufactured housing appraisal
• Luxury residential appraisal
• Historic home appraisal
• Rural residential and acreage appraisal
• REO (Real Estate Owned) / foreclosure appraisal
• PMI removal appraisal
• Relocation appraisal (ERC Certified)
• Estate and divorce appraisal
• FHA/VA appraisal (HUD/FHA approved panel; VA panel)
• Desktop appraisal (Hybrid appraisal / desktop with data collector)

Commercial appraisal (MAI / CG):

• Office building appraisal
• Retail and shopping center appraisal
• Industrial and warehouse appraisal
• Multifamily apartment complex appraisal
• Hotel and hospitality appraisal
• Healthcare facility appraisal (medical office, senior living, hospitals)
• Mixed-use property appraisal
• Special purpose properties (churches, schools, theaters)
• Agricultural land appraisal
• Timberland and mineral rights valuation
• Self-storage facility appraisal
• Subdivision and land development valuation

Specialized services:

• Eminent domain / condemnation appraisal (expert testimony)
• Litigation support appraisal
• Estate planning and estate tax appraisal
• Charitable contribution appraisal (IRS-qualified appraisal)
• Conservation easement valuation
• Retrospective appraisal (historical valuation date)
• Feasibility studies
• Highest and best use analysis
• Market study and absorption analysis
• Tax appeal appraisal (ad valorem)
• Disaster and insurance appraisal
• Appraisal review (desk and field review)

Design for Real Estate Appraisers

Color palette:

• Navy + white: professional authority
• Charcoal + gold: upscale, professional
• Dark green + white: traditional real estate profession
• Gray + white: objective, neutral (appraisal is by definition neutral)

Back of Card

1. "MAI | SRA | Certified General Appraiser | [State] CG License #[number]"
2. "Commercial | Multifamily | Industrial | Office | Retail | Hotel | Special purpose | Land"
3. "Eminent domain | Estate appraisal | Tax appeal | Litigation support | ERC relocation"
4. "FHA/VA approved | FIRREA compliant | USPAP compliant | Expert testimony"
5. "[Firm name] | [City, State] | [phone] | [email] | [website]"

Checklist

• [ ] MAI designation (if earned)
• [ ] SRA designation (if residential focus)
• [ ] State license (Certified General or Certified Residential)
• [ ] State license number
• [ ] FHA-approved (if applicable)
• [ ] VA panel (if applicable)
• [ ] Primary property types (commercial, residential, mixed)
• [ ] Eminent domain / litigation (if applicable)
• [ ] Estate and tax appeal (if applicable)
• [ ] Expert testimony capability
• [ ] USPAP and FIRREA compliance notation