¦ 
Job Description
Appraiser/Property Inspector
HELP ME TAKE FAIRWAY AMERICA TO THE NEXT LEVEL!
"As the President and Chief Credit Officer of Fairway America, I am looking for a talented and successful individual to be the primary source upon whom we rely to provide accurate, meaningful and timely property valuations. This is perhaps the most critical role in the company in terms of our making quality loan decisions and one in which the right person will make a big impact."
Matt Burk, President and CCO
The Position
The cornerstone of our underwriting philosophy is accurately valuing the underlying collateral - the real estate. Fairway America is seeking an in house appraiser/review appraiser/property inspection person for our Portland, OR office. This person will play a critical role in securing our investments through effective and accurate real estate due diligence and valuation.
For the A-player looking for something special and who can answer "yes" to all of the following questions, this is the opportunity for you.
- Do you love to be out of the office and in the field most of the time?
- Do you truly enjoy Real Estate –looking at it, analyzing it, figuring out what is worth, how one can use it, etc, etc.?
- Are you analytical and detailed in your approach to work and life?
- Are you seeking meaning and purpose in your career?
- Do you hate office politics as much as we do?
- Are you tired of being pressured to come up with a specified value?
- Would you enjoy working for a lender who just wants to know what a property is really worth?
- Do you enjoy valuing real estate but not continually having to market yourself to possible clients?
- Are you seeking an atmosphere of open and direct communication, clear and mutually established priorities and expectations, and a culture of accountability?
- Are you professional and results driven, yet lighthearted and fun?
- Do you exceed people's expectations of you on a regular basis?
- Is it in your bones to seek continual learning and improvement?
- Do you want to make a tangible contribution to the success of your company?
- Is it in your fiber to do a job well and right just for the sake of doing so?
If you answered "yes" to these questions, we want to meet you!
Responsibilities
Inspect condition of and estimate value on improved or unimproved real estate to determine value for purchase, sale, investment, mortgage or loan purposes by performing some or all of the following duties:
- Review appraisals (desk and field) from various 3rd parties (some ordered by Fairway America, many not).
- Reviews include appraisal reports, Broker Price Opinions (BPOs), comparable sales derived from on-line or other sources, Tax Assessed Valuations (TAVs), and other sources.
- Site Inspections for most properties (both for new loans and loans in our servicing portfolio) to determine condition, valuation, marketability, etc.
- Perform construction draw inspections.
- Consider trends, market indicators or other factors to determine likely future value, anticipated exit strategy in the event of acquisition through foreclosure, ability to lease and/or marketability of the property.
- Cultivate relationships with and regularly interview real estate brokers, appraisers, buyers, sellers, and other market participants to acquire or verify information concerning specific properties and/or sub markets in which we lend.
- Utilize some or all of the above information to write internal valuation reports and make recommendations to Underwriter and Chief Credit Officer as to loan amounts, loan to value ratios, repairs to require, holdbacks to maintain, etc.
- Contribute to the continued build up, update and maintenance of the the real estate broker and appraiser database for compliance with company standards.
Qualifications
To succeed at Fairway America, the ideal candidate would have the following:
- Minimum 3-5 years experience as a residential and/or commercial appraiser, field inspector, review appraiser, appraisal assistant, real estate broker or other position in which property inspection and valuation was a main component of the job (with specific experience in small commercial properties i.e. value less than $1-3 Million dollars extremely helpful).
- Certified General Appraiser licensed in the State of Oregon and preferably Washington not necessarily required but considered a strong plus.
- BA in Economics, Finance, Real Estate, or other related field, or equivalent professional education and experience.
- Ability to communicate effectively in person, in writing, and over the phone.
- Ability to work and to think independently to address issues relating to real property and make sound recommendations to Underwriter and Chief Credit Officer as they relate to collateral risk.
- Strong computer skills. Will need to utilize company software to be able to write reports, gather on line data, and to document your analysis, work product, and conclusions.
- Travel required (approximately 50-75% of time including frequent overnight stays, typically 1 night at the time).
- Good paperwork skills and attention to detail.
- Must enjoy being outside of the office and in the field much of the time.
- Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities.
- Demonstrable track record of success in prior positions.
- Exceptional work ethic and desire to succeed.
Benefits
Fairway America is committed to maintaining a diverse, motivated, positive work environment full of great people who share, demonstrate, and live our core values. Take pride in working for a company that lives its core values, vision and mission/purpose and continually provides tangible value and benefit to its employees, brokers, borrowers and investors. Our benefits include:
- Competitive Salary
- Bonuses
- Medical & Dental Coverage
- Matching 401K Plan
- Company paid ongoing training and personal development
- Paid time off/comp time
- Outstanding working environment
- Flex schedules (some positions)
- Family friendly, atmosphere and culture.
At Fairway America, we are committed to our core values:
- Driven and Committed
- Responsible and Accountable
- Open Communication
- Perpetual Growth and Improvement
- Courage with Consideration and
- Trust and Respect
We believe in:
- Quality of Life
- Win/Win
- Fun
These values are alive at our company and we live them every day while pursuing our purpose of "Honorably doing worthwhile deals that create value, wealth, dignity and superior returns for all parties involved". If a deal is not worthwhile for everyone (our borrowers, investors, referral sources, and Fairway America), we’d rather not do it at all.
Apply
If you feel you are an "A player", are up for our challenging, demanding, and rigorous hiring process, and would like to join a dynamic, growing company, please submit your cover letter and resume to start the application process. All candidates must complete the application process to be considered. Phone calls are not accepted.
