Mark has been appraising for 36 years. He started the same year he graduated.
“I graduated from the University at Buffalo in 1989 with a B.A. in Economics and a minor in Management. I started appraising in the same year. It looked like a cool career to get into.”
After being an appraiser for almost four decades, Mark still looks forward to going to work everyday.
“For many borrowers the loan and appraisal process can be stressful. I enjoy easing their minds by answering their questions. I also appreciate that it may be intimidating for the homeowner to have someone walk around their house and take pictures. I try to make the process as simple and stress-free for the homeowner as possible.”
That includes going above and beyond when necessary.
“A while back I had a client that needed an inspection the same day. It was already late in the afternoon and daylight was running out for pictures. I inspected the exterior that day in the remaining daylight and then came back at our scheduled time in the evening to complete the interior inspection. I lost count of how many times the homeowner thanked me.”
From day one of his career, professionalism has been a mainstay of how Mark conducts business.
“The appraiser, in many cases, is the only face a borrower will see during the entire loan process. It is of the utmost importance for an appraiser to display professionalism in all aspects of the appraisal process.”
The Buffalo market area that Mark serves has been tagged by Zillow as one of the best markets for appreciation in 2025 in the entire country. That belief is reflected in the numbers.
“Compared to last year, the current median sales price in the Buffalo area has been steadily appreciating by 3-5%. In some pocket areas, it’s much higher than that.”
Home sales last month vs. the previous month have been steady, despite low inventory levels.
“Inventory has been limited but is improving. Despite the low inventory, days on market are minimal for market priced homes which is a continuation of what we saw last year.”