Which professional is most likely to perform an appraisal of a property?

• A. Appraiser
• B. Mortgage lender
• C. Mortgage loan originator
• D. Real estate agent

Answer: (A)

The main concept is that a formal property appraisal is done by a licensed appraiser. An appraiser is trained to provide an objective, well-supported estimate of a property's value using standardized methods, data on comparable sales, property condition, and market trends, all documented in an appraisal report that follows professional standards (USPAP). This independence is essential because lenders rely on the appraisal to assess risk and determine how much they’re willing to lend.

Mortgage lenders aren’t the ones who determine value themselves; they may order an appraisal and use the report to guide underwriting, but the actual value estimate comes from the appraiser. A mortgage loan originator helps arrange the loan but doesn’t perform valuations, and a real estate agent can offer a comparative market analysis to gauge likely selling price, but that analysis isn’t an official appraisal and doesn’t carry the same professional standards or documentation.