The Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (TALCB) continues making improvements, meeting goals, and gaining efficiencies. In 2024, the successes of the Board were recognized far beyond Texas. Much of this is due to the leadership of outgoing TALCB Chair Sara Oates, who is concluding her six-year term in 2025.

"When Chair Oates began her tenure as Board chair, we were in a precarious position after receiving a critical Sunset review and struggling to maintain trust with our appraiser license holders," says TALCB Executive Director Chelsea Buchholtz. "Chair Oates came in as a capable leader who could handle the challenges the Board faced and did so with aplomb. I’m grateful for the initiatives she and the Board implemented and the support she has provided to staff members to achieve excellence."

Here are a few highlights of what the Board and staff accomplished in the past year.

Excellent Appraisal Subcommittee Rating

The Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) conducts a compliance review every two years and periodically monitors each state appraiser regulatory body to maintain oversight. TALCB is one of three states to receive an excellent rating in both Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs) and appraiser programs in 2024.

Efficient Complaint and Experience Audit Processing Times

TALCB exceed processing time goals across the board. When the agency was under Sunset Commission review in 2019, it was given the directive to improve complaint resolution times. The Board’s goal was to resolve complaints in 180 days on average. In fiscal year 2024, TALCB averaged 151 days. Also in 2019, experience audits were being processed in 218 days. Now, processing times are 30 days.

Federal Recognition

TALCB Director Melissa Tran was invited to Washington, DC, in February to speak at an Appraisal Subcommittee Hearing about how the agency works to reduce barriers to entry and handles certain allegations of violations of the Texas Fair Housing Act. Watch her testimony.

National Recognition

TALCB was recognized with an ARELLO Fair Housing Award for its work to further fair housing via its partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission.

First TALCB Webinar

The first TALCB-hosted webinar was held in 2024 for supervisory appraisers called "The Dollars and Sense of Becoming an Appraiser Supervisor."

"I am proud of TALCB staff and what we have accomplished in the past few years. 2024 was an exciting year for us," says TALCB Director Melissa Tran. "We are always looking for ways to reduce barriers to entry, provide high-quality services for appraisers and prospective appraisers, and implement tools and resources that benefit our license holders. For example, the agency is launching a new database later this year that will make it even easier for you to manage your license. We are looking at 2025 with excitement for the changes on the way."