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Mr. Hill started training as a Real Estate Appraiser at 24 and became one of the youngest African Americans in the US to own, manage, and operate a Real Estate Appraisal company at 26 years old during the 2008 housing recession. He is also one of the youngest to have valued residential property in every state in America with Fannie Mae.
The average age of a Real Estate Appraiser is currently 50 to 65 years old in America. The majority of Americans are not introduced into the appraisal field until they buy their first house. 

Who is Marcus Hill outside your bio?

Marcus: Outside my bio I am a lover of all sports and love to workout. I love to see people compete and win. I’m a proud uncle and very big on family time. My grandfather is literally one of my best friends and has his own section in my new book. I love to volunteer and support the youth. I enjoy grilling and cooking as well.

 

When you decided to go into the Real Estate Appraisal industry, did you know that you would be the youngest to do it?

 Marcus: I started training as a real estate appraiser after graduating college in 2005. I did notice that I would get a lot of questions from homeowners during the onsite inspection. I was 26 as an Appraisal firm owner and looking like I was 19 did not help. I did not see anyone my age as I started my company in Little Rock, Arkansas and did not know the average age for an appraiser in America was 50 to 65 years old until the 2019 Appraisal fact sheet study came out with the Appraisal institute. I did not think about my age as I was just passionate about learning the career.

 

You also were the youngest African American in the US to own, manage, and operate a Real Estate Appraisal company in 2008. Why is having diversity in the appraisal industry so important?

Marcus: Diversity in any industry is always a good thing. Specifically, the appraisal industry is one of the nation’s least diverse industries. The position of a Real Estate Appraiser is very powerful because a lender is making a decision on whether to fund a home loan based on the value from the appraiser. I was also one of the youngest to have valued a residential property in every state with Fannie Mae.    Today, it’s great to see companies and entities support The Appraiser Diversity Initiative, which is designed to attract new entrants to the residential appraisal field, overcome barriers to entry (such as education, training, and experience requirements), and foster diversity in the industry. Unfortunately, there are only a few black appraisers in Little Rock, Arkansas where I launched my company years ago. There is a need for more black representation in appraising on a national scale as well.

 

From individuals, especially people of color, looking to purchase property, do you believe they should learn about the appraisal process?

Marcus: One of the main components of the appraisal process that most people don’t understand is the condition of a property. No matter where you buy a property once it’s improved with repairs and updated condition the appraisal value will increase. Also, another main component is understanding how to read the appraisal report. Every seller of a property wants a certain number when they sell but the appraiser is there to keep the seller honest about what the property is actually worth.

 

You’ve also written a book about your journey in the appraisal industry. Can you tell us more about it?

Marcus: I am the author of “Assessing My Value” Thoughts from a Trailblazer in the Real Estate industry. I wrote this book to give the reader an open window of my black experience of finding my passion for real estate appraisals. The value is the most important part of any real estate transaction. This book is important because it sheds light on an industry that many people don’t know much about until they are in the process of buying or selling a home. I came from humble beginnings, and I want to inspire the young and old to go after your dreams no matter what. This book is “a labor of love that I hope can provide valuable insight and encourage others to take ownership of their own value as well as the value of their homes.” For anyone interested in learning more about the field of real estate appraisal or getting inspired by my story, my book is now available online and at select retailers nationwide.

 

What do you define as success? 

Marcus: Success to me is not always about money. In my opinion, it’s more about figuring out your passion for your career. The dream is to wake up every day and live in your purpose and help others.

 

What would like our viewers to gain from this interview? 

Marcus: I hope my journey of starting an appraisal company young and having valuing properties across America provides a beacon of light to those striving to break into that industry. It is an interesting, lucrative industry in need of more diversity and inclusiveness.

 

How can people remain connected with you? 

Marcus: askmarcushill@gmail.com, Instagram is: askmarcushill, Facebook: marcus hill, website: askmarcushill.com.