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Appraisers in Lake Forest, CA
13 licensed appraisers based in Lake Forest, California.
4 Certified General · 8 Certified Residential · 1 Licensed
Lake Forest has a mix of licensed appraisers, with most holding Certified Residential credentials, suitable for single-family and small multi-unit properties. A smaller number hold Certified General licenses, qualified to appraise all property types including commercial and complex assets. Among Orange County cities, Lake Forest has fewer appraisers than Irvine, Huntington Beach, and Costa Mesa. Nearly all listed appraisers provide a phone number, and a few are licensed in states beyond California.
About appraisal licensing in California
Real estate appraisers in California are licensed by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA), a bureau of the Department of Consumer Affairs. BREA issues four credential levels, from Trainee up to Certified General, which covers all property types including commercial. BREA's public search is updated daily and also shows disciplinary history and licenses expired within the last eight years, so it is worth checking any appraiser you plan to hire.
- Trainee License
- Residential License
- Certified Residential
- Certified General
Consumer-direct single-family appraisals typically run about $300 to $600 in most California markets, with complex or high-value properties costing more. As a regulated benchmark, the VA fee schedule effective May 2026 sets single-family appraisal fees in California at $750 to $1,000 depending on county.
Frequently asked questions
How many licensed property appraisers are in Lake Forest, CA?
13 state-licensed property appraisers are based in Lake Forest according to the federal ASC National Registry: 4 Certified General, 8 Certified Residential, and 1 Licensed.
How much does a home appraisal cost in Lake Forest?
Consumer-direct single-family appraisals typically run about $300 to $600 in most California markets, with complex or high-value properties costing more. As a regulated benchmark, the VA fee schedule effective May 2026 sets single-family appraisal fees in California at $750 to $1,000 depending on county. Rush assignments and unusual properties price above the range.
How do I verify a California appraiser's license?
Look up the appraiser on the California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA) license search at https://www2.brea.ca.gov/breasearch/faces/party/search.xhtml, or check the federal ASC National Registry at asc.gov.