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Appraisers in San Francisco, CA
143 licensed appraisers based in San Francisco, California.
72 Certified General · 62 Certified Residential · 9 Licensed
Nearly all licensed appraisers in San Francisco have a phone number on file, making contact straightforward for homeowners seeking an appraisal. The city hosts one of the larger appraiser bases in California, with a mix of credentials reflecting broad service capacity. Certified General appraisers form the largest group, qualified to evaluate all property types including commercial and complex residential assets. Certified Residential appraisers, who handle 1-4 unit homes, are nearly as numerous. A smaller number hold a Licensed credential, which carries value limits on residential appraisals. Several firms employ multiple appraisers here, including CBRE and two others with at least three professionals each.
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 San Francisco, CA?
143 state-licensed property appraisers are based in San Francisco according to the federal ASC National Registry: 72 Certified General, 62 Certified Residential, and 9 Licensed.
How much does a home appraisal cost in San Francisco?
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.