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Appraisers in Santa Barbara, CA
26 licensed appraisers based in Santa Barbara, California.
9 Certified General · 17 Certified Residential
Several licensed appraisers in Santa Barbara work for firms with multiple practitioners, including HAMMOCK, ARNOLD, SMITH & CO. and Santa Barbara Appraisal. The majority hold a Certified Residential credential, which qualifies them to appraise one- to four-unit homes, while a smaller number are Certified General appraisers, able to assess all property types including commercial and complex assets. Santa Barbara has one of the larger appraiser bases in California, ranking among the top half of the state's cities. Nearly all listed appraisers provide a phone number for contact. A few are licensed in other states, and the surrounding county includes other cities with appraiser presence, such as Santa Maria and Goleta.
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 Santa Barbara, CA?
26 state-licensed property appraisers are based in Santa Barbara according to the federal ASC National Registry: 9 Certified General and 17 Certified Residential.
How much does a home appraisal cost in Santa Barbara?
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.