Because a large percentage of equity (both private and corporate)  lies in real estate, properly determining the value of real estate investments are essential to economic health. It is our job as professional appraisers to determine property value by gathering, analyzing, and applying information on each property that we appraise. As appraisers we are trained to be an impartial third party in the lending process protecting real estate buyers from overpaying for property as well as lenders from over lending to buyers.