Don't shoot: I'm only an appraiser!

Things must really be bad for appraisers.

A recent statement from the Appraisal Institute screams: “Don't shoot the messenger: Appraisers not at fault for low home values.”

We haven't heard of any appraisers getting shot yet for doing their job, so we'll take that headline figuratively.

The nation's largest association of real estate appraisers says its members' work simply reflects currently depressed market conditions. The association says the accusation that appraisers are delaying the housing recovery by low-balling appraisals is “nonsense.”

So the next time you want to whack the appraiser, just pause to remember the good old days when their appraisals reflected ever-rising prices. They're just doing their job.