Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 18.140.020 (2026)

Use of title by unauthorized person

✓ current as of May 2026

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(1) No person other than a state-certified or state-licensed real estate appraiser may receive compensation of any form for a real estate appraisal or an appraisal review, except that a state-registered appraiser trainee may receive compensation from one or more supervisory appraisers or the supervisory appraiser's employer for appraisal assignments.

(2) Compensation may be provided for brokers price opinions prepared by a real estate licensee, licensed under chapter 18.85 RCW.

(3) No person, other than a state-certified, state-licensed real estate appraiser, or a state-registered appraiser trainee may assume or use that title or any title, designation, or abbreviation likely to create the impression of certification, licensure, or registration as a real estate appraiser by this state.

(4) A person who is not certified, licensed, or registered under this chapter shall not prepare any appraisal of real estate located in this state, except as provided under subsection (2) of this section.

(5) This section does not preclude a staff employee of a governmental entity from performing an appraisal or an appraisal assignment within the scope of his or her employment insofar as the performance of official duties for the governmental entity are concerned. Such an activity for the benefit of the governmental entity is exempt from the requirements of this chapter.

(6) This chapter does not preclude an individual person licensed by the state of Washington as a real estate broker or as a real estate salesperson from issuing a brokers price opinion. However, if the brokers price opinion is written, or given as evidence in any legal proceeding, and is issued to a person who is not a prospective seller, buyer, lessor, or lessee as the only intended user, then the brokers price opinion shall contain a statement, in an obvious location within the written document or specifically and affirmatively in spoken testimony, that substantially states: "This brokers price opinion is not an appraisal as defined in chapter 18.140 RCW and has been prepared by a real estate licensee, licensed under chapter 18.85 RCW, who . . . . . (is/is not) also state-certified or state-licensed as a real estate appraiser under chapter 18.140 RCW." However, the brokers price opinion issued under this subsection may not be used as an appraisal in conjunction with a federally related transaction.

(7) This section does not apply to an appraisal or an appraisal review performed for a financial institution or mortgage broker by an employee or third party, when such appraisal or appraisal review is not required to be performed by a state-certified or state-licensed real estate appraiser by the appropriate federal financial institutions regulatory agency.

(8) This section does not apply to an attorney licensed to practice law in this state or to a certified public accountant, as defined in RCW 18.04.025, who evaluates real property in the normal scope of his or her professional services.

[ 2005 c 339 s 3; 1998 c 120 s 1; 1997 c 399 s 2; 1996 c 182 s 3; 1993 c 30 s 3; 1989 c 414 s 4.]

Notes:

Effective dates—2005 c 339: See note following RCW 18.140.005.

Effective date—1997 c 399: See note following RCW 18.140.010.

Effective dates—1996 c 182: See note following RCW 18.140.005.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2005–2023 · leading case: In Re Marriage of Kaseburg, 108 P.3d 1278 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005).

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In Re Marriage of Kaseburg, 108 P.3d 1278 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 3× “The court relied on the testimony of a real estate/insurance agent hired by Rochelle, but the written appraisal did not comply with RCW 18.140.020. The court rejected the testimony of a certified real estate appraiser as well as the county's assessed value at approximately…”

In re the Marriage of Kaseburg, 126 Wash. App. 546 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “RCW 18.140.020. Parties are entitled to give their opinion of value of their assets and the court has considerable discretion in valuing property.”

City of Seattle v. Monsanto Co. (W.D. Wash. 2023). “See RCW 18.140.020(4) (“A person who is not certified, licensed or registered 10 under this chapter shall not prepare any appraisal of real estate located in this state .”

Levack Fam. Trust Ellen Levack v. John & Marilyin Leach, Et Ux (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “Its unchallenged finding states: 7 Under RCW 18.140.020(6), a real estate broker may give a "brokers price opinion" in a legal proceeding, provided he or she testifies, in substance, that the price opinion is not an appraisal.”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.140.020(4) — 1 case

— Wash. Rev. Code § 18.140.020(6) — 1 case

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