San Jose, California and San Ramon, California
Valbridge Property Advisors | Northern California is offering a conscientious, motivated candidate an excellent hands-on opportunity to learn the skills and accumulate the hours needed to obtain a Certified General appraisal license and launch your career in the profession.
As the largest national commercial real estate valuation and advisory services firm in North America, Valbridge Property Advisors has over 60 offices across the US, with more than 675 staff members, 200 of whom are MAI designated. Our appraisers provide high-end commercial real estate appraisal services for a variety of real estate sectors including office, retail, industrial, multi-family, vacant land, and special use properties. Clients include Fortune 500 companies, lending institutions, attorneys, developers, accounting firms, and government agencies.
Valbridge Property Advisors | Northern California has a team of appraisers and operational staff located in San Jose, San Ramon, and Roseville. Our firm is one with a positive, stimulating company culture and we offer full health, vision, and dental benefits plus 401(k) with matching.
About the Role
Valbridge Property Advisors | Northern California is hiring Appraisal Analysts (Trainee) for their locations in San Jose and San Ramon, CA. In this entry-level position you will work directly with licensed commercial appraisers on valuation assignments across a variety of property types-including office, industrial, retail, multifamily, land, and special-use assets.
This role is designed to help you build skills, produce high quality work, and progress steadily toward earning your California Certified General Appraiser license
Growth Path
- 90 days
Master property and comp data entry, research tools, and basic section drafting with minimal revisions.
- 6–12 months
Write portions of the appraisal report with minimal supervision, manage parts of client communication, select and analyze comps to be used in the valuation section, and contribute to early-stage financial analysis and valuation.
- 12–24 months
Lead simple property assignments’ research and initial value analyses; draft full approaches under review and continue logging experience hours toward certification.
Growth Path to Certified General Licensure (AG license)
We provide full mentorship and cover the cost of your required education. The licensure process can typically be completed in about two years, depending on your pace, with the following requirements-
- Education: 300 hours of qualifying appraisal coursework (completed outside work hours)
- Experience: A minimum of 3,000 hours over ≥ at least 18 months, including 1,500 hours of non-residential work.
- Exam: Pass the National Uniform Licensing & Certification Exam.
You’ll be paired with two certified real estate appraisers and receive structured guidance and feedback. After a 90-day probationary period, you can be eligible for education reimbursement. The Appraisal Institute, State of California, and BREA’s requirements are part of the process, and you will receive mentoring and help with planning and meeting those deadlines.
Schedule
- First 90 days: Full-time in office
- After 90 days (with manager approval): Hybrid schedule-3 days/week in-office.
- Professional attire and regular attendance required during business hours
Market and subject property research - Gather, verify, and analyze, sales, lease, tax, expense, and permit data. Confirm comparables (comps) through phone/email outreach and public records. Input and manage this data in our proprietary database.
Report drafting - Write or edit sections (e.g., market overviews, property descriptions, approaches to value) and compile reports and exhibits for a supervisor review.
Field support - Assist on property inspections- photograph property, measure spaces, take notes, and interact with clients on-site.
Base Salary: $52,500 annually
Commission: Fee split opportunity on appraisals (typically begins ~1.5years in)
Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision. 401(k) with employer match.
Educational Support: McKissock online licensing courses toward AG licensure + one industry conference per year
Bachelor's degree or higher
Strong analytical writing and above-average math ability
High attention to detail and follow-through; clear and professional communication
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook; willingness to learn proprietary systems/tools
Valid driver’s license, and access to a reliable vehicle
Preferred: Internship or experience in commercial real estate (CRE), finance, planning, or a related field
Preferred: Progress toward California Trainee or AG license
Preferred: Familiarity with valuation tools such as Argus or Rockport is a plus
Send your cover letter and resume to:
careers-norcal@valbridge.com
