Bio
From 1975 through present, Martin J. Wagar has been actively engaged in appraising Real Property. Mr. Wagar holds State Certified Residential appraisal licenses in the states of Michigan and Florida along with a Michigan real estate broker’s license.
His professional designations include a Senior Designation (IFA-S) through the National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers; MNAA through the National Association of Appraisers; ASA, through the American Society of Appraisers and RAA designation through the National Association of REALTORS and Realtor Emeritus status through NAR. His real estate appraisal experience began in 1975 and has devoted his career exclusively to real estate appraisal, consulting and participation in oversight and regulatory committees on a national level.
In 1999, Mr. Wagar created and operated Midwest Appraisal Management Group (AMC) building a compliant distribution and oversight in eleven States. The Michigan Association of Realtors purchased Midwest Appraisal Management Group appointing Mr. Wagar as Chief Operating Officer from 2010 through 2013. In 2014, he was instrumental in bringing the appraisal division for AmeriFirst Financial “in-house” while remaining compliant with Dodd Frank.
He was past director of appraisal distribution and delivery (Chief Appraiser) for AmeriFirst Financial Corporation and was responsible for the appraisal department’s appraisal operation in 14 States in 2013 and 2015. Duties included: creating and carrying out policies that were compliant with Dodd Frank and GSE regulations as they apply to real estate valuation and collateral assessments for all mortgaged properties as well as overseeing compliant and credible values and operations.
Mr. Wagar remains active in national committees and sub-committees through the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Appraisers. Committees have included: Professional Conduct, Federal Housing Finance, Conventional Housing Finance and Real Property Valuation (Appraisal) committees. Through these committees, Mr. Wagar has met directly with the governing bodies of Dodd Frank and all GSE’s aiding in forming their policies. Mr. Wagar also maintains positions with the MNAA within committee governance structure and was named appraiser of the year for 2022.
Affiliations include the Greater Kalamazoo Association of Realtors; the Michigan Association of Realtors; National Association of Realtors; American Society of Appraisers and the National Association of Appraisers. He was voted Greater Kalamazoo Association’s Realtors of the Year in 1999/2000; was elected to the Greater Kalamazoo Association of Realtors Board of Directors in 1992 and elected president in 2004 and honored with the Appraiser of the Year award through the National Association of Appraisers for 2022.