The appraiser is the only impartial party in a real estate transaction. Hybrid appraisal products that utilize an unlicensed "inspector" to take photographs of a property and consider this substantial evidence of the condition of the property are putting the real estate market at risk. It is imperative that well educated professional appraisers complete the property inspection as well as the entire development of the appraisal when so much is at stake.  The real estate market is a critical component of the entire health of the U.S. economy as evidenced by the recent Great Recession. Taking short cuts in the appraisal process is not the answer to "modernize" the mortgage loan process.