. . . . . . NEWS

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL
AND FINANCIAL REGULATION

35 SHS, Augusta, Maine 04333

Phone:	(207) 624-8500
Fax:	(207) 624-8690
TTY:	Please Call Maine Relay 711

Department of Professional and Financial Regulation Warns Public about Central Maine Real Estate Appraiser with Revoked License

 

July 9, 2012

 

 

The Department of Professional and Financial Regulation is alerting Maine property owners that the Real Estate Certified Residential Appraiser's license of Scott C. Jones was revoked June 11th following an investigation and hearing by the Maine Board of Real Estate Appraisers. Since the revocation, the Board has received indications that Mr. Jones may be continuing to conduct appraisal work, and may also be committing the same violations of Maine law that led to the revocation.

Based in Skowhegan and operating under the assumed name of "Mid-Maine Appraisal Company," Mr. Jones was found to have violated Board statutes ( 32 M.R.S. ? 14014-A) for lacking the trustworthiness to conduct real estate appraisal activity in a manner that safeguards the interests of the public; and (32 M.R.S. ? 14014-A) for committing an act of commission or omission in the practice of real estate appraising that constitutes dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation with the intent to benefit himself.

The Board concluded, by a 6-0 vote, that there were grounds based upon the violations found in the complaints it reviewed to take disciplinary action. According to Board?s Decision and Order, the violations ?demonstrate an egregious lack of awareness by the licensee of his responsibilities to his clients. The sanctions are additionally increased due to Scott Jones's failure to respond to the Board's request for information.?

The Board also took into consideration the June 12, 2007 Consent Agreement signed by Mr. Jones which detailed his past failure to identify in his appraisal the problem to be addressed which, at the time, involved a valuation of a property subject to eminent domain. Furthermore, he admitted in that document that he neglected to disclose his lack of knowledge and experience as a real estate appraiser and did not perform the appraisal in a competent manner.

In the complaints leading to the June 11th license revocation, Mr. Jones took money from property owners but either failed to provide a promised appraisal, or submitted an incomplete appraisal months late. In each case, Mr. Jones obtained payment in advance and quickly cashed the checks.

Board Administrator Carol Leighton urged property owners to report appraisal dealings involving Mr. Jones. ?Maine has many honest, well-qualified real estate appraisers. The public can always contact the Board with questions or concerns about appraisers, and we encourage people to report any recent, ongoing or future appraisal work conducted by Scott Jones.?