at least three and sometimes many more times what you're paying the appraiser and maybe only 20-30 times what you're paying a Recorder to record the document). So I can see the necessity of having a trained "expert" review sales and make sure the home in question is worth what the parties claim it is. It's not like appraisal is an objective, exact science, but they do use certain set principles, so at least the subjective portion of the appraisal is guided by those objective, scientific principles. The alternative is a perfect set-up for committing financial/mortgage fraud.

P.S. All cited financial numbers are based on personal, observed data from SL and Utah Counties over the past 20-30 years. Those numbers may vary depending on your locale.