Mr. Smith began his professional real estate career in the late 1970s, by learning the carpentry trade and teaching himself to read blueprints and act as a construction foreman.  Starting in 1980, Mr. Smith formed and was President of Foothills Construction, Inc, a residential construction company in Morganton, NC.  Diversifying into all areas of real estate, Foothills Realty was begun in 1982 with Mr. Smith acting as Owner/Broker in addition to supervising the daily activities of Foothills Construction.  Foothills Construction employed a full time construction crew while Foothills Realty employed up to eight real estate agents and support staff.  Foothills Construction and Foothills Realty were closed in late 1988.  In April 1987, Mr. Smith began a full time career in real estate appraisal, first working for another appraisal firm, and then in 1989 starting Austin M Smith appraisal services, which was incorporated in 1993.  Mr. Smith and his wife, Kathy W. Smith, have operated Austin M Smith appraisal services inc. as a full service appraisal and real estate consultation firm since that date.

Over the course of these many years, Mr. Smith worked to achieve excellence in the appraisal profession by being in the first testing group for Certification as a General Real Estate Appraiser by the state of North Carolina.  In addition, Mr. Smith attained the MAI designation in November 1993.  The MAI designation is conferred by the Appraisal Institute upon members who have shown through study, testing, experience reviews and demonstration appraisal reports the ability to appraise any and all types of real estate.  The MAI designation has been compared to having a PhD in real estate appraisal.  Education is a strong component of Mr. Smith's continuing professional development.

Mr. Smith's appraisal assignments come from a wide variety of clients, including banks, mortgage brokers, attorneys, private investors and private individuals.  Mr. Smith is approved to perform appraisals for the Federal Housing Administration.  Property types appraised also cover a wide variety including everything from farms to shopping centers and industrial complexes.  Specialized properties appraised include churches, schools, inverse condemnation properties and environmentally contaminated properties.

Mr. Smith began offering his services for expert testimony early in his appraisal career, beginning with contract work for the North Carolina Department of Transportation in 1987.  Mr. Smith has given expert testimony in a variety of cases, involving both property owners and condemning authorities as clients.  Testimony has been offered in condemnation cases, equitable distribution cases and bankruptcy cases.  Testimony has been given in both state and federal courts.

Mr. Smith began his teaching career in the late 1980s teaching real estate brokerage and finance classes to prospective REALTORS through Western Piedmont Community College, eventually teaching all levels of North Carolina Appraisal Board classes for appraisers. Mr. Smith is currently approved by the NC Appraisal Board to teach all levels of appraisal qualifying and continuing education. Mr. Smith is also an AQB Certified USPAP Instructor.

Mr. Smith's philosophy of business has evolved around strong professional ethics and the belief in offering high quality real estate appraisal and consultation services.  It is his desire to provide his clients with services that concentrate on their needs first, while working within the bounds of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. With almost 40 years in the real estate and appraisal business Mr. Smith offers a level of expertise and experience rarely found in professionals today.