Akia
SmithMAI, CCIM
Founder & CEO, Salem Valuation Solutions
Commercial real estate valuation, and the next generation of appraisers.
- 25+
- years in real estate
- MAI · CCIM
- designations
- 2023
- inaugural Harps DEI Award
- 2025
- Houston Chapter President
A practitioner who builds the profession.
Akia Smith, MAI, CCIM, is the Founder & CEO of Salem Valuation Solutions, a commercial real estate appraisal and consulting practice. Her experience spans multifamily, office, retail, industrial and government properties, as well as vacant land and eminent-domain assignments.
She leads in the profession as well as in practice: Immediate Past President of the Appraisal Institute Houston Chapter, Assistant Treasurer of the National Society of Real Estate Appraisers, and a driving force behind the Institute’s outreach to universities and the next generation of appraisers.
Education · Economics, Hampton University
Ventures
Salem Valuation Solutions
Commercial-property appraisal for lenders, owners, insurers, attorneys, investors and government agencies: single assets and portfolios, eminent domain and right of way, retrospective valuations, tax consulting, and development and investment analysis.
Visit →Dominion Properties
Member of The Dominion Team, serving the Houston residential market.
Visit →Service and initiatives
African American Appraiser Roundtables
Initiated and led roundtables at the Appraisal Institute’s 2021 and 2022 Annual Conferences, building community and a pipeline of appraisers.
University relations
Chairs the Appraisal Institute’s University Relations work, connecting colleges and universities with careers in appraisal.
Appraisal-bias research
Member of the Appraisal Institute’s Bias Research Solutions Project Team, whose findings supported the Institute’s January 2023 testimony to the Appraisal Subcommittee.
Home buyer education
Volunteers teaching home buyer education courses in the Houston community.
Boards and committees
- Appraisal Institute, Houston ChapterImmediate Past President2026 (President, 2025)
- National Society of Real Estate AppraisersAssistant TreasurerCurrent
- Appraisal Institute, University RelationsCommittee ChairDec 2025
- CCIM Houston / Gulf Coast ChapterEducation CommitteeCurrent
Speaking and appearances
- Aug 2026Lead with Confidence and Elevate Your VoiceAppraisal Institute Wisconsin Chapter webinar (panelist)
- Apr 2026Distinguished Leaders Champagne BrunchCREW Houston
- Feb 2026Spotlight Speaker SeriesAscend Appraisers
- Dec 2025Face Value podcast: “University Relations”Appraisal Institute
- May 2025Past, Present and Future of the Appraisal InstituteLeadership Development and Advisory Council, Washington, D.C. (discussion leader)
- 2024In the BoardroomBACE V-Suite, National Veterans Small Business Week
- 2021 – 2022African American Appraiser RoundtablesAppraisal Institute Annual Conferences (founder and leader)
Awards and press
William S. Harps DEI Award
Inaugural recipient, 2023. Appraisal Institute.
Valuation magazine feature
“Akia Smith is focused on the next generation of appraisers,” Winter 2023/Spring 2024.
CREW Houston member spotlight
April 2026, on leadership mindset and purpose.