The Curious Case of Brazilian Valuation Engineers

Version 1.1.0 (7 October 2026): corrections and clarifications; see the Journal's errata page (journal.valuation-engineer.com/index.php/vej/errata). Pages 273-295 of Vol. 1 No. 2 (formerly 261-281). Repaginated 5 October 2026: content unchanged; pages 261-281 of Vol. 1 No. 2 (formerly 257-277), following the version 1.1.0 corrections to the Foundations entries 000 and 007–010.In Brazil the assessment of real property is regarded as belonging to the field of engineering. According to ABNT NBR 14653-1 the engenheiro de avaliações is defined as a professionally trained university graduate who is registered with CREA, and CONFEA Resolution 345/1990 assigns to engineering professionals the tasks of inspection, carrying out expert examinations, giving value assessments and acting as arbitrators on value issues. The corretor de imóveis, which was established separately by law Lei 6.530/1978, possesses a technical qualification and is entitled to facilitate property transactions as well as to give opinions on commercialization, but is not allowed to carry out valuations. This article examines the distinction between these two roles, the regulatory measures that establish it, and the consequent responsibility involved. It looks at the CNAI broker-appraiser register and the disagreements between the two professional councils. The article concludes that Brazil has regulated the estimation process without, however, setting up a sustainable foundation for value, and it compares this method with the two-value system in Germany. An appendix gives the division of responsibilities in the form of a Prolog knowledge base, each proposition referring to its main source.