Mary Cummins, Real Estate Appraiser, Real Estate Appraisal, Los Angeles, California, Mary Cummins.

Mary Cummins is a real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California with 38+ years of experience. Cummins provides real estate appraisals for banks, lenders, mortgage brokers, Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs), lawyers, Courts, factors and private parties for lending, lawsuits, probate, estate planning, divorce and all types of litigation. Cummins provides 1004, 1073, 1025 and other form reports, narrative reports and historical appraisals besides real estate research and appraisal advice.

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Henry Harrison Owner of Forms and Worms Passes Away by Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser

Henry Harrison, Forms & Worms, real estate appraisal forms, by Mary Cummins

Before the advent of modern appraisal software, real estate appraisers relied on paper forms, typewriters, and specialized supplies to complete their reports. Among the most influential companies serving the profession during this era was Forms & Worms, a legendary appraisal supply company. The company was founded in 1976 by Henry Harrison's wife Ruth Lambert and friend Dianna Minnick in their garage (1). The company was incorporated in 1979 and operated by Ruth Lambert, her husband Henry S. Harrison and others.

Forms & Worms made only $15,000 their first year in 1976. By 1981 they grossed $326,000. By1982 they moved into a 3,000 sf facility and were grossing $400,000. From the 1970s through the 1990s, Forms & Worms became a household name within the appraisal industry. The company produced pre-printed appraisal forms, carbonless multi-part report sheets, and a wide range of appraisal supplies that enabled appraisers across the United States to prepare professional valuation reports efficiently. At a time when reports were completed by hand or typewriter and physically delivered to lenders, the company's products were considered essential tools of the trade.

One of the company's most significant contributions was the production of standardized appraisal forms, including versions of the Universal Residential Appraisal Report (URAR) and numerous supplemental forms. These documents helped create consistency in appraisal reporting long before digital platforms became the industry standard.

Beyond his role as a supplier, Henry S. Harrison was widely respected as a New Haven, Connecticut real estate appraiser, educator, and publisher. He was the founder and publisher of Real Estate Valuation Magazine, a publication that provided professional guidance and educational resources to appraisers throughout the country.

Harrison also authored several influential instructional texts that helped shape appraisal education and practice. Among his most recognized works are the General Certification Supplement and Harrison's Illustrated Guide to Real Estate Appraisal, publications that continue to be referenced by appraisal professionals and students of valuation.

Although the appraisal industry has largely transitioned to digital solutions such as modern appraisal software platforms, the impact of Forms & Worms and Henry S. Harrison remains an important part of appraisal history. Their contributions helped standardize reporting practices, educate generations of appraisers, and support the profession during a pivotal period of growth and development.

A sign at Forms & Worms read "Fun and Profit. Profit and Fun." Every order came with a squiggly worm. I used these forms starting in 1983 typing them on my IBM Selectric typewriter. We used real camera film back then and glued the photos on the forms. We photocopied pages of the Thomas Guide maps then stuck on arrow and dot stickers from Forms & Worms. Today, the legacy of Forms & Worms serves as a reminder of an era when appraisal reports were crafted on paper and the tools provided by Henry S. Harrison played a vital role in the daily work of appraisers nationwide.

References

1. Women's Role Takes Form in Business, Hartford Courant, June 27, 1982. newspapers.com

Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate is a certified residential licensed appraiser in Los Angeles, California. Mary Cummins is licensed by the California Bureau of Real Estate appraisers and has over 35 years of experience.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary, Cummins, #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, certified, single family, condo, condominium, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, fha, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, brea insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, 1073, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls, historical appraisal, facebook, linkedin

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Mary Cummins

Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate Services has been in real estate since 1983, over 35 years. She is licensed by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. Mary Cummins was an agent and broker licensed with the California Department of Real Estate selling residential income, commercial buildings, raw land and homes for Merrill Lynch Realty in Beverly Hills and Westside Properties in Los Angeles before concentrating on appraisals. Mary Cummins currently provides real estate appraisals, expert witness testimony, historical research, legal real estate research for mortgage brokers, banks, lawyers, factors, insurance companies, financial consultants and private individuals. Mary Cummins was born and raised in Southern California. Cummins attended Beverly Hills Good Shepherd Catholic School and Beverly Hills High School. Besides being on the Dean's list, Mary Cummins was a top ten national swimmer and competed on the men's water polo team. Mary Cummins began college at the age of 15 attending the University of Southern California on scholarship, majoring in Psychology/Sociology. http://www.animaladvocates.us http://www.facebook.com/AnimalAdvocatesUSA

Monday, January 5, 2026

California Bill 723 the Altered Images Law Takes Effect January 1, 2026 - Mary Cummins

New California bill AB 273 aka the Altered Images Law takes effect January 1, 2026. One must disclose if there is an altered image in real estate advertisements or promotions. One must also show the unaltered original. This makes a lot of sense and could prevent lawsuits. Still, buyer beware of altered images. Sometimes are just cleaned up with some items removed. Some alter them to appear staged, empty or cleaned and painted. Other times they've removed high tension power lines, water towers from the background or added pools.

California Business and Professions Code, Section 10140.8, becomes effective relating to a real estate broker or salesperson who includes a digitally altered image in an advertisement or other promotional material for the sale of real property:

(a)(1) A real estate broker or salesperson, or person acting on their behalf, who includes a digitally altered image in an advertisement or other promotional material for the sale of real property shall include in the advertisement or promotional material a statement disclosing that the image has been altered and a link to a publicly accessible internet website, URL, or QR code that includes, and clearly identifies, the original, unaltered image. The statement shall be reasonably conspicuous and located on or adjacent to the image and shall include language indicating that the unaltered images can be accessed on the linked internet website, URL, or QR code.

(2) If an advertisement or promotional material described in paragraph (1) is posted on an internet website over which the real estate broker or salesperson, or person acting on their behalf, has control, they shall include the unaltered version of the images from which the digitally altered images were created in the posting. A person subject to this paragraph may comply with this requirement by including a link to a publicly accessible internet website that includes, and clearly identifies, the original, unaltered image. If the real estate broker or salesperson, or person acting on their behalf, complies with this requirement by including a link to the unaltered images, the statement required by paragraph (1) shall include language indicating the unaltered images can be accessed on the linked internet website, URL, or QR code.

(b)(1) For purposes of this section, “digitally altered image” means an image, created by or at the direction of the real estate broker or salesperson, or person acting on their behalf, that has been altered through the use of photo editing software or artificial intelligence to add, remove, or change elements in the image, including, but not limited to,

fixtures, furniture, appliances, flooring, walls, paint color, hardscape, landscape, facade, floor plans, and elements outside of, or visible from, the property, including, but not limited to, streetlights, utility poles, views through windows, and neighboring properties.

(2) “Digitally altered image” does not include an image where only lighting, sharpening, white balance, color correction, angle, straightening, cropping, exposure, or other common photo editing adjustments are made that do not change the representation of the real property.

See more at the link. https://info.vestaplus.net/altered-images