Lydia W. Larson, MAI, AI-GRS, ASA, GAA, MNAA, is our Senior Managing Appraiser and a Founding Partner of Rikland Valuation Services, LLC.

As a trained and experienced Alaskan economist with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Alaska Anchorage, Lydia brings a rigorous economic perspective to every valuation. 

She has been appraising real estate across the state of Alaska for over 23 years. Renowned for her expertise in complex commercial, agricultural, and special-use appraisals, Lydia holds top designations from all significant appraisal profession organizations.

Her mastery of valuations and appraisal reviews was earned through extensive education and practical experience in a diverse series of appraisal roles in the profession. These included both employee and contract work as an independent fee appraiser, staff appraiser, and appraisal review specialist at both a large (regional) bank and a national appraisal and compliance review corporation. 

She specializes in fee simple market value, appraisal reviews, easements, condemnations, and valuations of remote, recreational, and Alaska Native/Tribal lands, highest-and-best-use analysis, market studies, and economic forecasting tailored to Alaska’s distinctive market dynamics.

Lydia is a sought-after expert witness, providing authoritative appraisal consulting, appraisal review services, and testimony in federal and state courts. Her rigorous analytical approach and deep understanding of complex valuation issues, informed by her strong economics foundation, make her an invaluable asset in litigation support for attorneys, government agencies, and private clients. 

A leader in the appraisal industry, Lydia currently serves as a board member of the Alaska Chapter of the Appraisal Institute (since 2022) and previously held the roles of president and vice president. She is also a dedicated Appraisal Institute Candidate Advisor, mentoring aspiring appraisers as they progress toward advanced designations. In addition, she has been recognized and appointed by the State of Alaska as a Supervising Appraiser, appointed to train the next generation of Real Estate Appraisers in Alaska.