Mae. If you want to hire an appraiser you would be hiring them yourself and requesting the valuation as their client. There would be no conflict of interest as the party requesting the appraisal is the client of the appraiser not any bank. You would have to pay the appraiser for the work necessary and that can run typically $300-$400.
There are many appraisers out there so you could find them in any phone book. The appraiser would have no conflict with a mortgage company as the mortgage company would not be hiring them to do the work.

Hello Mae!

Well, I would suggest that you may want to start with working with a Buyer Agent to help you research the current market value of this piece of land. They will conduct an Evaluation and give you a CMA "Comparitive Market Analysis" at no charge. This should get you the information you need without hiring and paying for an appraiser that will cost you about $300.00 plus or minus a few bucks.

Then if you are interested in the land you can have your Buyer Agent help you with an offer and protect your best interests throughout the process.

I am just suggesting that you save alittle money but get very close to the same results. If you are only looking to find out what the Market Value of the property is...and that's it. You can use a Buyer Agent instead as it is legal for them to help you value a property for the purpose of making an offer to purchase.

I hope this helps you.

Well it sounds like you need to call a few and see what they would charge you. Or you could contact a Realtor and have all the comps in the area printed out and handed over right to you for free... Either way there is no need to involve a lender.