Leon Castner was an expert in the Nixon Watergate Presidential Papers Case. He serves as a consultant and appraiser for the IRS, US Marshals Service, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, US Customs & Border Protection. He provides appraisals and consulting advice for the largest insurance companies in the US. Leon is a trained, tested, and certified appraisers.
Leon Castner is the Senior Partner of National Appraisal Consultants. He is an appraiser, writer, professor, radio host, and priest. He has been an appraiser of personal property (antiques, collectibles, residential and business contents) for over thirty years and is still active.
Leon grew up in the auction business in northern New Jersey (Newton, Lafayette, and Branchville) and worked as runner, cashier, trucker, auction manager, and eventually president and chief auctioneer.
His company, Castner Estate Service, regularly held over 50 auctions per year including many prominent northern New Jersey estates. They were also involved in disposing many banks during the Resolution Trust Corporation’s tenure in the 1990’s. The auction gallery was located in Branchville and is still operating under different ownership.
Leon joined forces with Brian Kathenes in the early 1990’s establishing NAC (National Appraisal Consultants, LLC). They have handled many national accounts and large appraisal assignments including serving for the estate of Richard Nixon vs. The United States in the Watergate Papers suit and the Upsala College bankruptcy.
Leon travels across the country still appraising as Senior Partner and serves as expert witness in many appraisal methodology and procedure cases. He works with TASA (Technical Advisory Service for Attorneys) and is a consultant on matters relating to Homeland Security and US Marshal Service.
Leon was featured in an ABC 20/20 Special on Estate Auction Fraud and is a columnist for many magazines and papers including Renaissance Magazine. He co-hosted a weekly public radio show on WNTI in New Jersey (91.9FM) about antiques and collectibles called Value This Radio with Brian and Leon. We’ve co witten and published a book titled, “Betcha’ Didn’t Know That” providing 101 Tips on Antiques and Collectibles for the average person.
Leon was a Certified member of the Appraisers Association of America (AAA) and is a Certified Member of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA).
He has been with ISA since 1979 and served most of the organizational positions including a member of the original Board of Directors and head of Designation and Review and Education. He was an instructor of ISA’s Core Courses on Appraisal Methodology and Re-qualification. Dr. Castner also holds a Ph.D. in valuation science.
Leon is an approved Appraisal Foundation Instructor of The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. He is the past chairperson of The Education Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to the education of the public and appraisers, and the past Director of Education for the International Society Appraisers.