Once more the appraisal industry is being put under question as to why they are important for the home buying and selling process. Currently, the FDIC, Federal Reserve, and the Treasury Department issued a joint proposal that would eliminate the need for an appraisal on mortgages for less than $400,000.

This proposal is being sold to consumers as a way to save money and time. This sounds appealing, however, the price of an appraisal is minimal compared to the what the loan officers and banks are making and as for the appraisal process there are various factors that could be changed that could shorten the time involved significantly, such as use of the Appraisal Management companies (AMC’s) being eliminated.

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Are you a first-time home buyer? Does the appraisal process confuse you? Appraisals can be confusing which is why I would like to take a minute of your time to explain the appraisal process.

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Buying a fixer upper home has become increasingly popular in recent years, in large part to the numerous TV shows that demonstrate all the possibilities you can do to a home. This has been an attractive idea to many home buyers making it more affordable to buy a home due to the increasing home prices.

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Granny Flat Appraisals

A granny flat also referred to as a mother-in-law suite, or guest house. A granny flat will most often include bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom and a separate entrance.  A granny flat can be attached or detached however without permits it will not be given any value in an appraisal or sale of the home.

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Is it possible to get a good, fast and cheap appraisal?

With the surge of home sales appraisers have been busier than ever working diligently to complete appraisals in an effective and efficient manner. Don’t get me wrong this is a good thing for appraisers, the problem is that lenders and AMC’s are expecting the impossible, a good, fast and cheap product.  An appraiser’s job is to provide a necessary and valuable service that takes time and effort, and this cannot be accomplished good, fast and inexpensively.

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Have you received an appraisal and found yourself confused by all the language used? My goal with this blog is to make your life a bit easier by explaining some of the language in appraisals that can often make it hard to understand.
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Overpricing a home has been proven to slow down the selling process or not selling a home at all. It is crucial to price a home accurately so that you can sell your home quickly and for the best value.

All of this can be accomplished with a pre-listing appraisal which will determine the fair market value of your home.  Let me break this down for you.

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There is a common belief that a larger home with more square footage is worth more than a smaller one. This seems like it is true however, this is not always the case. Lets discuss a few reasons why this can be false.

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When we schedule appointments to appraise a property, people always want to know how long the inspection will take. Some people have had their home appraised before and are familiar with the process but others are surprised when I tell them how long it will take. I often get a response that they have experienced or expected a much quicker inspections.
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