appraisal questions answered

Kanye West And Kim Kardashian House Hunt

By |October 10, 2012|Categories: Blog, Celebrity Real Estate|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Photographers caught love birds Kim and Kanye in Miami, Florida recently. This wasn't a regular lunch date for the two, in fact, it seems that they were house hunting for their next dream house. As you can imagine, the duo were not looking for fixer-uppers. Instead, they were looking at ritzy waterfront properties with lots of space to fit their extensive shoe and fashion collections. It is well known that Kanye has well-over 200 pairs of sneakers. And of course, Kim will want to invite the Kardashian clan over and Kanye will probably want a recording studio. Kim Kardashian and

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The Types Of Values Sought With An Appraisal

By |October 7, 2012|Categories: Blog, Reasons To Get An Appraisal|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

A real estate appraisal develops an opinion on the value of a property. Most often, the use is to determine the market value of a home for a buyer and seller. However, because no two properties are alike and they may serve different needs such as a commercial space versus a home, there are different types of values sought with an appraisal. In order to determine what type of value you seek with your appraisal, take a look at some of the varying types. Some of the most common include: Market Value – This is the estimated value for which a property could exchange between a buyer

The What, How And Why Of A Bankruptcy Appraisal

By |September 30, 2012|Categories: Blog, Reasons To Get An Appraisal|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

If you are filing for bankruptcy, getting a bankruptcy appraisal may be one of the most important things you do. Filing for bankruptcy as a means to control of your finances is a difficult, yet sometimes necessary procedure. When you file, you must provide the court with transparent records of your income, debt and any other financial affiliations. While gathering current bills, collections statements and bank statements may not be so complicated, providing the value of your home is trickier. There are several types of bankruptcy filings. Briefly, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy stipulates that the debtor prepare a repayment plan with creditors, and a Chapter 7 states that

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Should A Cash Buyer Get An Appraisal?

By |September 22, 2012|Categories: Appraisal Tutorials & Info, Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

We received a call from a prospective client who asked about whether or not an appraisal was needed if she were a cash buyer. She went on to say that the price she was quoted by the  homeowner seemed reasonable since her friend had purchased a house nearby for just about the same amount. However, she stated that she had not seen her friend's home yet and the square footage and number of rooms could not be determined. This means that her friend's home cannot be used as a valid comparable.  Now, whether someone paying for their home with cash

Reasons For Getting A Home Appraisal

By |September 6, 2012|Categories: Reasons To Get An Appraisal|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Most people think that the only reason to get a home appraisal is because they are refinancing or financing a purchase of a home. There are actually a host of other reasons too. An appraiser is always a valuable third party correspondent in many other circumstances. Here are some examples where an appraisal may come in handy: Selling or Buying(Without Financing): This is one of the most common requests. Get an unbiased opinion of value from a certified appraiser who values homes for a living and does not have an interest in your home appraising too high or too low. Realtors do

Do Celebs Get Premium Prices On Their Homes?

By |August 26, 2012|Categories: Appraisal Tutorials & Info, Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Recently, real estate agent Barbara Cocoran went on the Today Show to discuss real estate pricing for the rich and famous. The high end market of celebrity real estate is not like regular real estate, not even compared to millionaires who own mansions in exclusive neighborhoods. According to Cocoran, buyers pay a premium prices on homes that have been own by stars. There are several examples of celebs asking for premium rates on their homes. One such example is Alicia Keys and her husband, Swizz Beats. They own an apartment in New York City and recently put it on the

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Low Appraisal? Here Is What To Do

By |August 5, 2012|Categories: Blog, Tips For Improving Home Value|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Several real estate appraisers have mentioned that foreclosures and short sales have created a new price structure that includes average home sales prices and distress sales. This means that homes may have been appraised at a lower value because the "comps" in the area are low as well. So what should a homeowner do if the valuation is too low? Appraise First, Set the Sales Price Second  Get an appraisal before you list the home for sale, this way you can take steps to raise the value if the price falls short of your expectations. Get a Copy of the Appraisal

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Is An “As-Is” Appraisal A Good Idea?

By |July 30, 2012|Categories: Appraisal Tutorials & Info, Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

A local appraiser we work with recently received a call to appraise a home in Florida. The home owner said that his home consisted of 2 acres of land and a partially built residence. He wanted to know if an “as-is” appraisal for the property was a good idea. Normally, homes that are under construction are not good candidates for accurate “as-is” appraisals because it is very difficult or nearly impossible to find comparable homes that have sold while in similar states of repair. Plus, when doing an “as-is” appraisal, the home in its current state is not worth the same amount as the home in

Do Bigger Improvements Get A Better Appraisal?

By |July 24, 2012|Categories: Blog, Tips For Improving Home Value|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The short answer is yes. However, the long answer requires some consideration. As we've discussed before, the most accurate appraisal figures come from the comps in the vicinity of the subject property. "Comps" is just a term appraisers use to describe comparable properties in your area. So, comps are homes with the same or similar number of beds, baths, square feet, garages and etc. For example, if homes in your area are selling for $200k and you want your value to be $225k, your home needs to be better than the homes selling. This means more room, spare bedrooms, or

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How You Can Prepare Your Home For An Appraisal

By |July 14, 2012|Categories: Appraisal Tutorials & Info, Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It's common knowledge that homeowners prepare their homes for home sales. They clean and make sure that all possible repair work has been done before the real estate agent and potential buyers visit. It's essential to prepare your home for an appraisal as well. The process leads to a sale and there is no reason not to do everything in your power to help the situation. Here are some things to consider before your upcoming home sale evaluation:   Is all the maintenance work done on your home? Is your home painted and is the lawn neat? These are some obvious

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