Realty Valuation Group has answers to "Frequently Asked Questions"
What is an appraisal? What is an appraisal? (Go to list of questions)An appraisal report is a thought process that concludes with an opinion of value. The appraiser will use a few "approaches," typically three, to come to the estimation of market value. One of the methods in use is the Cost Approach, which evaluates what it would cost to restore the improvements to the property, minus age and physical dilapidation, adding the land value. Easily the most common approach in finding the value of a house is the Sales Comparison Approach which involves concluding a comparison to comparable houses close by. Usually, the Sales Comparison Approach is the most accurate indicator of market value of a home. One of the least common approaches in appraising homes is the Income Approach, which is generally used to find the market value of a property based on what an investor would pay based on the capital produced by the property.Describe what an appraiser does (Go to list of questions)An appraiser forumlates an objective and well substantiated assessment of market value, to be used in making real estate transactions. Appraisers present their conclusions in appraisal reports.What are the reasons a person would need services from Realty Valuation Group? (Go to list of questions)There are many reasons to get an appraisal from Realty Valuation Group with the usual reason being real estate and mortgage transactions. Other reasons for getting an appraisal report include:
Is an appraisal the same as a home inspection? (Go to list of questions)Home inspectors do not come to an opinion of value and are not appraisers. An inspection is a third-party evaluation of the available structure and appliances of a property, from the top to the foundation. The usual home inspector's report will include an evaluation of the condition of the house's heating systems, central air conditioning system (temperature permitting), interior plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic, and visible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation, basement, and visible structure.What is the difference between an appraisal and a comparative market analysis (CMA)? (Go to list of questions)Frankly, they share nothing in common. What the CMA depends on are ill-defined trends. The appraisal is reliant on specific verifiable comparable sales. The appraisal report will also contain neighborhood and building costs. The CMA will provide a non-specific figure. Being a documented and carefully investigated opinion of value, appraisals are defensible and stand up in legal situations.The credentials of the person behind the report is hands down the most significant difference between a CMA and an appraisal. Real estate agents, who may not have a complete understanding of valuation methods or the entire market, write CMA's. A certified, state licensed professional who has formed a career on valuing homes in and around Mecklenburg County creates the appraisal. Moreover, the appraiser is an unbiased voice, with no vested interest in the value of a home, unlike the agent, who gets a commission based upon the price of the home. What does the appraisal report contain? (Go to list of questions)Each report must demonstrate a supported value opinion and should document the following:
Once the report has been completed, what guarantee is there that the value indicated is veritable? (Go to list of questions)In communicating an appraisal report, each appraiser must see to it that each of the items below are covered:
Who engages the services of appraisers? (Go to list of questions)Most of the time, appraisers are called upon by lenders to estimate the value of a home involved in a loan transaction. Attorneys and CPAs also hire appraisers for divorce and estate settlements.Where does an appraiser get the information used to estimate values in Mecklenburg County or other areas? (Go to list of questions)One of the most important things an appraiser does is to collect property data. Data can be described as either Specific or General. Specific data is collected from the home itself; Location, condition, amenities, size and other specific data are noted by the appraiser during an inspection.General data is collected from a many places. Local Multiple Listing Services (MLS) have information on recently sold homes that could be used as comparables. Tax records and other courthouse documents verify actual sales prices in a market. Flood zone data is retrieved from FEMA data outlets, such as a la mode's InterFlood product. And most importantly, the appraiser assimilates general data from his or her collective knowledge gained from creating appraisals for other houses in the same market. How can a licensed appraiser help me? (Go to list of questions)An appraisal is a valuable tool whenever your home's value is relevant to a financial decision. When selling your home, an appraisal assists you in setting a price that maximizes profit and reduces time on the market. When buying, be sure you're not overpaying by commissioning an independent appraisal. If you're engaged in an estate settlement or divorce, it ensures that property is divided fairly. Simply put, a house is often the single, largest financial asset anybody owns. Knowing its true value means you can make the right financial decisions.My mortgage statement has an item on it for PMI? Can I get rid of that? (Go to list of questions)PMI is the common abbreviation for for Private Mortgage Insurance. PMI protects the lender in case a borrower doesn't pay on the loan and the value of the property is lower than what the borrower still owes on the loan. Once you reach the point where your home's equity plus the amount you've paid is at least 20% of your loan balance, you can have your PMI dropped.
Does the appraiser need anything from the homeowner in advance? (Go to list of questions)The first step in most appraisals is the property inspection. What this entails is the appraiser, after setting up an appointment, personally going through the home - recording the layout of the rooms, taking photos and documenting the general condition of its amenities. The best thing you can do to help is make sure we have easy access to the exterior of the house . Trim any bushes and move any items that would get in our way while we measure the structure. On the inside, make sure the appraiser can easily access appliances like furnaces and water heaters.The following items, if available, will help your appraiser to provide a more accurate appraisal in a shorter period of time:
What is "Market Value?" (Go to list of questions)In real estate appraising, Market Value is commonly defined as:
Who actually owns the appraisal report? (Go to list of questions)In most real estate transactions, the appraisal is ordered by the lender. While the buyer pays for the report as part of the closing costs, the lender retains the right to use the report or any information contained within. The buyer is certainly entitled to a copy of the appraisal - it's usually bundled with all the other closing documents - but is not entitled to use the report for any other purpose without permission from the lender.The exception to this rule is when a home owner engages an appraiser directly. In these cases, the appraiser may stipulate the purpose of the appraisal; for PMI removal, or estate planning or tax challenges, for example. If not noted otherwise, the home owner can do whatever they want with the appraisal. Which home renovations add the most to the price? (Go to list of questions)This really depends on where the home is. For example, while quality appliances are attractive, a $7000 built-in refrigerator won't pay off in a neighborhood of moderately priced homesAs a rule, the best ROI from renovating a home comes in the kitchen. One recent study revealed that putting $20,000 into a kitchen remodel would add about $17,500 to the value of the home - or about an 88% return on investment. Bathrooms were second, yielding 85%. Adding bedrooms and baths can also increase the value of your home as long as your home doesn't then become overbuilt for your neighborhood in terms of size. |