Tag Archive for: appraiser

Appraiser vs Seasoned Agent: Whose Value Estimate Is More Accurate?

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I worked next door to a crotchety old RE/MAX agent for ten years – and we used to bet on the ultimate sales price of upcoming listings. I was always quite certain I’d win because of my vast appraiser knowledge. But I not only lost every time, I was often stunned by the accuracy of Mr. Crotchety – who was extremely active in the local market.Read More

The Dreaded “Declining Market” Box On Appraisals! Ignorance? Pure Evil? Or – Appraisers Just Doing Their Job?

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Median = Misleading Chevron is moving its entire headquarters complex from California to the much more business-friendly Houston, TX area. I happen to know a lot of Chevron employees – […]Read More

Appraisers Ain’t A.M.C’s (Explained); Subjective vs. Objective Too

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“Hey Rich, I need a $500,000 appraisal to make this refi work; there’s an extra $300 for you if you can push the value to $500,000…” That was the entire […]Read More

Don’t Finish Your Basement (or Garage or Patio) IF…

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“Your godda***d appraiser only gave $7,500 to my basement after I spent 85,000 f**king dollars finishing it! Go f*** yourself!” So said a borrower to me years ago after he […]Read More

Appraisers Can’t Push Values; Must Avoid Reviews/Cuts

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We had an appraisal come in slightly under contract price this week. What made it a surprise was the fact that there seemed to be ample comparable sales to support the value (unusual in this market, to say the least). So, when the appraisal came in low, both agents, the seller and the buyer all expressed extreme frustration with the appraiser. As a result, I got involved and noticed the appraiser was somebody I have known for 25 years. He is a super smart UC Berkeley grad with well over 30 years of experience – so I knew immediately that it was unlikely that he made an error.Read More

Options When Appraisal Comes in Low

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We have a highly skilled & fair appraisal panel, but in today’s hot housing market, sale prices are sometimes above the value an appraiser can fairly attribute to a home. […]Read More

Appraisals Are Not Public Record; FHA Sometimes

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Appraisals don't follow a buyer from lender to lender—unless it's an FHA loan. Here's what borrowers and agents need to understand about appraisal rules.Read More

Loans Follow Guidelines, Not Logic

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Many loans stall not because of borrower risk but due to rigid rules. We explain why logic often takes a back seat to regulation in lending.Read More

What To Do If Seller Refuses To Do Required Repairs?

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Sellers occasionally refuse to complete required repairs, putting transactions at risk. Fortunately, there are creative ways to resolve this—JVM explains how we get it done.Read More

Appraised Value Is Not Market Value; Solution?

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In today's competitive markets, appraised values often fall short of true market value. This blog explores how rigid appraisal guidelines can undervalue properties—highlighting historical practices that allowed competing offers as data—and explains why buyers shouldn't panic when appraisals come in low.Read More