Jones Land Title, Appraisals & Insurance has answers to "Frequently Asked Questions"
Define the term "Appraisal" Define the term "Appraisal" (Top)The method of writing an appraisal report deals with an estimation which leads to an opinion of value. This opinion or estimate is concluded through a formal method that commonly utilizes three "common approaches to value". The Cost Approach is one of the methods that appraisers use to find the value of a home; it involves finding what the improvements would cost less physical deterioration, plus the land value. Another of the processes is the Sales Comparison Approach - which concerns finding a comparable analysis to other similar properties within a close proximity which have recently sold. Usually, the Sales Comparison Approach is the most accurate indicator of market value of a house. The third approach is the Income Approach, which is the most important method in appraising income producing properties - it involves estimating what an investor would pay based on the income produced by the property.What does an appraiser do? (Top)An appraiser forumlates an impartial and well substantiated determination of market value, to be used in making real estate transactions. Appraisers summarize their expert analysis in appraisal reports.Why would someone request your services? (Top)There are a lot of reasons to get an appraisal with the most common reason being real estate and mortgage transactions. Other reasons for getting an appraisal include:
What is the difference between an appraisal and a home inspection? (Top)The appraiser is not a home inspector and does not do a full home inspection. The point of a home inspection is to evaluate the structure of the house from basement to top. The standard property inspector's report will include an evaluation of the condition of the property'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.Is an appraisal the same as a comparative market analysis(CMA)? (Top)Honestly, they share nothing in common. What the CMA depends on are ill-defined trends. Appraisals use comparable sales which are verifiable resources. In addition, the appraisal looks at other factors like condition, area and building prices. All a CMA does is generate a "ball park figure." Delivering a defensible and careful analysis, an appraisal will give a clear opinion of value.But the largest differentiator is who's doing the report. A CMA is written by a real estate agent who may or may not have a true grasp of the market or valuation concepts. The appraisal is created by a licensed, certified professional who makes a living out of valuing properties. Likewise, the agent has a vested interest in the property's selling price - their commission - whereas the appraiser is bound by a code of ethics to collect only a flat sum for work they perform, regardless of their value conclusion. What can I expect to see in my appraisal report? (Top)The main point of an appraisal document is to let the reader know the value of the real estate in question, and depending on the scope of the report, one will customarily see the following:
Once the assignment has been delivered, what assurance is there that the final number is legitimate? (Top)In communicating an appraisal report, each appraiser must see to it that each of the items below are covered:
Who are an appraiser's customers? (Top)Mortgage lenders are an appraiser's typical customer, requesting their services to ensure property involved in a mortgage transaction is adequate collateral for a loan. Attorneys and CPAs also retain the services of appraisers for asset division and estate settlements.Where does an appraiser get the data used to estimate values in Candler County or other areas? (Top)Gathering data is one of the main things an appraiser engages in. Data can be classified as either Specific or General. Specific data is from the home itself; Location, condition, amenities, size and other specifics are noted by the appraiser during an inspection.General data is collected from a number of sources. Local Multiple Listing Services (MLS) have data on recently sold homes that might be used as comparables. Tax records and other public documents verify actual sales prices in a market. Appraisers often need to report when a property lies in a flood zone, and that information is retrieved from a FEMA data outlet such as a la mode's InterFlood product. And most importantly, the appraiser assembles general data from his or her past experience in doing assignments for other properties in the same market. What can a full appraisal do for me? (Top)An appraisal is a worthwhile anytime the value of your home is relevant to some financial decision. For those selling a home, you'll want to determine the price that gets you the most profit but doesn't leave your home on the market too long; an appraisal can help with that. If you're buying, it makes sure you don't overpay. For people settling an estate or divorce, an appraisal from Jones Land Title, Appraisals & Insurance is the best way to ensure assets are split up fairly. A home is often the single, largest financial asset anybody owns. Without knowing its real value, wise financial decisions are impossible.What exactly is PMI and how can I get rid of it? (Top)PMI is an acronym for Private Mortgage Insurance. PMI guards the lender in the event a borrower is unable to pay on the loan and the value of the home is lower than the loan balance. 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.
Should I do anything in advance of the appraisal inspection (Top)We begin with an inspection of the home. During this process, the appraiser will come to your home and measure it, determine the layout of the rooms inside, confirm all aspects of the home's general condition, and take several photos of your house for inclusion in the report. On the home's interior, pick up any clutter and make sure we can access things like furnaces and water heaters. In the yard, trim any landscaping so we can be free to get an accurate measurement of outside walls.To help expedite our work plus ensure a more accurate report, attempt if possible to have the following items:
What does "Market Value" mean? (Top)In real estate appraising, Market Value is commonly defined as:
Does the appraisal belong to the bank or the consumer? (Top)For mortgage transactions, the lender orders the appraisal, either directly or through a third party. Even though it's the buyer that eventually pays for the report, the lender is the intended user. The buyer is entitled to a copy of the report - it's usually bundled with all the other closing documents - but is not allowed to use the report for any other purpose without permission from the lender.This rule doesn't apply when a home owner hires an appraiser directly. In these cases, the appraiser may stipulate how the appraisal can be used; for PMI removal, or estate planning or tax challenges, for example. If not stated otherwise, the home owner can do whatever they want with the appraisal. I want to get more for my house. Where should I spend money renovating? (Top)This really depends on where the home is. For example, putting in an inline humidifier could be nice in arid regions, but completely useless near the coast!As a rule, the most value returned 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, returning 85%. Adding bedrooms and baths can also increase the value of your home (when done well) as long as your home doesn't then become an oddball for your neighborhood in terms of size. |