First-Time Hombuyers: What You Need to Know About Appraisals


Every time I receive the value of a property from the appraiser, I hold my breath. The result determines not only the value of the loan but also if the home has any issues/needs repairs before closing.

Basically, the appraisal is a big deal. That goes for home in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake and all of Hampton Roads.

For more, read a recent piece in The Wall Street Journal called “When a Mortgage Hinges on Home Values.”

Just to recap, the appraisal provides the market value for a particular property. The lender uses the value to determine how much to lend the borrower (ie. loan-to-value or LTV). The loan product determines the LTV (more information here).

Now, what you MUST understand about appraisals.

There are several unacceptable appraisal practices such as:

  • provide a market value that’s misleading
  • misrepresent the physical characteristics of the property
  • use data from parties with a financial interest in the sale or in the financing of the property without appraiser verification from a disinterested source
  • Visit the Fannie Mae website for these and other unacceptable practices

 

Featured photo: DanielSTL (Flickr)

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