Skip to main content

How can 3 appraisers give 3 different values for the same property? Team Thayer #EugeneOregon #RealEstateNews

Imagine 3 appraisals on one property, and all of them have a different value. How can appraisers have any credibility when there is so much difference? I hear this question all the time, so I wanted to pitch in some thoughts to hopefully strike a balanced conversation for home owners, agents, and appraisers. Here are three points to consider for perspective. Any thoughts?
why are appraisals so different in value - by sacramento appraisal blog
  1. Range of Values: We like to think value is incredibly precise, but one of the best things we can do is realize there is a range of value in real estate. This means realistically buyers might be willing to pay anywhere between $330,000 to $340,000 for a particular property instead of such an exact figure of $334,568. The same is true when we buy a new car or even buy something on Craigslist. Rather than being tied down to one exact figure, we often recognize there is a price range we’d be comfortable paying. We might think of a Camry as having a value anywhere from $21,500 to $23,000 or a used bookcase being a deal between $55 to $65. Real estate works very similarly, though since appraisers have to put an exact number in an appraisal report for lending purposes, we are stuck with that exact figure.
  2. If I asked 3 Agents: Since appraisers give a written value for a property, it’s easy to criticize the value (rightly so). But if I asked three real estate agents to give a precise written and supported value for a property, chances are I would get three different values, right? This would be especially true for a custom home or something that is unique or lacking decent comps. I bring this up because it takes real skill and time to nail a value, and there is going to be a difference in opinion even among qualified and respected professionals throughout the real estate community – whether appraisers or agents. When speaking in real estate offices and this point arises, I often ask, “If I asked 10 different agents for a value on a property, what do you think the result be?” While it sounds like a cop out to gloss over bad appraisals, there is a valid point here.
  3. Quality Spectrum of Appraisers: Lastly, it’s worth noting there is sometimes a difference in values because some appraisers simply do a better job. Remember, an appraisal is about two things: 1) Comps; and 2) Adjustments. When comps or adjustments are out of sync with the market, it’s easy for value to be out of line. This is the part where the appraisal industry has a black eye, and it certainly deserves criticism when an appraisal is not what it should be (whether too high or too low).
The Pain of 2 Appraisals: While it’s perfectly reasonable to see a minor difference in value among appraisers (or any real estate professional), the reality is lenders sometimes require two appraisals when a property has been flipped or even when a property is very unique. We all know this can lead to turmoil for a transaction if one value is at or above the contract price and the other is below. This is why it’s best for a transaction to have just one appraisal, and better yet, to have a lender who understands the above issues and can be reasonable when there are two different values on one property (hopefully the values are somewhat close).
I hope these points are helpful for framing the conversation next time this issue comes up. I’d love to hear your take in the comments below.
Question: Any thoughts or stories to share? What other points would you put in here?

Popular posts from this blog

Team Thayer Real Estate House Flipping Traps! #flippinghouses #eugeneoregon #oregon #housing #market #realestate

If you’ve got several leads waiting to turn into potential deals, you can’t wait for one to suddenly come knocking at your door. Successful real estate house flippers have one trait in common: they place an emphasis on proper planning. Once you’ve secured a deal, you must decide what kind of rehab you will perform. Will you conduct a few simple cosmetic upgrades (like these  10 rehab projects you finish in one weekend )? Or, is the home nice enough to sell after  an easy prehab ? Are there structural damages that will require you to carry out more major renovations? Will you focus on implementing environmentally friendly renovations  – also known as “greenhabbing” – so that you  qualify for certain tax benefits ? Once you’ve determined your strategy, it is important to ask yourself these specific questions before diving into the construction action: What are the current market conditions in my area? What does my ideal buyer look like? Does my marketing cam...

First-Time Home Buyer Mortgage Risk Edge Up Team Thayer Real Estate news.

The first-time buyer share in April, May, and June was launched to new highs, supported by improvements in the labor market, riskier mortgage lending, and continuing low mortgage rates. The  American Enterprise Institute (AEI)  International Center on Housing Risk  recently released a  report , finding that first-time buyers account for 58.8 percent of primary owner-occupied home purchase mortgages with a government guarantee, up from 57.2 percent the prior June, according to the Agency First-Time Buyer Mortgage Share Index (FBMSI). The Combined FBMSI, which measures the share of first-time buyers for both government-guaranteed and private-sector mortgages reached an estimated 52.9 percent, up from 51.6 percent the prior June, according to the report. In addition, AEI determined that the Agency First-Time Buyer Mortgage Risk Index (FBMRI) stood at a series record of 15.83 percent, and increase of half of a percentage point from the average over the prio...

Understanding the tax advantages and disadvantages of homeownership #realestate #taxadvantage #taxes #housing #market

It’s no secret that some of the major perks of homeownership are the tax write-offs and advantages that follow the purchase. In fact, according to a 2015 survey by the National Association of Realtors, 80% of homebuyers see homeownership as a good investment, and 43% think it’s better than investing in the stock market. Reaping the rewards of mortgage interest and property tax deductions is just one way to think of your home as an investment. But there are even more real estate–related tax advantages and disadvantages that can slip under a new homeowner’s radar. It can be relatively easy to trigger tax liabilities or perks (and then fail to claim them) on that new piece of  Eugene, Or, real estate . This is why it’s essential to touch base with your tax pro before every real estate transaction, no matter how minor a question you may have. Sometimes planning and timing make a major difference in the financial impact of a real estate–related tax; other times, ...