Birmingham Appraisal Blog

"appraisal bloggin for your noggin"

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Entries Tagged as 'Appraisal'

Why You Need A Local Appraiser In Today’s Real Estate Market

November 21st, 2011 by Tom Horn · 5 Comments · Appraisal, Appraisal Tips, FAQ's, Realtor Tips

I’ve written about this in the past but thought I would mention it again because I have received a couple of calls within the past month from loan officers not happy with the appraisals they have received. In both situations, out of town appraisers were used.

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Market Value: The X-Factor in Most Real Estate Transactions

November 16th, 2011 by Tom Horn · No Comments · Appraisal, Appraisal Tips

Most people have a good idea of what market value is.  A short and abbreviated definition of Market Value is as follows: Market value is the most probable price which a property should bring in a competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale, the buyer and seller, each acting prudently, [...]

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Which Of These Houses Does Not Conform?

October 31st, 2011 by Tom Horn · 2 Comments · Appraisal, Photos From The Field

Appraisers talk about conformity when describing houses that do not “fit in” to the neighborhood.  Sometimes this can be subjective but you can usually tell when it has occurred.  Neighborhoods have certain characteristics relating to price range, house style and various other factors.  Some times house style and price range intersect and you have an [...]

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What Red Flags Can Kill A Birmingham, AL Area FHA Appraisal?

October 18th, 2011 by Tom Horn · 2 Comments · Appraisal, Appraisal Tips, FAQ's

Have you ever wondered if a house would pass an FHA appraisal inspection?  FHA does have more stringent appraisal guidelines than conventional loans but if you know what to look for then you can be ready before any problems come up.  I have included some of the top problems I have seen in my 20+ [...]

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Could Alabama Appraisers Be In Violation Of State Law?

October 13th, 2011 by Tom Horn · 4 Comments · Appraisal, Legal Matters

Do you do work for Appraisal Management Companies (AMC’s)?  If you do and they are not registered with the Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board, you could be subject to discipline.  As of October 1, 2011 any AMC’s doing business in Alabama must register with the state.  Pursuant to §34-27A-20(a)(9) of the Alabama Real Estate Appraisers [...]

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What I’ve Learned in My First Year of Blogging

September 22nd, 2011 by Tom Horn · 9 Comments · marketing, Networking

Technically speaking it has been about 18 months since I started blogging but “My First Year” sounded better so that’s what I went with.  If there was one phrase that summarized my experience during this time it would be “slow and steady wins the race”.  It has been a time of learning new things, meeting [...]

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How To Estimate The Value Of Your Home Without Getting An Appraisal

August 1st, 2011 by Tom Horn · 2 Comments · Appraisal, Appraisal Tips

If you are in the market to sell your home the best thing you can do is to get a qualified appraiser to provide you with an appraisal of your home.  This will ensure that the most accurate sales and listing information is used to give you the most precise value estimate. If you are [...]

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Ask The Appraiser: Can Pending Sales Be Used In An Appraisal?

July 14th, 2011 by Tom Horn · 4 Comments · Appraisal, FAQ's, Realtor Tips

I was asked a great question yesterday that I thought I would share with you.  Can pending sales be used in an appraisal?  The short answer is “yes”.  Appraisers have three options for comparables.  They include closed sales, active listings, and pending sales.  The appraiser must use a minimum of 3 closed sales in the [...]

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A Man’s Home Is His Castle, Right?

April 11th, 2011 by Tom Horn · 4 Comments · Photos From The Field

We’ve all heard the old saying that a man’s home is his castle, right?  This was exactly what I thought of when I saw this house in Shelby County, Alabama. It got me to thinking about personal taste and  how that may translate into how others may feel about architectural styles that are atypical.  Do [...]

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Can A Pre-Listing Appraisal Be Used By The Buyer’s Lender?

March 31st, 2011 by Tom Horn · 2 Comments · FAQ's, FSBO Tips, marketing, Realtor Tips

I’ve done several pre-listing appraisals recently and I got a question the other day that I wanted to share with you.  The homeowner wanted to know if a pre-listing appraisal could be used by the buyer’s lender to get their mortgage.  The short answer to this is “no”,  however this was not always the case.   [...]

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