Birmingham Appraisal Blog

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Entries Tagged as 'shelby county'

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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The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly in Shelby County Home Sales

August 3rd, 2011 by Tom Horn · 4 Comments · Market Trends

You may wonder what I am referring to when I state “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly in Shelby County Home Sales”.  I am referring to new home sales, foreclosure sales, and the percentage of foreclosures compared to total sales activity in the  Shelby County, Alabama area.  By looking at these figures we can [...]

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A Look At The Real Estate Market In Shelby County, AL Over The Past Two Years (2009-2010)

February 21st, 2011 by Tom Horn · No Comments · Market Trends

I often get asked, because I am a real estate appraiser, how the real estate market is holding up.  I appraise in the Birmingham, AL metro area, including Shelby County Alabama.  As most people know, the real estate market changes over time and also at different times of the year.  To get a better idea [...]

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Top 5 Subdivisions for New Construction in Shelby County, Alabama

January 28th, 2011 by Tom Horn · 4 Comments · Market Trends

What’s happening with new construction in Shelby County, Alabama?  With all of the talk of foreclosures, short sales, and declining property values we tend to lose sight of the positive things occurring in the Shelby County, Alabama area.  Not all builders have folded and gone out of business, there are still some that are working [...]

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FAQ: Does The County Appraiser Know What You Appraise My Home For?

September 30th, 2010 by Tom Horn · 4 Comments · FAQ's, Property Taxes

Have you ever wondered if the county tax assessor/appraiser knows what your house appraises for when you refinance your home?  This was a question I got the other day from a homeowner when I was at their home doing an inspection.  The answer is “No”,the county assessor does not know what your home appraises for. [...]

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Real Estate Agents-How To Look Like a Champ In Your Customers Eyes

April 25th, 2010 by Tom Horn · 8 Comments · Appraisal, Appraisal Tips, Market Trends

I know that some of you will say “Why should I get an appraisal when I am an agent and can do  my own market analysis?”, but there are benefits to the appraisal.  My main concern here is with the homeowner who want you to over price their home.  When you know that they are [...]

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Appraiser Interview, Part 2: Keller Williams Realtor David Black Interviews Tom Horn

April 16th, 2010 by Tom Horn · 2 Comments · Appraisal, Market Trends

Here is part 2 of the interview I had with David and Colleen  Black, Realtors with Keller Williams Realty in Alabaster, Alabama.  In this last installment we continue the discussion of what homeowners can do to help sell their home as well as talk about new banking regulations such as the HVCC which is affecting [...]

Keller Williams Realtor David Black Interviews Tom Horn, Pt. 2 [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Getting The Most Bang For Your Buck In Home Improvements

April 14th, 2010 by Tom Horn · 4 Comments · Appraisal Tips, Home Improvement

If you’re like most homeowners you want to get the most bang for your buck in home improvements.  Sometimes certain improvements to your home cost more than the value you get from them.  This is one of the most frequent questions I get asked in my job as a real estate appraiser.  My answer most [...]

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Birmingham Alabama Appraiser Market Conditions: An interview with an appraiser-Pt. 1

April 7th, 2010 by Tom Horn · 7 Comments · Appraisal, Market Trends

I recently had an opportunity to be interviewed by David and Colleen  Black, Realtors with Keller Williams Realty in Alabaster, Alabama.  The interview was split into two parts with the first part shown below.  We talked about everything from home price trends in Jefferson and Shelby County Alabama and the effects of foreclosure sales on [...]

Interview with David Black-Part 1 [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Helping Your Home Appraise For Top Dollar

February 12th, 2010 by Tom Horn · 1 Comment · Home Improvement

Most people, at some point in their life will probably get a home appraisal. Appraisals are necessary for the following reasons: • Buying a home • Selling a home (either a marketing appraisal or appraisal after contract is signed) • Refinancing a home (either to get a lower rate or to get a home equity [...]

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