Reasons to get an appraisalYear after year, thousands of people in Texas purchase, sell or refinance their home. Many of these transactions involve a simple line item for an appraisal. Almost all lenders still need a local expert because the stakes are very high, even though there are a growing number of automated home valuation systems that may appear to be more practical than an appraisal. You might believe that securing a mortgage is the only reason to get an appraisal, but there are more cases when the services of a licensed, independent real estate professional might be beneficial. 
Contest your tax assessment in Harris CountyIt's possible you're paying too much in property taxes if you live in an area where property values have depreciated. Property taxes are based upon a previous assessment of your real estate, so if prices have declined in your area, you can appeal your assessment and save money. An appraisal from Greater Houston Area Appraisals is your best evidence when building your case. We're qualified to assist you in appealing your tax assessment. Eliminating PMI for mortgage paymentsWhen the amount being loaned to the home owneris more than 80% of the actual value of the home, most lenders ask home owners to take out this extra insurance policy. That policy is Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI. This added payment is often lumped into the monthly mortgage payment and is soon forgotten. This is bad because PMI is unnecessary when the remainder of the loan - whether through market appreciation or principal pay down - decreases below the 80% level. In fact, the Homeowners Protection Act (HPA) of 1998 was invoked by the United States Congress requiring lenders to do away with the PMI payments when the loan-to-value ratio conditions have been met. Greater Houston Area Appraisals will provide you with a statement regarding the value of your home, and the cost of the home valuation can generally be recovered in just a few months because you'll no longer be paying the PMI. Order your appraisal from Greater Houston Area Appraisals today Order onlineGet a clear valuation on a home take make a divorce settlement less stressfulA divorce can be a particularly traumatic event for both parties, and it is often more complicated by the challenging decision of who keeps the home. Regardless of the situation, it's a good idea to get an appraisal from Greater Houston Area Appraisals so both parties are completely aware of the true market value of their property. If the parties wish to sell the home, they'll have a better idea of what price to set. And if a "buyout" is the chosen option, both parties will feel like they've received a fair evaluation. Fair and accurate estate liquidationThe death of a loved one is a difficult time in life, and settling an estate from a death, or probate, often entails an appraisal to establish Fair Market Value for the real estate involved. We ensure the utmost degree of discretion, as we're bound with confidentiality by the ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). Most Americans do not have dedicated estate planners or executors to handle these affairs, unlike wealthier individuals. And seeing that a home or other property often makes up an unequal share of the total estate value, knowing the true value of the real estate at hand is of significant importance to ensuring disputing parties leave knowing they've gotten an honest deal. Move to or from Harris County for workWe are aware of the stress involved with an employee relocation. That being said, we take great care in organizing an accommodating appointment time for the appraisal inspection. During our thorough inspection, we recommend relocating employees to provide feedback on the positive aspects of their property, along with information about any new sales or listings in their neighborhood that they want considered. Close on your home promptly — for the right priceWhether you want to sell your home on your own or use the assistance of a real estate agent, a professional appraisal will help you make a more informed decision when determining your selling price. An appraiser has no vested interest in what amount the house sells for, apart from real estate agents. Our fees are calculated on our efforts to finish the appraisal report and and aren't related to the sales price. On a daily basis, we analyze the difference in value items like an additional bathroom or a kitchen remodel can make. And we're experts in knowing how long housesare on the market. So, getting a professional appraisal is a trusted way to determine what improvements will add value and what an appropriate sales price is for your home so you don't come up short or have your house on the market an unnecessarily long time. 
|