Let Marin Appraisers handle your appraisal

To a lot of us, an appraisal just looks like one more thing in the long list of items for a home purchase or refinance. While there is an increasing number of automated home valuation methods that might seem less expensive than an appraisal, the majority of lenders still want a local expert because the stakes are very high. You might assume that obtaining a mortgage is the only reason to acquire an appraisal, but there are additional cases when the services of a licensed, independent real estate professional might be helpful.

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Challenge your tax assessment in Marin County

If you live in an area where property values have declined, it's possible you're paying too much in property taxes. An appraisal from Marin Appraisers is your best evidence when building your case. We're equipped to assist you in disputing your tax assessment.

PMI removal will lower your mortgage payment

Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI, is a supplemental insurance policy that most lenders ask home buyers to purchase when the amount being loaned to the buyer is more than 80% of the actual value of the home. Most often, this added payment is bundled into the monthly mortgage payment and is promptly forgotten. This is unfavorable because PMI is no longer required when the remaining balance of the loan - whether through market appreciation or principal pay down - goes below the 80% level. In fact, the Homeowners Protection Act (HPA) of 1998 was passed by the United States Congress that requires lenders to dismiss the PMI installments when the balance is paid down to 78% of the original value.

Marin Appraisers can provide you with a statement regarding the value of your home, and the price you paid for the home valuation can generally be offset in just a few months because you'll no longer be paying the PMI.

An appraisal from Marin Appraisers will help you settle a divorce with less stress

A divorce is a very heartbreaking event for the parties involved, and it is often even more complicated by the challenging decision of who keeps the home. It's a good idea to get an appraisal from Marin Appraisers so both parties are completely aware of the true market value of their home, regardless of the situation.

The parties will have a good idea of what price to set if they want to sell the home. And on the flip side, if a "buyout" is the chosen option, both parties will feel like they've gotten a fair evaluation.

Settling an estate with peace of mind

The death of a loved one is a difficult time in life, and settling an estate from a death, or probate, often requires an appraisal to establish Market Value for the residential property involved. The ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) binds us with confidentiality, guaranteeing the highest degree of discretion.

Most Americans don't have dedicated estate planners or executors to manage these issues, unlike wealthy individuals. A home or other property often makes up an unequal share of the total estate value, so knowing the true value of the real estate at hand is of significant importance to ensuring disputing parties leave knowing they've received an honest deal.

Relocating to or from Marin County?

We understand the headaches 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 process, we suggest relocating employees to provide feedback on the positive attributes of their property, along with information regarding any recent sales or listings in their neighborhood that they want to be considered.

Don't sell out for too little or keep your home on the market too long.

A professional appraisal will help you make a better-educated decision when determining your selling price, whether you want to sell your home on your own or with the help of a real estate agent. An appraiser has no vested interest in what price the house sells for, which is different than the interest of real estate agents. Our fees aren't contingent upon the value we report, but rather they are calculated on our efforts to finish the appraisal.

On a daily basis, we determine the difference in value items like an additional bathroom or a kitchen remodel can make. Seeking a professional appraisal is a reliable way to decide 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 - because we're experts in knowing how long properties stay on the market.