Why you should order an appraisal from MacBride AppraisalThousands of people in California purchase, sell or refinance their home every year. A lot of these transactions include a simple line item for an appraisal. Practically all lenders still call for a local expert because the stakes are incredibly high, even though there are a growing number of automated home valuation processes that might appear to be less expensive than an appraisal. You might believe that securing a mortgage is the only reason to get an appraisal, but there are other instances when the services of a licensed, independent real estate professional could be helpful. ![]() Contest your tax assessmentIt's possible you're paying too much in property taxes if you live in an area where property values have depreciated. Ad Valorem taxes are based upon a previous assessment of your home, so if values have declined in your area, you can challenge your assessment and save money. An appraisal from MacBride Appraisal is your best evidence when building your case. We're qualified to assist you in challenging your tax assessment. Get rid of PMI to lower your mortgage paymentWhen the amount being loaned to the home owneris more than 80% of the actual value of the real estate, nearly all lenders ask buyers to take out this added insurance policy. That policy is Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI. Oftentimes, this additional payment is bundled into the monthly mortgage payment and is soon forgotten. PMI is unnecessary when the remainder of the loan - whether through market appreciation or principal pay down - decreases below the 80% mark, making this very unfortunate. In fact, the Homeowners Protection Act (HPA) of 1998 was passed by the United States Congress requiring lenders to dismiss the PMI payments when the loan-to-value ratio conditions have been met. MacBride Appraisal can provide you with a statement regarding the value of your home, and the price you paid for the appraisal can often be recovered in a short amount of time because you'll no longer be paying the PMI. Order an appraisal from MacBride Appraisal Order onlineGet a clear valuation on a home for divorce settlementsA divorce can be a particularly horrible experience for both parties, and it is often further complicated by the challenging decision of who maintains the home. Regardless of the circumstances, it's a good idea to get an appraisal from MacBride Appraisal so both parties are fully aware of the true market value of their property. The parties will have a clearer picture of what price to set, if they need to sell the home. And if a "buyout" is the chosen option, both parties will feel like they've gotten a fair evaluation. Fair and accurate estate liquidationLosing a loved one is a difficult time in life, and settling an estate from a death, or probate, often calls for an appraisal to establish Fair 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 affairs, unlike wealthy individuals. And since a home or other property often makes up an uneven share of the total estate value, understanding the true worth of the real estate at hand is of vital importance to ensuring disputing parties leave knowing they've gotten an honest deal. Move to or from San Diego County for workWe are aware of the stress involved with an employee relocation. We take great care in establishing a convenient appointment time for the appraisal inspection. During our detailed inspection, we encourage relocating employees to provide input on the positive characteristics of their property, along with information about any new sales or listings in their area that they want considered. Sell your home promptly — at an accurate priceA professional appraisal will help you make a more informed decision when determining your asking price, whether you decide to sell your home on your own or with the help of a real estate agent. 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 complete the appraisal report and and aren't related to the sales price. We examine the difference in value things like an additional bathroom or a kitchen remodel can make on a daily basis. And we're experts in knowing how long propertiesare on the market. So, getting a professional appraisal is a trusted way to determine what improvements will add value and what an applicable sales price is for your home so you don't come up short or have your house on the market an unnecessarily long time. ![]() |