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When you sell your home, appraisers use comps (comparable market sales) of local properties sold within the last six months to value your home. With today's rapidly rising seller's market, six-month-old information is ancient history. Appraised value does not always equal the true market value, or what the home will sell for on the open market.
Realtors will give you a comparative market analysis, an informal estimate of market value based on comparable sales. Lenders, on the other hand, will use the appraised value to determine a new mortgage amount. Some lenders require that the stated property value covers the mortgage amount plus their selling costs in case of foreclosure. For this reason, a sale may fall through if a home sells on the open market for more than the appraised value, which often happens in bidding wars over hot property.
We learned the importance of securing a sufficiently high appraisal when we sold a rental property in Lake Elsinore, California. We listed the house for 4,700 on Friday. By Monday morning, we had three offers: 5,000, 5,000, and 0,000. We accepted the one for 5,000 because the buyers had ,000 down, reassuring us that they had sufficient funds.
As usual, the lender sent an appraiser to review the property. This busy appraiser didn't take the time to view all the upgrades we put into the custom-built home. Even worse, he used only comps from the local one-mile radius. Because this home is close to a shopping district, there were not many homes sold in this limited area during the six-month period.
The appraiser used comps six months old; during this time housing costs in Southern California appreciated around thirty percent. Sales from six months previous should have gone up in value by ,000 on a 0,000 home. This means that our home should have been worth 0,000 to 0,000, especially since buyers are willing to pay this price on the open market. To increase the value of this home, at the time there was not another three bedroom home listed in the area for under 0,000 (excluding manufactured homes). However, the appraiser valued our home for only 0,000 -- and we would have lost the sale if the offer did not include a sufficient down payment.
Because a low appraisal can kill your sale, finding a buyer with a large down payment provides you with a safety net. You may also choose a buyer with strong credit who doesn't have to put a large percentage down. If you think that your home's appraisal could become a problem, make sure you don't include a clause in your sale's contract which states "subject to appraisal."
How to Avoid Low Appraisals
Hire your own appraiser before the sale. Then ask your buyer's or lender's appraiser to review your appraisal.
Retain the option to approve your buyer's mortgage lender. Make sure that the buyer doesn't use a lender with a history of deliberately underestimating property values. A good real estate agent should know which lenders routinely under value homes.
Keep records of repairs and upgrades, including costs. Take "before" and "after" photographs. Create an organized journal with a listing of expenses and include pictures to show to the appraiser during the appraisal appointment. Stage your home for the appraiser like you do for buyers.
Secure your own property comparables to make sure the appraiser uses complete information. Call real estate agents with homes in escrow and get the sales prices. Make a list of these properties with the agent's phone numbers and give it to the appraiser.
What to Do When Your Selling Appraisal Comes in Too Low:
Ask for another appraisal.
Protest the appraisal with documentation of your upgraded expenses.
Have the buyers make a larger down payment.
When you sell or buy real estate, remember that the certified appraisal is just one person's opinion of the value of your home. The opinion that counts for you is the buyer's: you want to be sure the buyer values your home above all others.
Copyright (c) 2005 Jeanette Fisher, All rights reserved.
Appraisal vs. Market Value: How to Avoid Pitfalls in the Sale of Your HomeAre you looking to buy the new dancing Mickey Mouse toy for this up and coming Christmas season, but don't know where to get it at a good price?
I am about to tell you where you can get Dance Star Mickey at a great deal. But first, I would like to tell you a little about this amazing new toy made by Disney and Fisher Price.
According to consumer reports, this doll created by Fisher Price is said to be the hottest new Christmas gift for children this year.
This toy made its debut in September of 2010 on the NBC television show 'Dancing With The Stars', and has already become a quick selling item.
Why are parents buying dancing Mickey for their kids
For years, parents have been waiting for a toy that can move like a real animated character.
This doll is so life-like that it's actually scary. When Mickey is interrupted in his routine, he will even let you know by saying, "I was not expecting that", and will later continue.
It interacts with your child by playing games and dancing.
Fisher Price in co-ordinance with Disney has really done it this time!
There have been a number of interactive / movable toys released on the market, but so far, none have been as incredible as this.
This movable doll stands approximately 2 feet tall and operates on 6 AA batteries. Mickey can be used for hours and hours before the batteries run out. He is also easily turned on and off by a simple button located on his foot.
In addition to talking, dancing, clapping, walking, and singing; this toy features multiple interactive activities, songs, and jokes.
Mickey dances to a variety of styles including:
• Latin
• Techno
• Moonwalk
• Disco
• Mambo
• And Others...
I have never been this intrigued by a toy. When I first saw this doll in action, I was in awe. Not only does it move smoothly and life-like, but it is also very cute. Nonetheless, what other toy do you know that can imitate Michael Jackson's Moonwalk?
It simply has to be seen first hand to truly appreciate what I am describing above, but if your child loves Mickey Mouse, then this toy is a must.
Although it can be a tad costly, this toy is truly worth the money and will provide your child with happiness for a very long time.
Where can you get this dancing Mickey Mouse toy at a discount price?
You can try searching your local retail store for this amazing toy. However, due to its popularity and current new release, many places will probably be sold out.
Therefore, after doing some pretty good research, I found online stores offer the best prices and sales on this item.
Online stores seem to have a larger supply than retail. What is also great about buying this item online is that most stores will offer free shipping.
The New Dancing Mickey Mouse Toy - Where To Get It At A Great PriceContrary to what 99 out of 100 agents will tell you, it IS possible to sell your home yourself. When you undertake that task, you'll become a FSBO (pronounced "fisbo," and short for "for sale by owner"), and though it can be a challenge, it's one that thousands of home sellers tackle every day. And you can do it, too! In a nutshell, here are the things to do to become a successful FSBO.
Clean your home (inside and out) and get the yard looking spic-and-span. Set a sales price based on selling prices of homes nearby of similar size and amenities. Put a FSBO sign in your front yard with your phone number and/or email address.Place an ad in the real estate classified section of your local paper. Pass out flyers to your neighbors and put at your local shopping mall, stores, libraries, and apartment complexes.Hold an open house.
Now let's look at them individually. Cleaning up and doing whatever maintenance seems self-explanatory, but be aware that you get used to certain things (especially odors) when you live in a home everyday. So it's worthwhile to ask someone to walk through your house and give you an honest appraisal of things that need to be fixed or smells that need to be addressed, such as sticky doors, squeaky hinges, and the cat box in the utility room.
Setting a price can be a bit tricky, but you can find out what other homes are on the market by calling the agents listed on signs in your neighborhood and asking the prices of their houses. If the homes have been on the market a long time, you can assume they're over priced.
Putting a sign in your yard is easy. They're available in most hardware or department store, and they're cheap. Yet most agents will tell you that signs are the best advertising mediums, since people who see yard signs are cruising the neighborhood. That means they're in the market for a home in that area, so if you put a sign out, you'll get calls.
Now a word for those who are squeamish about putting your phone number on a sign. You can substitute an email address to protect yourself from unwanted calls. It will limit your number of prospects, but it will give you a greater degree of privacy. Since you're moving anyway, it might be best to list your phone number. If you know how to put pictures on the Internet, you can list you website address on the sign.
Placing a newspaper ad is easy, but make sure to give accurate information and make it enticing. Be brief, but tell buyers what's special about your home. Even with the advent of the Internet, a majority of homebuyers still cruise neighborhoods and religiously peruse real estate ads, especially on Sundays.
Putting up flyers in the area will also let people know your home is available. This can be especially effective for apartment dwellers longing to own a home of their own.
Open Houses
Handing out flyers to neighbors and inviting them to an open house can be your most effective selling tool. After all, your neighbors are happy living in your area and often have friends or family they'd love to have closer to them.
You'll notice I didn't suggest holding an open house and inviting the world. The type of open houses you see agents promoting are for the agents to get leads on home buyers. Few houses sell at open houses.
There are other factors to consider after you've found a buyer, but you can generally find help through a lawyer or an escrow company. The bottom line is: you CAN sell your home yourself. It just takes time, diligence, and attention to detail.
Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher
Selling Your Home Yourself in Six Steps: You Can Do It!Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught. This is a story of a fish everyone would like to catch, but there's more to it than paying a tax bill.
When Jesus called Peter to be his disciple, Peter was busy fishing with his brother Andrew. "Follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Peter knew how to catch fish, but Jesus would teach him how to bring people into his kingdom.
I wonder whether Jesus ' eyes twinkled when he told Peter to cast a hook without baits into the sea, catch a fish, take money out of its mouth and pay the temple tax (Matthew 17:24 -27).
"I don't know why Jesus told Peter to find the coin in the mouth of a fish," says Barrett, age 12. "Maybe he likes fish."
Barrett, I think Jesus liked eating fish because hemultiplied a little boy's two fish and five loaves to feed 5.000 people. But I don't think Jesus ate the fish that Peter caught.
All true Southerners will be glad to know the coin-bearing fish was a catfish, according to the New Testament Greek word. Under Jewish law, any fish without scales could not be eaten.
Kendall, 12, says Jesus told Peter to go fishing "because he wanted to pay his temple tax and Peter 's. Peter had to have faith, and so do we. "
Peter's faith was tested because Jesus told him how to fish, which was his area of expertise. It's often our strengths rather than our weaknesses that keep us from depending on the Lord. Even land lovers know fish don't swim around with coins in their mouths ".
Sam, 7, gets to the heart of the matter: "Jesus didn't wantto hurt the feelings of the tax collectors. "
Kings ' sons are exempt from paying taxes, so Jesus was not obligated to pay a tax to a temple belonging to his Father. But Jesus paid it anyway. By paying the tax with money delivered by a catfish, Jesus avoided one reason someone might have used to reject him.
As the Scripture predicted, Jesus became a rock of offense over which many stumbled. Under the Old Testament law, anyone who hung on a tree was cursed. Jesus committed no sin, yet he hung on a cross, or tree, to bear the curse of sin for us.
Jesus paid the temple tax so that even the hated tax collectors would have the opportunity to accept him as their rock of salvation. As Jesus told John the Baptist, "Blessed is he who is not offended because of me."
Wisegenerals pick their battles. Sometimes, we need to give up our rights in order to avoid unnecessary offense. As ambassadors for Christ, our mindset should be about advancing God's kingdom rather than exercising our rights.
God is concerned about justice, but it's often through the sufferings from the injustice that people see his grace in action. Remember, Jesus allowed himself to be crucified by evil people when he suffered on our behalf to pay the price for our sins.
Think about this: All your rights belong to God.
Memorize this truth: "I have made myself a servant to all that I might win the more." (I Corinthians 9:19)