Posts by Alex Todak
Highest ROI: Top Home Renovations
Today’s housing market has limited inventory, along with rising home prices and interest rates. For that reason, many people have opted out of the real estate market entirely for now and are instead putting their money toward making some improvements to their current homes. Even with inflation and supply chain issues, home remodeling projects are…
Read MoreReasons to Work with an Appraisal Management Company
An appraisal management company (AMC) plays many key roles in the home appraisal process. Its appraisal management services involve many moving parts. But most importantly, it ensures accuracy, fairness, compliance, and a better experience. Read on to learn why it is important to work with an appraisal management company and the benefits it provides to…
Read MoreHome Appraisal vs. Home Inspection: How They Differ
When selling your home or buying a house, the appraisal and inspection are critical steps in the process. As they both involve a professional conducting an onsite examination of the property, it’s easy to confuse the two. However, there are key differences between a home appraisal and a home inspection. Is a Home Inspection the…
Read MorePreparing for a Home Appraisal Inspection
When selling your home or refinancing your mortgage, the home appraisal inspection is a crucial step in the process. And of course you want the final appraisal report to reflect your home’s highest possible value. Remember, what your home is worth is also tied to your home equity. If the property appraises at a higher…
Read MoreAppraisal Independence Requirements for Mortgage Brokers
Have you seen the most recent updates to the Appraiser Independence Requirements? This is something worth paying attention to. These guidelines affect loan officers and how closely AMCs can work with mortgage brokers and lenders moving forward. Lenders have previously been scrutinized for how they have interpreted the Appraisal Independence Requirements. But with the recent…
Read MoreKairos’ Innovative Tools for Residential Appraisers
At Kairos Appraisal, we take pride in providing an efficient and streamlined appraisal process that benefits our borrowers, our lending partners, and most importantly our appraisers. We talk a lot about our real estate appraisal tools, but one thing we don’t talk about enough is how we integrate technology to support our appraisers. At Kairos…
Read MoreThe Challenges of Green Home Appraisals
Green and energy-efficient homes offer a ton of value to homeowners and homebuyers, thanks to their energy savings and safety, health, and comfort benefits. But how do we figure this value into home appraisals? Green home appraisals are a hot topic as green and energy-efficient properties continue to gain in popularity. Read on to learn…
Read MoreHow Technology Improves the Home Appraisal Process
Buying a home today looks very different than it did in previous decades. From virtual house tours to applying for a mortgage online, the real estate industry has embraced new technology, weaving it into many of its processes. The home appraisal industry is beginning to use more technology, too. If you are buying or selling…
Read MoreHow to Read a Home Appraisal Report
The home appraisal report plays a significant role in the home buying process. This article provides a brief overview of its various sections and what is covered in each, so you can gain a better understanding of how to read a home appraisal report. In this article, we’ll walk you through the Uniform Residential Appraisal…
Read MoreTypes of Home Appraisals: Sales Comparison vs. Cost Comparison Approach
Real estate appraisers use one of three methods: the sales comparison approach, the cost comparison approach, and the income approach. Sales comparison and cost comparison are the two most common methods. Below is an explanation of each, how they differ, and which types of home appraisals each one is most appropriate for. What Is the…
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