Highest ROI: Top Home Renovations

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…

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Reasons to Work with an Appraisal Management Company

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…

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Home Appraisal vs. Home Inspection: How They Differ

home appraisal

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…

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Appraisal Independence Requirements for Mortgage Brokers

appraisal independence requirements

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…

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How to Read a Home Appraisal Report

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…

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6 Factors That Impact a Home’s Appraised Value

factors that impact a home’s appraised value

Are you ready to put your house on the market and sell your home? You may wonder how your real estate agent arrived at a sales price and what factors influence your home’s appraised value. Whether you are delightfully surprised or disappointed in the pricing recommendation, it’s helpful to understand how homes are valued. While…

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7 Questions Residential Appraisers Ask Homeowners

questions appraisers ask homeowners

When purchasing a home with a mortgage or refinancing, the transaction may require that a home appraisal inspection be done. This is because appraisals assure the lender that they are not issuing mortgages for more than what residential properties are worth. Appraisals are conducted by real estate appraisers, who must meet an educational requirement and…

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How Appraisal Management Companies Aid the Appraisal Process

appraisal management companies

The home appraisal is a key part of any home sale transaction, assuring the lender that they are not issuing a mortgage for more than a property is worth. Lending regulations restrict the borrower, mortgage broker, or lender from choosing which appraiser conducts their home inspection and prevent direct communication between these parties. Appraisal management…

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The Risks and Rewards of ACE+ PDRs

ACE+ PDR

The ACE+ Property Data Report is a new component that could allow borrowers on Freddie Mac–eligible loans to avoid a full appraisal inspection on purchases or cash-out or rate-term refinances. Instead, property information is collected on-site by a real estate agent, inspector, or data collector using Freddie Mac’s proprietary PDR data sets. When the ACE+…

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Kairos Appraisal Services Adds More States to Its Nationwide Roster

October 27, 2022—Kairos Appraisal Services has expanded its service footprint to include the states of South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Minnesota. Kairos Appraisal, a nationally recognized AMC, is now licensed in 42 states. The company is known and recognized for its work in revolutionizing the appraisal process. This tech includes pre-appraisal tools that help improve turn…

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