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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Preparing for a Home Appraisal Inspection

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…

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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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Kairos’ Innovative Tools for Residential Appraisers

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…

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The Challenges of Green Home Appraisals

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…

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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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What Is a Reconsideration of Value for an Appraisal Report?

reconsideration of value

The cooling housing market is forecast to continue in 2023, and buyers and sellers are proceeding with caution. With increased interest rates and declining home sales, there’s plenty to be nervous about—and there’s still the home appraisal, which can derail any mortgage deal if it comes in “low.” The good news is that a reconsideration…

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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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