ACCURATE APPRAISALS KEY TO SECURING MORTGAGE LOANS

Changing Market Conditions Create New Challenges for Industry

For the homebuyer looking to secure financing for the purchase of a home, an accurate appraisal of the property is more important – and perhaps more challenging – than ever before, according to Tim Forsythe, Chairman, Forsythe Appraisals, the nation’s largest independent appraisal company.

“Lenders rely on professional appraisers to estimate the value of a home before approving a mortgage loan,” adds Forsythe. “However, this key step in the home-buying process now requires more research and analysis than it did prior to the national housing slowdown and 2007 collapse of the subprime mortgage market.”

Alan Hummel, SRA, Forsythe Appraisals’ senior vice president and chief appraiser, a former national president of the Appraisal Institute who has testified before the U.S. Congress on mortgage-related issues, points to five key changes in the market:

1. Fewer comparable sales. In an active real estate market, an appraiser can typically prepare a valuation report after analyzing three to four comparable sales in the same neighborhood.

However, in most communities, the slow pace of sales means appraisers need to look further afield, reviewing homes in other neighborhoods and making any necessary adjustments. “Now, an appraiser might need to research and analyze numerous comparables located throughout several different neighborhoods, - which requires much more time.” said Hummel.

2. Big discounts from listing prices. In the first half of the decade, sellers frequently sold their homes for close to the listing price. Now, the differences between the list price and sales prices are much greater: a home that might originally have been listed at $400,000, then reduced to $375,000, before finally selling at $350,000 for instance.

“Therefore, an appraiser needs to analyze the transaction to see if seller simply started with too high a price, or if the value of homes in the neighborhood are actually going down,” said Hummel. Because of those reductions, a buyer or seller shouldn’t rely on listing prices in their neighborhood to estimate the current value of a home, he added.

3. More seller incentives. To market their properties, many sellers are offering significant incentives to buyers, such as paying their closing costs. Because those concessions affect a home’s sale price, the appraiser must carefully research and review the closing information so they can accurately analyze and report the true market oriented sales price, Hummel said.

4. Greater concern about property conditions. Buyers today can be very selective about the condition of the home, according to Hummel. “In most U.S, markets, a home in top-notch condition has significantly more value than one in poor or even average condition,” he said. “That means appraisers need to take the time to adequately research the interior and exterior condition of sales and adjust differences accordingly.”

5. Lenders are more cautious. Since residential values are declining in many local markets, lenders are scrutinizing appraisals carefully to be certain of the potential risk in underwriting a mortgage loan. “Professional appraisers are hired by the lender to be certain they receive an accurate, unbiased opinion of the home’s value,” Hummel said. “Borrowers can request a copy of the appraisal from the lender and review the report.”

As a result of these conditions, appraisers are spending more time on research and analysis, Hummel said. However, there has been little change in pricing levels for these more complex appraisals,

6. Conclusions. Concludes Forsythe: “All aspects of the real estate transaction are more complex since the downturn of the market. This for the most part is a positive, as it has brought back structure and discipline to an appraisal process that many organizations took for granted until recently. Lenders, rightfully so, want to make good loans to qualified buyers regardless of local housing market trends. We view our role as professional appraisers as ensuring that everyone is singing from the same song sheet as it relates to value. There really never was any room for error in the appraisal process, it’s just become more apparent due to the current housing market.”

About Forsythe Appraisals

Since 1940, Forsythe Appraisals LLC has built a reputation based on a legacy of delivering legendary customer service and the highest quality appraisals. The firm’s long-standing commitment to an appraiser-staff model ensures quality and consistency throughout the organization and continues to attract and retain the highest caliber appraisers in the industry. With 37 branch offices strategically located from coast to coast, Forsythe Appraisals offers the largest number of staff appraisers than any other independent appraisal company in the country. For additional information log onto www.forsytheappraisals.com.