The Bakersfield Appraiser's Blog

I've always been a fan of using technology. I've reported in the past about switching from paper and tape appraisal inspections to laser and pocket pc or tablet pc. Taking the leap from one to the other takes a little getting used to, but if you ease into, it will take forever to get the hang of ...

I've written about the advantages of being mobile and using the latest technology in the past. Now I've come across a great application for the Apple iPhone: LogMeIn Ignition.  Much like Go To My PC, PC Anywhere, and several other remote computer control programs, LogMeIn allows you to log in to ...

Last year ended with a record number of foreclosures throughout the nation, and Kern County was no exception. See my year-end summary for detailed numbers. so far this year has been remaining fairly stable with a sharp decline from December's 663 recorded Trustee's Deeds to 487 in January. Februa...

As an appraiser in Bakersfield, the rate of foreclosures is an important statistic to watch for our market conditions. Again, for the purposes of this post, foreclosures are considered to be those properties where a Trustee's Deed has been recorded, indicating that the lender has taken possession...

First of all, when I say foreclosure, I'm referring only to those properties where a Trustee's Deed has been recorded, or if it is on the market, is listed as an REO. Based on my data compiled from local listing services and the county recorder, the number of foreclosures has been declining for t...

During these hot months in Bakersfield I need any edge I can get to speed up my appraisal inspections without sacrificing quality. Of course with most loans going FHA these days with my clients, the inspection is a little bit slower than for a conventional loan to begin with. Over the years I've ...

If defaults and foreclosures don't slow down, falling home prices won't stabilize anytime soon in Kern County. Notices of default have been steadily increasing since May of 2005, and foreclosures have been increasing since July of 2006. From May 2005 to July 2006, most homeowners in dire straits ...

The Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 has been passed by both the House and the Senate. Congress is now resolving differences in amendments passed. Once this process is complete, the bill will go to the President to be signed into law. However, the President's senior advisors are recommending a ...

So, where is the Bakersfield real estate market headed? That's a difficult question to answer because of the many variables that affect this market. Food and gas prices are increasing. We're headed into an election. Foreclosures are skyrocketing. We've probably seen the last of fed rate cuts. All...

There has been a lot of discussion about Zaio in the appraisal related forums. Many have commented about the concept that Zaio has undertaken, but I don't know that there is a concensus out there yet. Personally, I think this is a great concept, but I think execution has been poor. Today, Zaio an...