Mary's Blog

New construction is on the rise, we are seeing considerably more new homes being built in 2013 and this is a great sign right? Well YES until buyers starting ADDING on thousands in upgrades and options which no recent sales will support!   Some builders very wisely are putting in their sales cont...

This has been a fairly recent development so please consider this: No question that home values are on the rise and that multiple offers are the new reality and that supply is low and demand is high.....BUT  Is the value for these homes really there? Appraisals take into consideration PAST sales ...

TOO ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY AND THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DOING SO.....BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU! WE THINK OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES AND PRAY FOR THOSE STILL IN HARMS WAY.   

There has been a trend in the Appraisal Industry and many of my colleagues across the country are seeing the same thing....what about you? Starting in 2013 we have seen a huge increase in the amount of What Appraisers Call Personal or Non Lender Appraisal requests. We are seeing that Buyers and S...

HINT, HINT ACTIVE RAIN, WILL YOU FEATURE THIS POST? In replying to a Members Featured Post on Active Rains Daily Email Drop (Beverly Herdman)  Understanding the Appraisal  Process  Another Member Steve Earnshaw who read my comment said: I re-read Mary Thompson's post.  Very well stated.  This sh...

I sure hope Active RAIN FEATURES this post. I am using Active Rain to HELP with a Pet Adoption! I know this is a community that LOVES Pets. I have a wonderful Pitt Bull LAB mix that needs a forever home or Foster home in the North Georgia area (Gainesville, GA) I found him in Flowery Branch, GA j...

Closings are taking longer these days not only due to increase in volume. If you are thinking Appraisers are holding up the works.....I have news and some Facts for you..... A recent survey of appraisers across the USA was conducted and the question put to them By Appraisal Port (a widely used ap...

USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) these are the rules adopted by the ASB (Appraisal Standards Board) which Appraisers Must Follow in all appraisal, appraisal review and appraisal consulting Assignments or Face REVOCATION of their licenses depending upon the severity of ...

For sale by owner Sales are used infrequently by appraisers these days and Fannie Mae has indicated that they will not allow appraisers to use For Sale By Owner sales as comps. Not sure of the current status on this, but here is the reasoning. 1. For Sale by owner sales leave many things unanswer...

Lately, this is becoming more common. Homeowners and Realtors giving Appraisers COMPS to do their appraisal report. It usually starts like this...."I am in this business (either Realtor, Builder, Mortgage Lender, ETC) so I would like to give you some Comps to help you do your job". Some go so far...