Most of us have our own reasons for wanting to buy a home in Albuquerque. Maybe we want a bath with a luxury spa. Maybe we want a huge deck for parties.

But your lender doesn't care about such things - the designer tub, the fire pit, and all the extras. What they really care about is the actual value of the home and if it's worth as much as the value of the mortgage.

To a bank, a house is collateral. That means that they can foreclose on the home if you miss payments.

Therefore, a home must be valued at, or above, the agreed-upon purchase price, and this has to happen before you can close on a house. That’s where a home appraiser comes in.

A Home Appraiser Is Neutral

After you sign a home purchase agreement, which is the contract between you and the seller about the terms of the pending sale, and before your lender approves your loan, the home you’re buying must pass an appraisal.

An appraiser is either licensed by the state or a certified professional. It's their job to asses the value of the home. They are on no one's side, not you or the seller. They are chosen by your lender through an appraisal management company, which is a neutral entity.

Appraisers survey a house in person, using five main criteria to determine the value of a home:

  • Location
  • Age
  • Condition
  • Additions or renovations
  • Recent sales of comparable homes

Be Prepared to Pay for the Appraisal — or to Negotiate

Usually the home buyer is the one that pays for the appraisal, and this is generally included in the closing costs. But this can be negotiated. You can always ask if the seller will pay for it.

Home appraisals are not as expensive as you might think. They will usually cost between $287 and $373.

Appraisals Take a While, So Be Patient

Typically, a purchase agreement has a “home appraisal contingency” requiring that the appraisal be completed within 14 days of the sales contract being signed. Because it takes appraisers some time to visit your house and write a report — up to a week, or longer in a busy housing market — your lender will order the appraisal immediately after you sign the purchase agreement.

Looking to sell your home for the right price in Albuquerque? Let us help you sell your home in Albuquerque and get the right price. And make sure to join us twice a week on our blog for more great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

8000 Oso Loco Road NE, Albuquerque, NM  $288,000

3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms (1 full, 0 half) / 1879 Square Feet

Excellent opportunity to own in Far North East Heights neighborhood! This beautiful home is close to in shopping, bike paths and highly desirable schools. Open and bright floor plan with custom Southwest touches throughout; ledges; arched doorways and more. A custom Kiva fireplace with built-in Bancos grace the family room that opens to the sunny kitchen with breakfast bar; kitchen island; lots of cabinets and pantry for storage. Separate formal dining room. Master Suite w/access to patio and ample spa like en suite with walk-in closet that includes a custom closet system. Low maintenance front and backyard landscaping w/ lush shrubs and trees & cool covered patio for warm summer evenings.

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

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