Tampa Bay Appraiser's Blog

Every year, countless people in the United States buy, sell or refinance their own slice of the American Dream.  Most, if not all, of these transactions include a simple line item for an appraisal.  It has become an understood and accepted part of a real estate transaction. ”Let’s bring in the expert and make sure we’re not spending too much on this property.”

But is this the only reason to get an appraisal? Are there other times when the services of a certified, licensed, independent real estate professional might come in handy?  You bet. continue reading…

Marriages already strained by the economic crisis are thrust into even worse territory when couples choose to divorce but cannot sell their homes.

Each spouse needs the proceeds of the property sale to make a down payment on another home or to otherwise move on with their lives; but in many instances, there are no takers for the residence and the owners owe more than the real estate is worth. continue reading…

According to a survey conducted by MarketWatch, (01/30/2010) of home designers, builders and home buyers indicate that buyers are seeking cost-effective features and rejecting things that don’t have lasting value.

The survey seems to indicate that it’s all about family togetherness – casual living, entertaining and flexible spaces. The annual survey of buyer preferences, identified these must-haves in new homes:

  1. Large kitchens with islands
  2. Energy-efficient appliances, super insulation, and high-efficiency windows.
  3. Home offices….. continue reading…

Typical Pre-Listing Activities

1.  Research Current Properties
2.  Research Sales Activity from MLS and public records databases
3.  Provide Average Days on Market Assessment
4.  Review Property Tax Roll
5.  Prepare a Comparable Market Analysis (CMA)     continue reading…

When I was a kid I always preferred getting the bad news first.  Sometimes we have to take our medicine (literally).  So here’s some, well, bad news.  A recent article from HousingWire.com stated, “Borrowers who said it was immoral to default were 77% less likely to declare their intention to do so, while people who know someone who defaulted are 82% more likely to declare their intention to do so, the study said.”  Loan originations are up as well as defaults and losses on mortgage portfolios.  Yuck!  It must be good for us because it tastes horrible.

So here’s the good news.  continue reading…