It’s quite possible you’re paying too much in property taxes if you live in an area where property values have depreciated. Ad Valorem taxes are based upon a previous assessment of your house, so if values are less than what they used to be in your neighborhood, you can challenge your assessment and save money. An appraisal from Braswell Mountain Appraisals is your best evidence when building your case. We’re equipped to assist you in appealing your tax assessment.

When the amount being loaned to the homebuyer is more than 80% of the actual value of the real estate, almost all lenders ask buyers to take out an extra insurance policy. That policy is Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI. Since the added payment is usually lumped into the monthly mortgage payment, it is often forgotten. PMI is no longer required when the remaining balance of the loan – whether through market appreciation or principal pay down – decreases below the 80% level, making this very unfortunate. In fact, the Homeowners Protection Act (HPA) of 1998 was approved by the United States Congress that requires lenders to eliminate the PMI installments on most mortgages when the balance is paid down to 78% of the original value.

If you’d like to eliminate PMI, DBL Appraisal Service will provide you with a statement regarding the value of your home. The expense of the appraisal can usually be offset in just a few months because you’ll no longer be paying the PMI.

A divorce can be an especially daunting event for both parties, and it is often more complicated by the hard decision of who keeps the home. So both parties are fully aware of the true market value of their property, it’s a good idea to order an appraisal from Braswell Mountain Appraisals, regardless of the situation.

The parties will have a good idea of what price to set, if they wish to sell the home. And if a “buyout” is the chosen option, both parties will feel like they’ve received a fair assessment.

The loss of a loved one is a difficult time in life, and settling an estate from a death, or probate, often entails an appraisal to establish Market Value for the real estate involved. The ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) binds us with confidentiality, ensuring the maximum degree of discretion.

Unlike wealthy individuals, most Americans do not have dedicated estate planners or executors to manage these affairs. A home or other property often makes up an uneven share of the total estate value, so understanding the true value of the real estate at hand is of essential importance to ensuring disputing parties walk away knowing they’ve gotten an honest deal.

We know the stress associated with an employee relocation. That being said, we take great care in setting up a convenient appointment time for the appraisal inspection. During our detailed process, we suggest employees that are moving to provide remarks on the positive features of their property, along with information about any recent sales or listings in their neighborhood that they want considered.

Whether you decide to sell your home on your own or with the help of a real estate agent, a professional appraisal will help you make a better educated decision when determining your selling price. With much different interests than a real estate agent, an appraiser has no vested interest in what price the house sells for. Our fees aren’t a percentage of the sales price, but rather they rest on our efforts to complete the appraisal.

We determine the difference in value items like an additional bathroom or a kitchen remodel can make on a daily basis. Seeking a professional appraisal is a reliable way to determine what improvements will add value and what an appropriate sales price is for your home – so you don’t come up short or have your house on the market an unnecessarily long time – because we’re experts in knowing how long homes stay on the market.