The appraiser that you hire for your commercial investments before you buy can have a great impact on the amount of money you spend and your chances of getting funding from a lender. Most lenders will not accept just any appraiser. If you get an appraisal with an appraiser that a lender does not accept, you have just wasted your time and money, and you are no closer to getting the property you want.

In the world of commercial real estate, not all appraisers are considered equal. It takes a certain expertise and knowledge to correctly appraise commercial property, and not just anybody is qualified. There are two types of appraisers, a fee appraiser and a staff appraiser. A fee appraiser is generally available to the public for hire, and a staff appraiser works for a specific lender or lending firm.

Let’s look at what makes a qualified appraiser and how they can help you purchase the property you want with as little hassle as possible.

It is common practice for a lender to appoint the appraiser that is to appraise the property in question. This practice is in place because there are dishonest buyers who work with certain appraisers that will inflate the property’s true value. This, in turn, allows the buyer to borrow more money than what a lender would normally allow, thus increasing the lender’s risk.

Inflating a property’s true market value is surprisingly easy because appraisals are simply guesstimates of a property’s true market value. They are interpretations based on the surrounding property and selected criteria. An appraisal can be “fixed” according to a person’s interest. That is why the two parties must not have any prior dealings or common interest in the subject property.

A very widely used and accepted type of appraiser is one that is certified by the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers. They are members, making them M.A.I. designated. Most lenders will require that you use only an MAI appraiser. These MAI appraisers have gone through intense study, years of practice, and have had to perform under tight supervision while appraising many different properties.

Most MAI appraisers will not conspire with a borrower because there is too much to lose and too much invested in their practice. For this reason, most lenders will accept MAI appraisals regardless of whether or not they know the appraiser personally. For the most part, lenders will have trusted appraisers that they work with all the time, and will require that you use only their appraisers. Be sure to get clarification on this issue before you hire an You can trust MAI appraisers to perform an accurate evaluation of your prospect property. With this appraisal, you will be able to get the proper amount of money loaned on the property and not come out short.

It is always a good idea to research your appraiser and view some of the work that he or she has done in the past. The appraiser and the appraisals should be of the utmost professional quality because so much is riding on their appraisal. Even if it costs you more money, always use an MAI appraiser to avoid problems with the lender and unnecessary expenditures.

MAI appraisers are crucial to your commercial real estate investing endeavors, and can carry quite an impact on the money that can be loaned to you. To get the money you expect from a lender, use a MAI appraiser every time!

By: Yolanda Bishop

About the Author:


Tony Seruga, Yolanda Seruga and Yolanda Bishop of [http://www.maverickrei.com] specialize in commercial and investment real estate. As of May, 2006, they and their partners are managing over $600 million dollars worth of new projects.

Renewable Energy -Energy Conservation

In the past, the city of Houston was a famous Wild West location. In keeping with that reputation, the Houston real estate market can also be an unpredictable appraisal venture with a high rate of price fluctuation. This is largely because real estate trends are dictated by local factors as well as national economic conditions. Real estate also covers fixtures, build up and natural resources within or adjacent to the particular property. Appraisal professionals are aware of the latest trends and pricing which allows them to accurately evaluate a property. In addition, prior to any real estate transaction such as rentals, leases, purchase and sales, a real estate appraiser must provide an estimate on the value of a specific property.

Because of the unique real estate requirements of the Houston area, the need for real estate appraisals is more common than other real estate services. This is because Houston real estate appraisals are required when property is to be taxed, insured, mortgaged or leased. Appraisals are also mandatory when clients declare bankruptcy, foreclose on property or enter into divorce proceedings. It is impossible to complete a property sale unless the property has been appraised. If an appraisal is not completed, consumers have no idea regarding the property value and cannot be sure that they are receiving a fair value for their investment.

In addition to acting as appraisers, some Houston real estate appraisers offer additional services which may include testifying in court if necessary, acting as consultants or providing professional opinions regarding property matters.

The generally accepted method of appraising a property is to adhere to a set pattern of criteria and a detailed examination of the property in order to guarantee a fair evaluation. Appraisers obtain reports from similar properties in related counties and study sales trends of similar surrounding real estate properties. This allows them to create a fair and accurate estimate of the property in relation to these properties. Real estate appraisers also need to have access to original property registration information and obtain an accurate measurement of an existing property. All these factors are then taken into account by the appraiser and using their experience and professional training, they establish a fair and equitable value for the property.

By: Joseph Devine

About the Author:


Joe Devine New Houston Homes

Stop Foreclosure – Save Your Credit

Appraisers

Appraisers are licensed by the state and can be found through your real estate directory, real estate offices, or the bank. Appraisers often work for themselves, but also work for mortgage firms, real estate brokers, lenders, corporations, and government agencies. An appraiser is a professional who has the knowledge and expertise necessary to estimate the value of real estate. They typically work for individual clients and focus on evaluating one piece of real estate at a time, spending much of their time researching and writing reports.

The most critical step in any appraisal is for the appraiser to identify the Highest and Best Use of a given property. This will form the basis for all three valuation approaches or techniques that follow.

Highest and Best Use

Highest and Best Use is that use that will result in the highest value of a property. It will be that use that is physically possible, financially feasible, and legally permitted. For example, if a vacant plot of land is situated along a busy street, is large enough to accommodate a department store, is zoned for retail commercial use, and a new department store could be expected to be successful there, then the highest and best use of that site would be as a department store site. By contrast, suppose that same site has a home on it. If it can be shown that the value of that site is actually greater as a residence than as a site for a department store, then the highest and best use would be as a residence. Highest and best use is all about whatever use gives the property the most value in the marketplace. Once the highest and best use has been identified, the appraiser begins to apply the three basic valuation techniques.

The Cost Approach

The Cost Approach: a set of procedures through which a value indication is derived by estimating the current cost to construct a reproduction of the existing structure, deducting the accrued depreciation and adding the estimated land value. The principle of substitution is the basis of the cost approach, in that no rational person will pay more for a property than the amount for which he can obtain, by purchase of a site and construction of a building, with undue delay, a property of equal desirability and utility. Appraisers typically make use of published cost figures when calculating the cost to construct a building. These sources of data are available online and in printed form. Land value is determined by a comparison of the subject site with other similar sites that have recently sold.

The Income Approach

The Income Approach is typically used in appraising income-producing properties. It is a technique whereby the gross or net income of an income producing property is capitalized at a rate which provides a return of interest on the money invested and a recapture of the capital investment in the improvement over a reasonable term of the investment. Capitalization is accomplished for simple residential properties such as rented homes or duplexes by the use of a Gross Rent Multiplier. This involves multiplying the total monthly rent of a property times a number (GRM) found by dividing the sale prices of similar properties by their monthly rents. Commercial and industrial properties involve more complex formulas to determine their value in the income approach, such as cash flow analysis.

The Sales Comparison Analysis

While cost and income considerations are important, the Sales Comparison Analysis is regard as the industry standard for residential properties. Appraisers get to know the neighborhoods in which they work. To assure that any effects (positive or negative) of its location will be reflected in the sales comparison analysis, the appraiser should select comparable sales from within the same neighborhood whenever possible. If this is not possible, the appraiser may need to make “neighborhood” or “location” adjustments for any sales that are not subject to this same neighborhood characteristic.

For commercial and industrial properties, location within a certain neighborhood may not as important as the characteristics of its specific physical location. A commercial site needs to be in a location that is suitable for the types of businesses that could locate there but also has to be of a suitable size, shape, and have suitable access to customers. For example, a gas station needs to have a site that is large enough and that customers can enter and exit conveniently. As a result, sales of sites that could possibly accommodate a gas station are compared and adjusted to match the characteristics of the subject site.

The same is true of other aspects of a property, such as the size, quality and features of the buildings. Differences that the market reacts to are adjusted in the comparable sales to reflect what is present in the “subject” property that is being appraised. If a sold home features a fireplace and the subject does not have one, but the market considers a fireplace to be important, the appraiser make a downward adjustment to the sale price of the comparable sold home because it did have one and the property being appraised does not. The reverse is true when the home being appraised has a feature that other homes that have sold do not have. The basic question is what features are present in a property that buyers are willing to pay extra to get, or will pay less if it they are not there? When differences exist, the appraiser must determine how much a typical buyer will add or deduct for it.

Final Estimate of Value

Once the appraiser has completed the three techniques, it is time to decide which of them is the most reliable and most closely follows the actions of the market. For residential properties, the Sales Comparison Analysis is typically the most reliable. For commercial or industrial properties, all three techniques (or portions of one or more) may be reliable. The appraiser reconciles the various aspects of each technique into what he or she believes produces a credible and supportable opinion of value. The result is the Final Value Estimate, which, depending on the needs of the client, may be expressed as a single number or a range of value.

By: Harry E Davis

About the Author:


Harry E. Davis is a Texas state certified residential real estate appraiser in Texas and is webmaster of the FHA Appraiser Directory Appraiser. Appraisals are available at Austin Texas Appraiser.

Digital Cameras and Photographic Gear

The Texan city of Houston is a famous Wild West location. The Houston real estate market is an unpredictable business venture and has a high rate of fluctuation. This is largely because real estate trends are governed by local factors as well as global recession. Houston real estate revolves around residential and commercial property. Residential properties have revenue generation potential and are therefore considered investment property. Real estate also covers fixtures, built up and natural resources found with the particular property. Prior to any real estate undertaking such as rentals, leases, purchase, and sale, Houston real estate appraisers provide estimates on the value of specific real estate property.

The need for real estate appraiser services is more frequent than other real estate services. This is because Houston real estate appraisals are undertaken when property is to be taxed, insured, mortgaged, or leased. Appraisals are obligatory when clients declare bankruptcy, foreclose on property, undergo divorce proceedings, or terminate a business. It is not possible to close a property deal unless it has been appraised. If the procedure is eliminated, clients have no idea regarding their property value and cannot argue their property price points.

Apart from providing Houston real estate appraisals, these professionals may even provide information on Austin real estate appraisers offer related services. This includes testifying in court if necessary and acting as consultants and providing suggestions regarding property matters. Houston real estate appraisal estimates are reached by adhering to a set pattern and detailed investigation in order to guarantee a fair approximation. At first, Houston real estate appraisers put in place a written report of a concerned property and then create further reports based upon detailed checklists and analyze it. Appraisers obtain reports from related counties and study sales trends of surrounding real estate properties. When dealing with commercial real estate, Houston real estate appraisals are based up on income proofs, working costs, property tax and building repair costs. In order to reach up on accurate estimates, they need to have access to original property registration details and measure an existing property.

By: Ken Marlborough

About the Author:


Houston Real Estate provides detailed information on Houston Real Estate, Houston Real Estate Agents, Houston Real Estate Schools, Houston Real Estate Listings and more. Houston Real Estate is affiliated with Austin [http://www.i-TexasRealEstate.com].

Thanksgiving Traditions – Recipes

Happy New Year. Make a difference this year. “Pay it forward” as in the movie. If you haven’t seen it, WOW, do.

If you buy a house or refinance one, through a lender, you will have to have an appraisal. The reason it is required is FHA insures the loan, VA quarantees the loan and conventional loans are federally related. The easiest way to explain the process is from the beginning.

There are three types of residential appraisers. There are also timber, agricultural, industrial and other appraisers. Most residential appraisers are not allowed to do those and even if they are usually they will reject the request because they don’t have that kind of expertise. There are licensed, certified and general appraisers. Usually the licensed appraiser has the least education and can do an appraisal up to a certain value. I always find this a little stupid since you can’t know the value until you are done with the appraisal. What do you do, complete it and then tell the lender, oops I’m sorry, I can’t give you the completed appraisal because it exceeded my limit. Certified appraisers can usually do any value of residential property and up to a certain amount in commercial. General can pretty well appraise anything, Trump’s ……

Usually appraisers receive the assignment, request, contract with the contact information and address. From there begins the initial file work. A search is done of the area , then of the neighborhood, determining types of housing, age range, price range, marketing time….Hopefully at that time there is adequate information to make one trip. A call is made to the contact, usually a homeowner or agent. Sometimes the house will be on a lockbox, which makes it convenient for everyone, especially the appraiser, if it works. First an oblique picture is taken of the front, rear and one of the street. The house is supposed to be measured on the exterior including porches, bay areas, garage, etc. Then the square footage is calculated in the living area, which excludes unfinished, unheated areas, such as the garage, a utility room and open areas above the first floor.

Think of an appraisal like a physical exam. Everything, I mean, everything , from the front door (insulated steel entry) to the floor (ceramic tile) to the windows (insulated double hung) and the screens (full) is noted. When he or she started the file some of the information they were looking for was three recent, similar sales that occurred in the same neighborhood. That’s the perfect condition but it doesn’t always happen. I should say it never happens in rural areas unless there is a new development. So if the subject’s size was fairly close to accurate (taken from most public records, mls, agent or plans and specs) then the appraiser has it made , almost. With map in hand they go on to the comparables. A front picture and notes are all that’s needed there. Back to the office they go. Please rate and tell friends.

By: Suzie Shannon

About the Author:


Suzie is a licensed real estate broker and certified residential appraiser with twenty years of experience who hopes to make a positive difference in the industry one step and one person at a time. Other qualified experts in the field are contributing as well. http://www.freewebs.com/realestatenews

Please email your thoughts and ideas to sjshannon@aol.com with appraisal in the subject line.

Gourmet Coffee Beans – Coffee Makers

When applying for a mortgage loan, one of the major considerations is the value of the home. After all, a lender will not want to lend more money on a home than it is worth. So to establish its value, a licensed appraiser will be normally required to perform an appraisal of the property.

Typically, an appraiser will visit and inspect the property, take measurements and photos and then do research on similar homes in the area. What the appraiser is looking for are fairly recent sales of similar properties within a close proximity to your home (known as the “subject” property.) These homes that are used for comparison (known as “comparables” or “comps”) should be similar in design, function and size. Where there are discrepancies, the appraiser can determine the difference in value of such discrepancies.

When all the research is done, the appraiser should come to a conclusion as to the value of the property. Two things to keep in mind about this value:

It is an opinion and appraisers have the flexibility to interpret the market place as they understand it. A good appraisal should be within a reasonable range of value with another reputable appraiser and to be very solid should have few adjustments in value between the subject and the comps. (The adjustments in value are to account for the discrepancies between the subject and the comps.) An appraisal is not to be considered a replacement for a qualified property inspection. While the appraiser does inspect the property, their inspection is limited and broad, typically seeking obvious defects that would affect overall value. Examples would be holes in the wall, missing fixtures, lack of flooring, etc. And inspector, however, will dig deeper into a property to uncover any defects they can find. They will find issues with wiring, HVAC, roof leaks (that are not so obvious), foundational and mechanical issues… and much more. And while they do inspect for issues, they can not assess value for the home.

Once an appraisal is completed, it is sent to the lender for review and approval. The lender will have many tools to validate the value of the appraisal. Some of these tools include a simple “desk” review in which someone looks over the appraisal report of red flags. A field review may be ordered in which someone would drive out to check out the home, but may not do a full review including measurements and inspection. And there are Automated Value Models (AVM’s for short) that use data from the Internet to help determine a range of value. If the lender has used their tools and determines the value is ok, then the loan can move forward.

However, if the lender sees a problem, they can request a second appraisal or even “cut back” the value of the appraisal to what they feel is reasonable. While this is not a common practice, it can happen.

In most cases, especially in regards to a purchase, an appraisal is not that big a deal. They normally come in as expected with the value that is needed. On a refinance, it could be hit or miss depending on what the expected value is.

Either way, an appraisal will typically be done on 99% of all loans originated today. It not only protects the bank, but it can protect you as well from making a bad financial decision.

By: Ed Nailor

About the Author:


Ed Nailor is a loan officer with 1st Metropolitan Mortgage in Charlotte, NC as well as webmaster and website designer. For more information on mortgage home loans in North Carolina or real estate in Charlotte, NC [http://www.EdNailor.com/charlotte.nc.htm], please visit [http://www.EdNailor.com/blog]

Best Iphone Reviews

Anytime you buy or sell real estate, you need a real estate appraisal. The primary purpose is to find out exactly how much your property is worth. Banks and similar lending companies also require it, before a buyer can obtain a mortgage.

A real estate appraisal develops an “educated and trained opinion” on the value of the property. It also, in some circumstances, may ascertain the best use of the property, garnering the best selling price. For example, a long-time residential property may be in an area that has been rezoned for limited commerce, which could potentially bring in a higher sales price than marketing the real estate to potential residential buyers.

An appraiser differs from an inspector, who is looking for things that need to be corrected, repaired or replaced — things that are required by law to be completed before the property can be sold or to enhance your sale price. Though an appraiser will look at these same things, he/she is only interested in developing the value of the property.

A real estate appraisal is based on the highest and best use of real property — what use of the property will produce the highest possible value? The final appraisal must be both profitable and probable.

The real estate appraisal includes a definition of the type of value that is being developed — whether it is a market value (what most sellers need), a condemnation value, quick sale value, and so on.

The Process

The appraiser looks at each property individually, beginning with an objective inspection of the interior and exterior of the home or building, as well as driving through the surrounding neighborhood. The appraiser looks for the assets, as well as the detriments, of the property. For homes, gross living space, quality of construction, location, layout, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the lot size, condition of the home and land, central air conditioning, landscaping, number of fireplaces or the lack thereof, decks, pool, fencing, recent renovations, amenities provided by the surrounding neighborhood, and crime statistics of the area are all considered by the real estate appraiser.

Living space is calculated by measuring the outside of the home. It does not include such areas as the garage, porches, sheds, and so on. Basements are generally calculated separately from the living space. The contributory value of basements is determined by the local market, government regulation, if it is finished or not (and the quality of the finish), and so on.

The real estate appraiser usually only considers permanent buildings within his/her appraisal. Fixtures that can be relocated, such as above ground pools and sheds, are not included in the appraisal.

If you are the real estate seller, you should point out any features, amenities or improvements of your home that are not readily discernable.

Next, the real estate appraiser analyzes the available market data for your area and the surrounding neighborhood, including current and historical comparable sales, current offers for comparable homes, pending sales, and proposed improvements. The appraiser gathers data from a variety of sources, as well as his/her own personal knowledge of the local market. The appraiser then compares your real estate to the broader market.

Each real estate appraiser has his/her own process of analyzing, collecting and reconciling the needed appraisal data. If you get five different appraisals for your real estate, you may receive five different appraisal opinions. They should, however, all be within a similar value range, if they are completed within the same timeframe and under the same conditions.

Though the real estate appraisal is not for public consumption, it may be shared with all parties concerned. For instance, a buyer has offered $150,000 for a home, but the buyer-side, commissioned appraisal value is only $146,000. Sharing this appraisal with the seller means that the owner can do needed improvements to bring the price up or offer the real estate to the buyer for the appraisal amount.

For the highest appraisal possible, real estate sellers should have an inspection and appraisal done before putting the property on the market. First, the inspection in order to make any needed repairs or renovations. Then, get the appraisal to ensure you are getting the most for your real estate.

By: John H

About the Author:


John Harris is an expert researcher and writer on real estate topics such as economics, credit improvement tips, home selling advice and home buying preparations. For more information please visit Vista Real Estate

Christmas Traditions

MAI appraisals are among the most sought after appraisals in the commercial real estate world. MAI stands for Member of the Appraisal Institute, a trade organization which monitors appraisers and holds them to a higher standard than appraisers who are merely licensed and do not belong to such an organization. There are other appraisal trade organizations active in the world of real estate. However, MAI is the best known, and thus the most popular.

Technically, there is no such thing as an “MAI appraisal.” There are only appraisals performed by an appraiser who has completed the MAI Appraisal Institutes class offerings, and holds this designation. However, it’s often much easier to refer to the appraisal itself as being certified than to hold to technicalities.

An appraiser who has earned the MAI designation is qualified to and experienced in the performance of both residential and commercial properties. Many other appraisers are only qualified for residential property. At one point, lenders were likely to require that an appraisal be done by an MAI certified appraiser, or a member of another trade organization. However, this has been unlawful since 1989, as there is not federal regulation of these organizations. Still, certified appraisals can increase the chances of a favorable lending situation, since the lender will feel more comfortable. An MAI certified appraisal offers lenders a reliability that allows them to be confident in their investment.

A commercial appraisal by an MAI certified appraiser can include many things. Generally, it will provide an overview of the community, neighborhood, and general area in which the property is situated, as well as a detailed description of the site and all buildings it contains. Zoning analysis, an analysis of the highest and best use for the property, and an in depth discussion of the property’s value from several different approaches will also be included. The appraiser may also make a recommendation of which valuation is most appropriate in his or her opinion.

Appraisers tend to be conservative in their estimates. However, this does not mean that one will receive a low appraisal. An MAI certified appraisal firm assumes liability if the appraisal is too high, and the property cannot be sold for the price they recommend. The firm also assumes liability if the price is too low and the property is sold for too little money. Because of this, appraisers have a vested interest in making sure that their estimates are in the middle range. Which sales an appraiser places the most emphasis on will depend in the type of market. In a rising market, emphasis will be placed on higher recent sales, and in a falling market, that emphasis will go to lower recent sales. A good appraiser is interested in giving clients the most accurate estimate possible.

By: Anthony Seruga

About the Author:


Anthony Seruga and Yolly Bishop of Maverick Real Estate Investments, Inc. work with builders, developers and other players in the commercial real estate industry to acquire and develop properties. They use progressive investment strategies that have proved extremely profitable. In addition to their own deals, they teach both seasoned and inexperienced investors how to be big players in the game. Visit the website for more info.

Selling Real Estate