Scott Ellis | Loan Officer

Homeside Financial

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • First Time Buyer Tips
    • First Time Seller Tips
    • Closing Costs
    • Home Appraisal
    • Home Inspection
    • Loan Checklist
    • Loan Process
    • Loan Programs
    • Mortgage Glossary
    • Mortgage FAQ
  • Apply
    • Short Form
    • Full Application
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Home Appraisal

Home Appraisal

What is the purpose of a home appraisal?

A home appraisal is generally required by the lender in order to establish that the value of the home will be sufficient collateral for the amount of the loan. The appraisal fee is generally paid by the buyer, sometimes required at the time of the loan application but typically paid at the loan closing. home appraisal

A home appraisal is done by an independent appraiser who will generally visit your home and inspect the interior and exterior. However, the appraiser is not performing the same service as a home inspection. Generally, the cleanliness of the interior will not add to or diminish the appraisal value. The appraiser considers many other factors, beyond the inspection, to establish the fair market value, such as comparable values, historic sales and market demand for that area.

Market values fluctuate over time and also vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, causing appraisals to become outdated. Lenders will require a new appraisal if any refinancing is done, and tax assessors generally re-assess property annually. The value established by your bank loan appraisal will not change the assessment set for property taxes as county tax assessors do their own property evaluations.

In either case, the home buyer should monitor the appraisals for fair treatment in relation to similar houses in the surrounding area and in view of the standards set for appraisers by state licensing boards. For tax purposes, there is often a protest deadline. In the case of a loan, the buyer should be comfortable with the appraisal before committing to a firm offer and before the loan closes. Any concerns or complaints should be brought to the attention of the lender or the state regulatory board. Although the appraisal primarily protects the lender, it can also benefit the buyer or home owner by:

  • providing assurances that the home is not over-valued
  • justifying the amount of the loan
  • qualifying you for certain terms
  • evaluating equity to remove Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
  • protecting against negative home equity
  • aiding tax and estate planning
  • helping determine insurance valuations
  • Determining the feasibility of home improvements, refinancing or additional financing

paper writing

Scott Ellis Profile Photo

Contact Scott


Mortgage Loan Officer

Call (312) 218-4141

NMLS #133371
I am licensed in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.

Homeside Logo
Homeside Financial NMLS #1124061

Connect with Scott

How can we help?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Browse Articles by Category

Recent Articles

  • Why Your Kitchen Features Matter
  • What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – February 6, 2023
  • 3 Tips To Consider When Buying A Home With An FHA Mortgage
  • S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices: Home Prices Fall In November
Equal Housing
Scott Ellis NMLS: 133371
Licensed in AZ #0950513; CA #CA-DBO133371; FL #LO38561; IL #031.0001848; IN #29673; MI #133371; MN #MN-MLO-133371; TN; WI #133371

Licensing

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee, Is Regulated by the State of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Banking located at 100 West Randolph Street 9th Floor, Chicago IL 60601, Mortgage Banking Examinations Phone 312-793-3000

Our Location


1323 Butterfield Rd.
Downers Grove, IL 60515

Copyright © 2023 · Powered by MySMARTblog