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Many people’s experiences with real estate appraisals are limited to mortgage applications. The appraiser is usually selected, and the report ordered through the lender. The task of selecting an appraiser for purposes such as estate planning and settlement, divorce, tax appeal, etc., is solely on the consumer and can become overwhelming. This blog post offers […]

There are several reasons why someone may want to get a real estate appraisal: Buying or selling a property: If you are buying or selling a property, an appraisal can help determine its fair market value, which can be useful in negotiations and setting a listing price. Financing: If you are financing your purchase or […]

The past couple of years have been crazy! We have seen a combination of few homes offered for sale, and strong buyer demand. Buyers have had difficulty finding a home to purchase at any price. The result has been rising home prices. Recent increases in mortgage rates have reduced some demand. The higher cost of […]

Every appraisal order begins with a customer consultation. This is an in-depth discussion of the home, and the purpose of the appraisal. Any method of communication can be used for this step of the process. The purpose of the consultation is to find out how the appraisal can help you. The consultation will aid in […]

Residential markets in Philadelphia, PA and its surrounding suburbs tend to be more conservative. Our local market has seen its share of price increases over the past couple of years however, at a lower rate than other parts of the country. We are not insulated from downward market conditions, but a more controlled upswing often […]

Because of current COVID-19 concerns, many prudent appraisers, and property owners are not completing appraisals with a traditional, interior walk through. In many cases, state and local “shelter in place” orders don’t permit this type of appraisal. In response to these restrictions, appraisals completed with an exterior only viewing of the home, and even appraisals […]

People are often asked what town they live in. In the Philadelphia suburbs, this question is more difficult than it appears. How this question is answered can have a large impact on the appraisal of your home. Pennsylvania is divided into 67 counties. The role of the county includes services such as law enforcement, judicial […]

The spring real estate market is quickly approaching. This can be good news for both buyers and sellers. The summer months typically bring higher sale prices to sellers. It also brings a better selection of homes to buyers. To illustrate seasonal variances, I will use statistics from Montgomery County, PA. I reside in Montgomery County […]

For this market overview I will get even more local. One of the key factors driving suburban residential real estate markets is the school district they are located in. I will examine the Colonial School District. Communities located in this district include: Plymouth Meeting, Conshohocken, Lafayette Hill, and portions of Flourtown and Fort Washington. The […]

We’ve all seen recent news articles about the slumping residential real estate market. These articles mostly reflect national trends. Real estate is very local, so let’s take a look closer to home. I have chosen to focus on Montgomery County, PA, an area I work heavily in. The first thing I will examine is the […]