Date-of-Death Appraisals

When people inherit real property, it is important for them to determine not only what it is worth today, but what it was worth at the time of its owner’s passing. Knowing the market value as of the date of death will reduce their tax obligations when they later sell it or pass it on…
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When The Appraisal Is Too Low

People order appraisals for all kinds of reasons including buying or selling a house, refinancing a loan, getting a divorce, or receiving an inheritance. Oftentimes clients have preconceived expectations about the value, either because their Realtors sent them postcards showing neighborhood sales or because they looked at sites like Zillow, Redfin, or Realtor.Com. Therefore, they…
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Appraiser Confidentiality

I am often asked by my clients, “Who do you share this report with?” In general, the answer to this question is “only the client.” When I get a call from someone who is not the client, I tell them that it doesn’t matter who they are – a real estate agent, attorney, accountant, parent,…
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