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Nino Appraisal Group serves the Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino & Riverside Counties.

A real estate appraisal is a professional, unbiased estimate of a property’s market value prepared by a licensed or certified appraiser. Lenders use it to determine how much they are willing to loan on a property

Appraisals are usually required by lenders to make sure they are not lending more money than a property is worth. They can also be useful for estate planning, divorce settlements, property tax disputes, or setting a fair sale price.

When financing is involved, the lender typically hires the appraiser through an appraisal management company (AMC) to ensure independence and objectivity. However, homeowners, buyers, or attorneys can also directly hire an appraiser for private purposes.

Appraisers consider property size, condition, age, location, recent sales of comparable homes, upgrades, and the current real estate market. They also evaluate unique features such as pools, ADUs, or large lots.

The on-site inspection usually takes 20-30 minutes depending on the property size and condition. The final report is typically completed within a few days, but timelines can vary.

If the appraisal is lower than the purchase price, the buyer may need to renegotiate with the seller, bring in additional funds, or in some cases, cancel the transaction (depending on the contract terms).

You cannot directly influence the value, but you can help by keeping your property well-maintained, providing a list of recent upgrades or improvements, and sharing relevant comparable sales with the appraiser.

Costs vary depending on the property type, size, and location, but a typical single-family home appraisal ranges from $400 to $800. Specialty or complex properties may cost more.

No. An appraisal determines a property’s market value, while a home inspection evaluates the physical condition of the property and identifies needed repairs. Both are important but serve different purposes.

Appraisals are usually considered valid for about 90 to 120 days, though this can vary by lender and market conditions. In fast-changing markets, a lender may require an updated appraisal sooner.