Cynthia Dwyer Appraisal Service has answers to "Frequently Asked Questions"


	Cynthia Dwyer Appraisal Service is ready to elaborate on any inquiries you might have about appraisals in Sonoma and Sonoma County. Contact us today to see how we can help solve your specific valuation problems.

What is an appraisal?
Describe what an appraiser does
What are the reasons someone would require a real estate appraisal?
How is an appraiser different than a home inspector?
Is an appraisal the same as a comparative market analysis(CMA)?
What are the contents of an appraisal report?
Once the report is done, what assurance is there that the final number is veritable?
What does it mean for an appraiser to be licensed?
Who hires an appraiser?
Where does Cynthia Dwyer Appraisal Service get the information used to estimate values in Sonoma County or other areas?
What can a full appraisal do for me?
What exactly is PMI and how can I get rid of it?
Should I do anything in advance of the appraisal inspection
What does "Market Value" mean?
Once complete, who actually owns the appraisal report?
Which home renovations add the most to the price?

What is an appraisal? (Back to top)

An appraiser provides an evaluation that leads to an opinion of value. The real estate appraiser will typically use a few "approaches," typically three, to come to the estimation of market value. The Cost Approach is one of the methods that real estate appraisers use to find the value of a property; it involves figuring what the improvements would cost less physical degradation, plus the land value. Another of the processes is the Sales Comparison Approach - which deals with discovering a comparison to other similar properties within a close vicinity which have recently sold. Generally speaking, the Sales Comparison Approach is the most definite indicator of market value of a home. The Income Approach is primarily used for determining the market value of income-producing properties based on what an investor would pay based on the amount of capital a property produce.

Describe what an appraiser does (Back to top)

An appraiser forumlates a fair and credible assessment of market value, often in the context of a real estate sale. Appraisers summarize their conclusions in appraisal reports.

What are the reasons someone would require a real estate appraisal? (Back to top)

There are many reasons to purchase an appraisal with the most common reason being real estate and mortgage transactions. A few other reasons for purchasing an appraisal include:

To receive a loan.
If you would like to reduce your property tax burden.
To help a homeowner realize if they owe less than 80% of their home's value and remove insurance.
To fight improperly assessed property taxes.
If you need to settle an estate.
To provide you a negotiating tool when purchasing a home.
To find a likely property value when selling real estate.
To protect your rights if your property is being taken by means of eminent domain in a condemnation case.
Because an official agency such as the IRS requires it.
It's possible you could have to deal with being in a lawsuit - an appraisal will help.

For a more detailed description of the appraisal process click here.

How is an appraiser different than a home inspector? (Back to top)

Home inspectors do not provide an opinion of value and are not appraisers. An inspection is a third-party evaluation of the available structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation. The usual property inspector's report will include an evaluation of the condition of the house's heating system, central air conditioning system (temperature permitting), interior plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic, and visible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation, basement, and visible structure.

Is an appraisal the same as a comparative market analysis(CMA)? (Back to top)

The CMA relies on vague market trends, provides a non-specific figure, and is created by a real estate agent. An appraisal relies on comparable sales that can be verified by public record. Area and architectural costs are also precedent in an appraisal. Being a documented and carefully investigated opinion of value, appraisals are defensible and stand up in legal situations. A certified, state licensed professional who has formed their livelihood on valuing properties in and around Sonoma and Napa Counties creates the appraisal. An appraiser is an independent voice, with no vested interest in the property's value.

What are the contents of an appraisal report? (Back to top)

The main purpose of an appraisal document is to let the reader know the value of the real estate in question, and depending on the scope of the report, one will customarily see the following:

The client and whose purposes the appraisal is to serve.
The intended use of the report.
The appraisal's purpose.
The type of value reported and a definition of the value reported.
The effective date of the appraiser's opinions and conclusions.(Sometimes this is in the past, or may be in the future for new construction)
Pertinent property characteristics, including: location, physical description, legal attributes, economic attributes, the property rights valued, and non-real estate items included in the valuation, such as personal property, trade fixtures and even intangible factors.
Any known easements, restrictions, encumbrances, leases, reservations, covenants, contracts, declarations, special assessments, ordinances, and the like.
Division of interest, such as fractional interest, physical segment and partial holding.
The scope of work used to complete the appraisal.

For a more in depth view of the work that goes into an appraisal report click here: Sample Appraisal Report

Once the report is done, what assurance is there that the final number is veritable? (Back to top)

In communicating an appraisal report, each appraiser must see to it that each of the items below are covered:

That the information analysis utilized in the appraisal was proper.

That substantial errors of omission or commission were not committed individually or collectively.

That appraisal services were delivered in a careful and cognizant fashion.

That a credible, substantiated appraisal report was conferred.

To become a state licensed appraiser, there are extensive education requirements as well as real world experience that must be logged - all with the objective of being able to provide unbiased value opinions. In addition, appraisers must abide by a strict industry code of ethics and respect national standards of practice for real estate appraisal. The rules for carrying out an appraisal and reporting its results are guaranteed by enforcement of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

(Back to top) Regulations regarding licensing and certification are different from state to state. However, licensing and certification is most often associated with many hours of coursework, tests and real world experience. Once licensed, he or she must then engage in continuing education courses in order to keep the license up to date. To see the specific requirements for any state click here.

Who hires an appraiser? (Back to top)

Mortgage lenders are an appraiser's typical client, using their services to ensure real estate involved in a mortgage transaction is enough to cover a loan balance in the case of default. Appraisers also provide opinions in litigation cases, tax matters and investment decisions.

Where does Cynthia Dwyer Appraisal Service get the information used to estimate values in Sonoma County or other areas? (Back to top)

Gathering information is one of the primary functions of an appraiser. Data can be described as either Specific or General. Specific data is collected from the home itself; Location, condition, amenities, size and other specific data are documented by the appraiser during an inspection.

General data is collected from a many places. Local Multiple Listing Services (MLS) provide data on recently sold homes that could be used as comparables. Tax records and other public documents reveal actual sales prices in a market. Flood zone data is gathered from FEMA data outlets, such as a la mode's InterFlood system.

And last but not least, the appraiser assimilates general data from his or her past experience in creating appraisals for other properties in the same market.

What can a full appraisal do for me? (Back to top)

If you're involved in some sort of financial decision and the value of your home is relevant, you'll want to hire a licensed appraiser. When selling your home, an appraisal helps you set a price that maximizes profit and reduces time on the market. When buying, you can avoid overpaying by getting an independent appraisal. For parties settling an estate or divorce, an appraisal from Cynthia Dwyer Appraisal Service is the best way to ensure assets are split up fairly. A home is often the single, largest financial asset anybody owns. Knowing its true value means you can make informed financial decisions.

What exactly is PMI and how can I get rid of it? (Back to top)

PMI is an acronym for Private Mortgage Insurance. This supplemental plan protects the lender if a borrower defaults on the loan and the market price of the home is lower than the balance of the loan. You can have your PMI dropped once you've achieved 20% equity in your home through appreciation and principal payments.


	The savings from cancelling your PMI will make up for the cost of the appraisal in no time. Nobody is more qualified than Cynthia Dwyer Appraisal Service when it comes to analyzing real estate appreciation in Sonoma and Sonoma County. Contact us today.

Should I do anything in advance of the appraisal inspection (Back to top)

The first step in most appraisals is the property inspection. What this entails is the appraiser, after setting up an appointment, personally going through the home - recording the layout of the rooms, taking photos and documenting the general condition of its amenities. The best thing you can do to help is make sure the appraiser has easy access to the exterior of the house . Trim any bushes and relocate any items that would make it difficult to measure the structure. On the inside, make sure the appraiser can easily access items like furnaces and water heaters.

The following items, if available, will help your appraiser to provide a more accurate appraisal in a shorter period of time:

Any records on the purchase of the property for the last three years.
A list of any personal property that will be left behind and sold with the home, such as a oven, or a washer and dryer, if applicable.
Any documents, such as a title policy with information on encroachments or easements encroachments or easements.
Any inspection reports, or other recent reports for termites, EIFS (synthetic stucco) wall systems, septic systems and wells.
A list of "suggested" improvements when the property is being appraised "as complete".

What does "Market Value" mean? (Back to top)

In real estate appraising, Market Value (as opposed to Fair Market Value) is commonly defined as:

"The most probable price (in terms of money) which a property should bring in a competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale, the buyer and seller each acting prudently and knowledgeably, and assuming the price is not affected by undue stimulus. Implicit in this definition is the consummation of a sale as of a specified date and the passing of title from seller to buyer under conditions whereby: the buyer and seller are typically motivated; both parties are well informed or well advised, and acting in what they consider their best interests; a reasonable time is allowed for exposure in the open market; payment is made in terms of cash in United States dollars or in terms of financial arrangements comparable thereto; and the price represents the normal consideration for the property sold unaffected by special or creative financing or sales concessions granted by anyone associated with the sale."

Once complete, who actually owns the appraisal report? (Back to top)

For mortgage transactions, the lender orders the appraisal, either directly or through a third party. While the buyer pays for the report as part of the closing costs, the lender retains the right to use the report or any information contained within. The buyer is entitled to a copy of the report - it's usually included with all the other closing documents - but is not entitled to use the report for any other purpose without permission from the lender.

This rule doesn't apply when a home owner hires an appraiser directly. In these situations, the appraiser may state the purpose of the appraisal; for PMI removal, or estate planning or tax challenges, for example. If not stipulated otherwise, the home owner can do whatever they want with the appraisal.

Which home renovations add the most to the price? (Back to top)

A home's location - what city it is in and even what part of that city - is key to this popular question. For example, adding a central air conditioner in to a home in the South may add significant value, while putting one in a home near the Pacific Northwest might not have much impact. No matter where you go, however, renovating a kitchen is almost always a safe investment, and Bathrooms aren't far behind.