Reasons to hire an appraiser

Year after year, thousands of people in California buy, sell or refinance their home. Many of these transactions contain a simple line item for an appraisal. And while there are a budding number of automated home valuation systems that may appear to be cheaper than an appraisal, practically all lenders still call for a local expert because the stakes are very high. You might assume that securing a mortgage is the only reason to acquire an appraisal, but there are other cases when the services of a certified, independent real estate professional could come in handy.


	When you're planning on any transaction where the likely sales price of your house is in question, you should contact TERESA L. FOWLER. Just click here

Challenge your tax assessment in Kern County

It's possible you're paying too much in property taxes if you live in an area where property values have depreciated. Ad Valorem taxes are based upon a previous assessment of your real estate, so if values have declined in your neighborhood, you can appeal your assessment and save money. An appraisal from TERESA L. FOWLER is your best evidence when building your case. At TERESA L. FOWLER,we can assist you in appealing your tax assessment.

TERESA L. FOWLER can help you get rid of PMI to lower your mortgage payment

Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI, is a supplemental insurance plan that nearly all lenders ask homeowners to purchase when the amount being loaned to the home owner is more than 80% of the actual value of the home. Seeing that added payment is usually lumped into the monthly mortgage payment, it is often forgotten. PMI is unnecessary when the leftover balance of the loan - whether through market appreciation or principal pay down - falls below the 80% level, making this very unfortunate. In fact, the Homeowners Protection Act (HPA) of 1998 was passed by the United States Congress that requires lenders to do away with the PMI payments when the balance is paid down to 78% of the original value.

TERESA L. FOWLER will produce a statement regarding the value of your home, and the price you paid for the appraisal can often be recovered in little time because you'll no longer be paying the PMI.

Divorce settlement with less stress

A divorce can be a particularly traumatic event for both parties, and it is often further complicated by the hard decision of who keeps the home. So both parties are fully aware of the true market value of their house, it's a good idea to order an appraisal from TERESA L. FOWLER, regardless of the situation.

If the parties need to sell the home, they'll have a clearer picture of what price to set. And if a "buyout" is the chosen option, both parties will feel like they've gotten a fair evaluation.

Fair and accurate estate liquidation with help from TERESA L. FOWLERSettling an estate

The death of a loved one is a painful time in life, and settling an estate from a death, or probate, often requires an appraisal to establish Market Value for the real estate involved. The ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) binds us with confidentiality, ensuring the highest degree of discretion.

Most Americans do not have dedicated estate planners or executors to take care of these matters, unlike wealthier individuals. And seeing that a home or other property often makes up a disproportionate share of the total estate value, knowing the correct value of the real estate at hand is of vital importance to ensuring disputing parties leave knowing they've gotten an honest deal.

Let TERESA L. FOWLER assist you in relocating to or from Kern County

We know the stress associated with an employee relocation. We take great care in setting up a convenient appointment time for the appraisal inspection. We encourage relocating employees to provide feedback on the positive features of their property, as well as information about any current sales or listings in their neighborhood that they want considered during our thorough process.

Don't sell out for too little or keep your home on the market too long.

Whether you choose to sell your home on your own or with the help of a real estate agent, a professional appraisal will help you make a more informed decision when determining your asking price. An appraiser has no vested interest in what price the house sells for, unlike real estate agents. Our fees are calculated on our efforts to perform the appraisal report and not a percentage of the sales price.

On a daily basis, we examine the difference in value things like an additional bathroom or a kitchen remodel can make. And we're experts in knowing how long houses are on the market. So, getting a professional appraisal is a trusted way to determine what improvements will add value and what an appropriate sales price is for your home so you don't come up short or have your house on the market an unnecessarily long time.