The Appraiser Blog
One of our main goals is to provide value and educate our clients as well the overall local community. One of the best ways we can do that is to pull back the curtain and explain some of the confusing, less transparent parts of the appraisal world. We are always open to connecting with you, so please comment, email, or just call us with any questions.
How a real estate appraiser uses InfoSparks to analyze the market
During a conversation with a real estate agent, I was asked how we support time adjustments when a market is hot and...
Northwest Chicago Suburbs – A Tale of Two Markets
I wanted to share a quick insight into what I see in the northwest suburbs as a bifurcated housing market. The upper...
Zillow – Still Not Good Enough
Glenview homeowner sues Zillow over 'sloppy' estimateIn 2014, I wrote a blog post about Zillow and I decided it’s time...
What is an appraisal?
I recently came across this great graphic by Title Source that goes through the home appraisal process and the...
The Real Estate Price Per Square Foot Dilema
Ryan Lundquist of Sacramento Appraisal Group wrote a great post explaining economies of scale and how we run into...
Realtor Tip: Multiple Offers? Tell the Appraiser!
This blog post goes out to all the Realtors who have had a deal fall through because the appraised value was below the...
Appraiser vs. Home Inspector – What’s the Diff?
Often before a property is purchased using a loan from a mortgage company, it must be appraised and inspected. Many...
Real Estate Agent Property Questionnaire
I love when I have the opportunity to meet the listing agent at the property, but as you know, that’s not always...
Chicago Housing Styles
Real estate agents and appraisers alike often struggle to define the architectural style for unusual or unique...
Property Questionnaire for Real Estate Agents
A couple of days ago I was sitting down to start writing a blog post on how to streamline the initial appraisal...
Property Questionnaire for Real Estate Agents
A couple of days ago I was sitting down to start writing a blog post on how to streamline the initial appraisal...
Land Value: Surplus vs. Excess
I recently came across this interesting animated GIF from an article from RealtorMag regarding land values over the...
The Housing Value of Every County in the U.S.
The Housing Value of Every County in the U.S. I recently came across this map posted on Twitter by Max Galka of...
Appraisal Industry: The Tide May Be Shifting
With all of the changes happening in the appraisal industry right now, I thought I would share this article I did for...
Appraisal Industry: The Tide May Be Shifting
With all of the changes happening in the appraisal industry right now, I thought I would share this article I did for...
Market Value: Probable Vs. Possible
The CU (Collateral Underwriter) is obviously a hot topic right now and there are many excellent blog posts written by...
Paired Sales in the Chicago Condo Real Estate Market
With all of the discussion regarding the CU (Collateral Underwriter) and using regression analysis to support...
Best Time to Buy or Sell Chicago Real Estate
I recently read an excellent blog post by Gary Kristensen (click here to read). I thought I would similarly take a...
Top Factors Affecting Your Chicago Real Estate Value
I often get asked while completing appraisal inspections, “Do you count X when you do appraisals?”. The short answer...
Tips for Real Estate Agents to Avoid a Bad Appraisal
As a real estate agent, it’s possible you have been the victim of an appraisal that came in below the contract price....
Lincoln Park Single Family Housing Market
Condo market to get to see where condo prices might be heading. This time I will be looking at the Lincoln Park...
Chicago (Lincoln Park) Condo Market
Based on recent speculation in the national news about a cooling housing market, I recently analyzed the Park Ridge...
Park Ridge Single Family Housing Market
There has been a lot of discussion in the national news about a cooling housing market. As a real estate appraiser...
Chicago’s Luxury Housing Market
year. Based on the Chicago area MLS (this does not include private sales and those not listed on the MLS), in 2013,...
The Secret to a Stress-Free Appraisal Experience
Whether you are buying or selling a home, it can be a very stressful time and one of my goals is to provide a service...
The Secret to a Stress-Free Appraisal Experience
Whether you are buying or selling a home, it can be a very stressful time and one of my goals is to provide a service...
The Cheapest Appraiser
Looking for the cheapest appraiser? Be careful, not all appraisers were created equal. Hiring the cheapest appraiser...
The Cheapest Appraiser
Looking for the cheapest appraiser? Be careful, not all appraisers were created equal. Hiring the cheapest appraiser...
How to Prepare For a Real Estate Appraisal Inspection
If you haven’t had an appraisal completed on your home recently, one of the first things that may come to your mind...
Chicago Appraiser vs. Zillow
I recently read a really interesting blog article from an appraiser in Philadelphia titled “Zillow vs. The Coyle...
Chicago Appraiser vs. Zillow
I recently read a really interesting blog article from an appraiser in Philadelphia titled “Zillow vs. The Coyle...
What You Need To Know About Your Divorce Appraisal
For many couples, the marital residence is the largest asset obtained during the marriage. Whether you or your spouse...
What You Need To Know About Your Divorce Appraisal
For many couples, the marital residence is the largest asset obtained during the marriage. Whether you or your spouse...
Most Common FHA Real Estate Appraisal Repair Items
It can be very frustrating for a homeowner or real estate agent when you get feedback from the lender that there are...
Chicago Housing Market 2018 Year in Review & Look Ahead
Median sales prices of homes in the City of Chicago were relatively flat over the past twelve months with only a...
Best Time to Sell Your House in Chicago
Chicago is one of America’s favorite cities for a reason. Not only do we have the best food in the country, but we...
Why is an appraisal necessary?
Most appraisals are completed as part of the mortgage lending process, with the lender being the entity to request the...