Thursday, February 11, 2010

Buyer’s Guide to Your Orlando Home’s Appraisal Terms

If you're getting a mortgage on a home, your lender will require an appraisal. This is performed by a licensed appraiser who evaluates your home and determines its value. Here is a guide to your Orlando home’s appraisal terms.

• Age: The actual age of your home is how long since your home has been built. The effective age is the adjusted age of your home based on improvements and repairs.
• Adjustments: Comparison Orlando homes are usually not exact replicas of your home. The appraiser will make adjustments for things like premium views or swimming pools to bring the home values closer together.
• Appraisal: This is the estimated value of your home based on the appraiser’s documentation.
• Comparison approach: A type of appraisal in which your home is compared with others in your area. Most appraisers use this approach because the market determines what your home will sell for.
• Cost approach: A type of appraisal in which your home is valued based on how much it would cost to replace it if it was destroyed. This is typically used on newer constructions.
• Depreciation: Depreciation is a loss in value due to age or condition.
• Easements: Your electric company or local government may have an easement, or right to use your land.
• Encroachments: When you or your neighbors have items like fences resting on each other’s property, it is called encroachment.
• Market value: This is the highest price you could expect to get for your home under normal circumstances.
• Remaining economic life: This is the time from the appraisal when improvements become useless or valueless.
• Subject property: Your property is called the subject property.

Let us help you through the process of buying your next Orlando home. Call us today at 407-876-5771 for more information.

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