If you’ve begun looking for your first home, you’ve likely heard of a getting a home appraisal and home inspection. What exactly are home appraisals and home inspections, though? Is there a difference between the two? Are they really necessary?
Home Appraisals
A home appraisal determines the value of a house based on certain factors, including “comparables.” An appraiser will take a few things into consideration when deciding the market value of a home. For example, they often look at comparable homes in the area which have recently sold and certain amenities in the house. It is important to remember that an appraisal doesn’t decide the “worth” of the home, but the market value.
The appraisal helps determine how much money your lender will give you to buy the house. Having the home appraised is therefore necessary when seeking out a loan. If you’re selling a home, it’s more beneficial to you if the appraisal is high. When you’re buying, however, a low appraisal is better. Appraisals can differ from one appraiser to the next, but they’re usually closely based on the assessment of the above-mentioned factors.
Home Inspections
Home inspections involve an inspection of the house itself, focusing on things like structural issues. Generally, home inspections include a look at the roof, the heating and cooling system, plumbing systems, and electrical systems. While home inspections are not exhaustive and therefore may not uncover every possible issue, home inspections are still a very important step in the home buying process.
Some home mortgage programs may require specific inspections. However, generally speaking, home inspections are not a hard requirement for every mortgage option. Still, it is best to choose to have a home inspection done anyway. Buying a home without inspections could potentially leave you open for some major issues. It’s better to spend the money on an inspection that could save you more costly expenses down the road.
Count on Stonebridge Mortgage Group for all your mortgage needs.
In addition to appraisals and inspections, there are a lot of ins and outs to familiarize yourself with over the course of the home buying process. For professional assistance with mortgages, look no further than Stonebridge Mortgage Group. If you’re ready to apply for a loan and want to go through the process online, Stonebridge Mortgage Group offers online applications. We also help get you pre-approved for a mortgage and help with your real estate loans and other Stonebridge Mortgage Group serves the greater Portland area and are in Gresham, Oregon. Don’t wait to get quality assistance with buying your home!
Call us today at 503.661.5580
