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Ann Arbor Real Estate Blog

Blog about Ann Arbor and Saline Michigan

What If Your Ann Arbor Home Does Not Appraise?

What if Your Ann Arbor Home Does Not Appraise?

The first thing to do if you Ann Arbor home doesn’t appraise is not to panic. When we are representing buyers on a the purchase of the home in Ann Arbor, we write into the contract, “the purchase price must meet the appraised value of the home.” (even if you are paying cash.)

You are excited and have made an offer on a Ann Arbor Home for sale, and your now you are in the process of obtaining financing for your new Ann Arbor home. The bank or mortgage broker is going to want an appraisal on your home to guarantee that the home is worth what you are paying.

In this market, seriously… many homes do not come in at the Purchase price on the contract for Appraised Value.

How does a low appraisal affect you?

If the home does not appraise, then there is room for more negotiation with the sellers.

If the appraisal comes in lower than purchase price, you have some options

1) You can walk away from your Ann Arbor Home, because the appraisal contingency is part of the contract, and if the property does not appraise, that is a contingency that you can use to end the contract.

2) Another option for you would be to renegotiate the purchase price – by offering the sellers to pay the price that the property was appraised at. If you really want the property, that is a consideration. Offer the appraised value to the seller, and see what their response is.

3) You “may” want to consider paying more than purchase price – bring cash to close the deal. This is NOT something that I recommend for my buyers who are purchasing  Ann Arbor Real Estate.

Keep in mind, if you are obtaining a loan on your property, then it is imperative that is appraises. Your lender will NOT loan you money to purchase the home if it doesn’t appraise. Even for cash buyers!!

Issues with Ann Arbor Appraisals

One of the biggest issues we have with homes appraising in the Ann Arbor Market Area is that appraisers are being hired by banks that do NOT live in the Ann Arbor area. Not knowing Ann Arbor, the schools, they often do not use the right home comparables.

This is not the market to pay over appraised value, and I would advise my clients against this. I would not recommend paying more for the property than it appraises for.

If I can answer any question about Ann Arbor homes for sale, or Ann Arbor real estate, please contact me. 734-926-9707

7 thoughts on “What If Your Ann Arbor Home Does Not Appraise?

  1. Hi Missy,this is a great blog and good thinking in writing this blog.It focus on appraisal.Well done in making pointers.Definitely a good help to all home owners.Good job Missy,keep doing the best as Ann Arbor Short Sale Agent.

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