Zillow’s second quarter Real Estate Market Report shows national home values rose 6.3% on a year-over-year basis from June 2013 to $174,200. The last time national home values were at this level was back in March 2005. (Housing prices peaked in 2006.)
Rents were up 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. The Zillow Home Value Forecast calls for 4.2% appreciation nationally from June 2014 to June 2015.
Once you have a property under contract and you’ve performed an inspection, it’s time for your loan officer to secure a purchase appraisal.
Be aware that an appraisal will almost always render a lower value than you determined in your comparative market analysis, for a number of reasons. Appraisals do not give an accurate market value – they simply give you a reflection of what you’re trying to accomplish with the bank. There are actually different types of appraisals, and each one serves a different purpose.
America is a nation on the move. The Census Bureau says 35.9 million of us picked-up and went somewhere else in 2013, almost 12% of the entire population.
We move because of such things as jobs, climate, family and schools but there’s another reason as well: A good move can be worth $1 million and maybe more.