There are lots of reasons consumers call on Whitten Appraisals

To many, an appraisal is simply one more thing in the long list of items for a mortgage or refinance. While there are a developing number of automated home valuation methods that may appear to be more economical than an appraisal, most lenders still want a local expert because the stakes are incredibly high. You might assume that obtaining a mortgage is the only basis for getting an appraisal, but there are other cases when the services of a licensed, independent real estate professional could be helpful.


	For real estate appraisals in Athens and Limestone County, it's easiest when your order online from Whitten Appraisals, just click here.

Appeal your tax assessment in Limestone County

If you live in an area where the value of property has depreciated, it's possible you're paying too much in property taxes. An appraisal from Whitten Appraisals is your best evidence when building your case. At Whitten Appraisals,we can assist you in disputing your tax assessment.

Whitten Appraisals can help you eliminate PMI to lower your mortgage payment

When the amount being loaned to the homebuyer is more than 80% of the actual value of the property, many lenders ask homeowners to take out an supplemental insurance policy. That policy is Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI. More often than not, this extra payment is folded into the monthly mortgage payment and is promptly forgotten. This is damaging because PMI isn't necessary when the leftover balance of the loan - whether through market appreciation or principal pay down - goes below the 80% mark. In fact, the United States Congress invoked a law in 1998 (the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998) requiring lenders to do away with the PMI payments when the loan-to-value ratio conditions have been met.

Whitten Appraisals will give you a statement regarding the value of your home, and the price you paid for the home valuation can usually be recovered in little time because you'll no longer be paying the PMI.

An appraisal from Whitten Appraisals will help you settle a divorce with less stress

A divorce is a particularly traumatic experience for the parties involved, and it is often further complicated by the difficult decision of who maintains the house. So both parties are fully aware of the true market value of their home, it's a good idea to get an appraisal from Whitten Appraisals, regardless of the situation.

The parties will have a good idea of what price to set, if they wish to sell the home. And if a "buyout" is the chosen option, both parties will feel like they've gotten a fair assessment.

Accurate and fair estate liquidation with help from Whitten AppraisalsSettling an estate

Losing a loved one is a hard time in life, and settling an estate from a death, or probate, often calls for an appraisal to establish Fair Market Value for the real estate involved. We guarantee the highest degree of discretion, as we're bound with confidentiality by the ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

Most Americans don't have dedicated estate planners or executors to manage these matters, unlike wealthy individuals. And since a home or other property often makes up an unequal share of the total estate value, knowing the true value of the real estate at hand is of essential importance to ensuring disputing parties walk away knowing they've received a fair deal.

Let Whitten Appraisals assist you in relocating to or from Limestone County

We are aware of the headaches involved with an employee relocation. That being said, we take great care in establishing a convenient appointment time for the appraisal inspection. During our thorough process, we recommend relocating employees to provide input on the positive characteristics of their property, as well as information about any current sales or listings in their neighborhood that they want considered.

Let Whitten Appraisals assist you in selling your home quickly at the right price

Whether you want to sell your home on your own or use the assistance of a real estate agent, a professional appraisal will help you make a more informed decision when determining your asking price. An appraiser has no vested interest in what price the house sells for, which is different than the interest of real estate agents. The price we charge isn't related to the sales price, but rather they rest on our efforts to finish the appraisal.

We determine the difference in value things like an extra bathroom or a kitchen remodel can make on a daily basis. Obtaining a professional appraisal is a trusted way to decide what improvements will add value and what an appropriate sales price is for your home - so you don't come up short or have your house on the market an unnecessarily long time - because we're experts in knowing how long properties stay on the market.