Real Estate Appraisers, Analysts & Consultants

Most localities determine your property tax burden based on an ad valorem assessment of the property's value. If you you get an unwanted surprise in the mail stating your taxes are going up, you may have good reason to differ with their assessment. Sometimes, matters like this can be solved with a phone call. However, if after discussing your assessment with your local taxing authority you still feel your property was overvalued, an independent, third-party appraiser is often your best bet in proving your case.

There are as many different procedures for appealing assessments as there are property taxing districts, so it's important to enlist the help of a professional appraisal firm that's experienced and trained in the ins and outs of your particular jurisdiction. 

Please note: It makes sense to do your own research before determining whether to go forward with a property assessment appeal, especially before you make the decision to hire a professional appraiser. However, according to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), we are not allowed to take "shortcuts" -- i.e., your research -- and use it on its face as part of our independent evaluation. When you hire us for an assessment appeal, you're commissioning  an independent, third-party professional appraisal report. As such we do our own evaluation, beginning to end. If you're right that your property has been overvalued, an independent report such as ours will be even more persuasive than any other evidence you can marshal on your own. But it depends on our ability to do the work independently.

Sometimes, you will have a hearing on your assessment appeal and will need for the appraiser you've hired to testify on your behalf. Be assured that at eastern appraisals, we are able to professionally testify at appeal hearings.  Browse our website to learn more about our qualifications, expertise and services offered.

Time is money. This is never more true than when you or your company need an appraisal of your "old" home when you're relocating to a new area for work.

If you're a relocation services company in need of a local appraiser, contact eastern appraisals. Our professional relocation appraisal abilities are backed by our superior service, turn time, and knowledge of the market.

When you put your "old" home on the market and take advantage of your employer's relocation assistance, you're interested not in the "fair market value" of the home, but its anticipated sales price, typically as soon as possible -- usually not to exceed 120-180 days. But the need for speed doesn't mean the relocation appraisal is a more simple matter than your average lending/mortgage appraisal. Quite to the contrary. It entails special expertise, training and skills on the part of the appraiser or appraisal firm you select.

When we perform a relocation appraisal, we consider recent closed sales but also competing listings in the area as well as pending sales. We offer a forecast of the likely sales price you can rely on, considering the dynamics of the neighborhood at the time of the relocation. All relocation appraisals are reported on the standard ERC Residential Appraisal Report form, the industry's accepted relocation appraisal format.

Often times, proof of assets is required in the way of a market value appraisal of your home, condo, or townhouse.

Frequently time is of the essence, which means you need this appraisal ASAP.  eastern appraisals can provide you with a full appraisal prepared on the General Purpose Appraisal Report Form (GPAR) to satisfy your need to have an independent real estate appraiser provide you with an unbiased opinion as to the market value of your property.

Investing in Residential Property? 

Protect Yourself Against Illegal "Flipping"!

When you're considering investing in rehabilitated residential property, you're making a smart choice. Real estate values have been climbing at the same time demand for homes has been increasing — an impressive combination.

Often, people and companies that sell rehabilitated real estate buy a dilapidated property, put a lot of money and sweat equity into it to make it attractive to a buyer, and then reap the reward when the property is sold for a lot more than the original buyer paid for it. There's nothing wrong with this; on the contrary, it makes more housing available at a time when it's in demand. And as noted, it's often a good investment choice for the eventual buyer.

But before you invest in a rehabilitated property, you should obtain a professional appraisal, from an appraiser with your interests in mind. Normally an appraisal will need to be performed on behalf of the lender, by an appraiser working closely with sellers, brokers and agents. Too often lately homes are "flipped" for considerably more than they were recently paid for without any substantial improvements to justify the higher price. You'd be the one left holding the bag — shouldn't you have someone on your side making sure your money is being invested wisely?

It's easy to protect yourself. Hire a professional appraiser to ensure the property has had the improvements put into it that justify the asking (or agreed upon) price. If you're buying more than one property at a time from the same buyer, it's even more important to have them appraised by a professional working for you, instead of another party to the transaction. There are cost effective ways to protect yourself in an investment into many properties. We perform "drive-by" appraisals, sanctioned by housing giant Fannie Mae, which can be more cost effective than a full appraisal with an interior inspection. When combined with the expertise of a licensed home inspector, you should be able to buy with confidence that everything is as represented by the seller.

It's smart to always have an inspection done before closing on a property. It's equally important though to obtain an opinion of value from an appraiser. An inspector will tell you if everything that is present in the structure is functioning properly, what repairs may need to still be done, and whether there are any safety or soundness issues with the property. An appraiser can translate that into dollars. As rehabilitated, is the property worth what it's selling for? If something unexpected happened and you needed to sell right away, would you be able to recoup your investment?

As an investor, you need and deserve to know. Protect your interests with the help of a professional appraiser.

Often times, homeowners rent out their residential real estate. This could be a 1 to 4 family residence, a condo, or a townhouse.

eastern appraisals are able to provide you with the analysis as to what the rental for your property should be. This is done by researching and analyzing comparable rentals of similar properties to your property, then concluding with a rental value.

Real Estate in foreclosure and houses that have returned to the bank's possession create particular appraisal challenges.

When there is a home in foreclosure, you need to ascertain the difference between fair market price and "quick disposition" worth to know your probable charge-off liability. Eastern Appraisal Company has the experience in both furnishing snapshots of fair market value for our mortgage lending clients, in addition to "quick sale" forecasts that understand your time line.