Attention homeowners in Columbia and Howard County: Get an Appraisal today!

Check out the top reasons MD homeowners use Astute Appraisals, Inc.:

  1. Pre-listing appraisals (whether they're selling the home on their own or using an agent)
  2. Challenge a property tax assessment
  3. Remove PMI to lower a mortgage payments
  4. Reinstate your Home Equity Line of Credit (or HELOC)
  5. Verify another appraiser's report
  6. If property needs to be divided because of a divorce
  7. To determine the true market value of property in question to settle an estate in Howard county or MD

Do you own a house in or near Columbia? Do you need help deciding the price of your real estate?
Contact Astute Appraisals, Inc..

At Astute Appraisals, Inc., we understand the particular needs of a homeowner in need of appraisal services. While our usual clients understand the appraisal process and standard reporting formats, you as a consumer will get extra service in the form of an explanation of the process and even special consumer-friendly reporting forms if the assignment allows for them.

For Sale By Owner (FSBO)/Pre-Listing Services

Since you have an emotional attachment to your house, it's often very hard to be objective about it. The professional appraisers at Astute Appraisals, Inc. will tell you what you need to know -- not just what you want to hear. We are objective. In addition to helping you set a realistic selling price so your property will attract interested buyers, a professional appraisal is very important as a negotiating tool once you have a likely buyer. The appraisal is something tangible to show your buyer. An appraisal is an independent third party's opinion of your property's price -- not just you saying how much you think your home is worth. Potential buyers assume you have an emotional attachment to your house and will be much more likely to give credibility to an accomplished appraiser's value report than yours.

Need to cancel PMI?

Getting the PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) canceled from your mortgage loan is a preferred money saver for homeowners. Once your mortgage loan amount is down below 80% of the value of your home, in most cases you can apply to a lender to have the PMI eliminated from your loan, which will make your monthly payments go down. At Astute Appraisals, Inc., we're experienced in helping clients just like you rid themselves of unneeded PMI insurance.

Challenging a property tax assessment

If you live in an area that is going down or not appreciating as much as other houses close to yours, your local tax assessor may have your house overvalued. This means you are most likely paying higher taxes than you should be paying. Since your property assessment may likely go up again in the next period, the quicker you take care of a matter like this, the better off you'll be. Getting an appraisal from Astute Appraisals, Inc. is your perfect weapon when contesting your property tax assessment.

Recently got a freeze your HELOC?

Even if your specific property has not declined in value, your lender may just make the decision to automatically freeze your home equity line of credit (HELOC) if your house is close to a declining area. Not only can this be difficult from a cash flow angle, but it can be negative on your credit score since it may appear as though that credit line is maxed out. Astute Appraisals, Inc. can help you reinstate your HELOC.

Do You Need Field and Desktop Appraisal Review Services?

Would you wish a second opinion without the cost and delay of waiting for a whole new appraisal? Or do you want a veteran appraiser to double-check your appraisal for accuracy? An appraiser from Astute Appraisals, Inc. can go out and check the subject and comps in a field review. Or, if you're in a hurry, we can provide desk review and verify as many facts as we can using online data sources as well as our own files.

We can also provide a retrospective review of any appraisal you may have in your possession. While typically requested by banks, you may need to exercise this service if you suspect mortgage fraud related to your house.

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Mtg Loan Rate APR
30-yr Fixed 4.55% 4.7%
15-yr Fixed 4.01% 4.22%
1-yr Adj 2.76% 3.42%
* national averages

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