Why you should order an appraisal

To a lot of us, an appraisal is simply one more thing on the settlement sheet for a home sale or refinance. Most lenders still need a local expert because the stakes are very high, even though there are a budding number of automated home valuation systems that might seem less expensive than an appraisal. But is getting a mortgage the only reason to get an appraisal? Are there additional cases when the services of a licensed, independent real estate professional might be helpful? Absolutely.

For real estate appraisals in Mt Pleasant and Charleston County, it's easiest when your order online from Matthew Midkiff, just click here.

Let Matthew Midkiff help you challenge your tax assessment in Charleston County

It's probable you're paying too much in property taxes if you reside in an area where property values have declined. Property taxes are determined by a past assessment of your home, so if values are less than what they used to be in your area, you can challenge your assessment and save money. An appraisal from Matthew Midkiff is your best evidence when building your case. We're capable of assisting you in challenging your tax assessment.

Eliminating PMI will lower your mortgage payment

When the amount being loaned to the home buyer is more than 80% of the actual value of the real estate, almost all lenders ask home buyers to purchase an supplemental insurance policy. That policy is Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI. Most often, this added payment is lumped into the monthly mortgage payment and is soon forgotten. PMI is unnecessary when the remainder of the loan - whether through market appreciation or principal pay down - falls below the 80% mark, making this very unfavorable. In fact, the Homeowners Protection Act (HPA) of 1998 was implemented by the United States Congress requiring lenders to do away with the PMI payments on most mortgages when the balance is paid down to 78% of the original value.

If you'd like to eliminate PMI, Matthew Midkiff will provide you with a statement regarding the value of your home. The price you paid for the home valuation can often be regained in just a few months because you'll no longer be paying the PMI.

An appraisal from Matthew Midkiff will help you settle a divorce with less stress

A divorce is a very daunting ordeal for the parties involved, and it is often even more complicated by the strenuous decision of who gets the home. So both parties are entirely aware of the true market value of their property, it's a good idea to order an appraisal from Matthew Midkiff, regardless of the circumstances.

The parties will have a clearer picture 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.

Fair and accurate estate liquidation with help from Matthew MidkiffSettling an estate

The loss of a loved one is a difficult time in life, and settling an estate from a death, or probate, often entails an appraisal to establish Market Value for the residential property involved. We guarantee the utmost degree of discretion, as we're bound with confidentiality by the ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

Unlike wealthier individuals, most Americans do not have dedicated estate planners or executors to handle these matters. And seeing that a home or other property often makes up an uneven share of the total estate value, knowing the certain value of the real estate at hand is of essential importance to ensuring disputing parties leave knowing they've received an honest deal.

Let Matthew Midkiff help you with relocating to or from Charleston County

We are familiar with the stress involved with an employee relocation. We take great care in organizing an accommodating appointment time for the appraisal inspection. During our thorough process, we encourage employees that are moving to provide input on the positive features of their property, along with information regarding any recent sales or listings in their area that they want considered.

Sell your home quickly at the right price with an appraisal from Matthew Midkiff

A professional appraisal will help you make a better educated decision when determining your selling price, whether you decide to sell your home on your own or with the help of a real estate agent. With much different interests than a real estate agent, an appraiser has no vested interest in what amount the house sells for. Our fees are derived from our efforts to finish the appraisal report and not a percentage of the sales price.

On a daily basis, we analyze the difference in value things like an additional bathroom or a kitchen remodel can make. Obtaining a professional appraisal is a trusted way to decide what improvements will add value and what a suitable 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 homes stay on the market.