4+ Ways To Find Out If Getting A New Home Appraisal In San Diego Is Right For You

Brandon Drake • August 23, 2024

Home inspection and home appraisal in San Diego are two different terms that many people use interchangeably today. Although both terms are related to real estate, they have different meanings.


● Home inspection—this process involves checking the condition of a home before buying. This process protects buyers by helping them understand the different aspects of a property that need to be repaired or replaced.

● Home appraisal—this process, with the help of different factors, helps to identify the actual worth of a property. This process protects buyers from overpaying for a residential property. It also guides lenders, allowing them to give a mortgage that's not more than the property's value.


Home appraisals in San Diego are very important if you're looking to buy a residential property. Apart from buying a real estate property, getting a (new) property appraisal is also important for settling a divorce, filing for bankruptcy, or refinancing a home. If you already have a property appraisal, a good question you need to ask yourself from time to time is—is now a good time to go for a new home appraisal in San Diego?


Well, if you experience one or more of the warning signs below, then the answer to the above question is YES.

1. It's been 12 months or more since you got the last appraisal

Has it been more than a year since you got your last home appraisal in San Diego? If yes, then now is certainly a good time to start looking for the most accurate home value estimator. To understand if going for a new property appraisal is worth it at this point, you need to factor in the following things:


● The current market conditions—you should consider getting a new home appraisal if your local real estate market has been appreciating. In this case, you certainly need a new appraisal to determine the property's current value.


● Home renovations—over a year since you last appraised your property, have you made any significant renovations to the home? If yes, then you certainly need to get a new appraisal to understand how high your property's value has become. In case you don't know, home renovations, such as roof repairs or replacement, can always add more value to your property. This explains why getting a new appraisal matters a lot.


● Interest rates—did you recently notice that mortgage interest rates have significantly dropped compared to the last time you appraised your property? If yes, then now may be a good time to consider refinancing a mortgage. To make this happen, you certainly need a new home appraisal in San Diego.


● Timing—this can always help you decide if going for a new appraisal is worth it today. In most cases, your current appraisals should be valid enough for roughly 3 to 6 months. This means that having your appraisal for up to 12 months is a good sign you need a new appraisal.


2. Hot local market 

Is the local real estate currently hot in your location today? If yes, then it’s normal for property value to go up. Because of the significant increase in the property's sale prices, your current appraisal becomes outdated. Going for a new home appraisal in San Diego is very important in this case. It allows you to understand the current value of the property.


3. Refinancing a mortgage 

Refinancing a mortgage is the way to go if you currently experience the following signs:


● A sudden decrease in the mortgage rates—in this case, refinancing the mortgage will lower the overall interest you need to pay and reduce how much you need to pay monthly.

● If you recently achieved a significant improvement in your credit score, then refinancing your loan may be a good practice.

● If you're looking to pay off the mortgage quickly or you just experienced an increase in income, refinancing your loan may be all that matters.


It's worth knowing that getting a home appraisal in San Diego is crucial to refinance a mortgage. Your lender certainly needs to carry out an appraisal—this will help them understand the current value of your property. Besides, getting an appraisal when refinancing a mortgage has significant effects on the loan-to-value ratio. You can n expect better loan terms if you end up achieving a lower loan-to-value ratio.


4. Other signs

The following common warning signs will help you understand if now is a good time to go for a new property appraisal:


● You’re looking to sell your property soon

● Your property use case has significantly changed.

● Decline in local economic

● High crime rate in your location

● You suspect your current appraisal is incorrect or has errors.


If you currently experience any of these warning signs, then now is certainly a good time to go for a new home appraisal in San Diego. Let MVAppraisals help you handle your new home valuation today.

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By Brandon Drake September 16, 2024
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