Home Refinance Shafted By Low Appraisals

[Corey Dutton]

The biggest problem for homeowners who want to take advantage of low interest rates and refinance their homes is the appraisal. Although many homeowners are not technically underwater in their current mortgages, they are unable to refinance based on their loan to value. A lot of mortgage loan lenders are complaining that the appraisals their clients are getting back are just too low to allow them to refinance their current mortgages.

Because so many of the home sales used as value comparables in these appraisals are foreclosures and short sales, comparables are still a problem in a refinance right now.

Although these borrowers aren't able to refinance and take advantage of lower interest rates, most of them are still sitting pretty in their current mortgages with their values holding steady. If you are a mortgage loan lender, what are some other reasons you are discovering for the low values coming back on your client's appraisals? Please share.

Posted by Corey Dutton
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