Why you should order an appraisalYear after year, thousands of people in Pennsylvania buy, sell or refinance their home. Many of these transactions have a simple line item for an appraisal. Nearly all lenders still call for a local expert because the stakes are very high, even though there are an increasing number of automated home valuation methods that may seem more economical than an appraisal. Is getting a mortgage the only reason to acquire an appraisal? Are there other cases when the services of a certified, independent real estate professional could be beneficial? You bet there are. 
Dispute your tax assessment in Lackawanna CountyIt's likely you're paying too much in property taxes if you live in an area where property values have declined. Ad Valorem taxes are determined by a previous assessment of your real estate, so if prices have declined in your area, you can challenge your assessment and save money. An appraisal from Paul Votta is your best evidence when building your case. At Paul Votta, we're qualified to assist you in disputing your tax assessment. PMI removal to reduce a mortgage paymentPrivate Mortgage Insurance, or PMI, is an added insurance policy that many lenders ask homeowners to buy when the amount being loaned to the home owner is more than 80% of the actual value of the real estate. Since the extra payment is usually folded into the monthly mortgage payment, it is often forgotten. PMI is unnecessary when the remainder of the loan - whether through market appreciation or principal pay down - dips below the 80% mark, making this very unfavorable. In fact, the United States Congress invoked a law in 1998 (the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998) requiring lenders to remove the PMI payments when the loan-to-value ratio conditions have been met. If you'd like to get rid of PMI, Paul Votta can produce a statement regarding the value of your home. The expense of the home valuation can usually be offset in just a few months because you'll no longer be paying the PMI. Get your appraisal from Paul Votta Order todayDivorce settlement with fewer hang-upsA divorce is a very traumatic event for the parties involved, and it is often even more complicated by the challenging decision of who maintains the house. So both parties are entirely aware of the true market value of their home, it's a good idea to get an appraisal from Paul Votta, regardless of the situation. The parties will have a better idea of what price to set, if they want to sell the home. And if a "buyout" is the chosen option, both parties will feel like they've received a fair evaluation. Ascertain a fair and accurate valuation for estate liquidationThe loss of a loved one is a difficult time in life, and settling an estate from a death, or probate, often calls for an appraisal to establish Fair Market Value for the real estate involved. The ethics provision within the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) binds us with confidentiality, guaranteeing the highest degree of discretion. Unlike many wealthy individuals, most Americans don't have dedicated estate planners or executors to take care of these matters. And since a home or other property often makes up an unequal share of the total estate value, understanding the true value of the real estate at hand is of essential importance to ensuring disputing parties walk away knowing they've gotten an honest deal. Move to or from Lackawanna County for workEmployee relocation is a stressful event, and we understand. That's why we take great care in organizing an accommodating appointment time for the appraisal inspection. During our detailed inspection, we suggest relocating employees to provide feedback on the positive aspects of their property, along with information regarding any current sales or listings in their area that they want considered. Close on your home promptly — for an accurate priceA professional appraisal will help you make a better educated decision when determining your selling price, whether you want to sell your home on your own or with the help of a real estate agent. Unlike a real estate agent, an appraiser has no vested interest in what price the house sells for. Our fees rest on our efforts to finish the appraisal report and and aren't related to the sales price. We determine the difference in value things like an additional bathroom or a kitchen remodel can make on a daily basis. Getting a professional appraisal is a reliable way to determine what improvements will add value and what an applicable 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. 
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