How Old Can An Appraisal Be For Refinance?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Technically, appraisals don’t expire, but lenders may refuse to honor them if they think the appraisal is too old. Most appraisals will be accepted for 90 days and

many for up to six months

. Rapidly changing market conditions can reduce the time frame to as little as 30 days.

Can I use an old appraisal to refinance?

Most lenders require that you get an appraisal or other form of home valuation before you refinance a mortgage. An appraisal assures the lender that they aren’t loaning you too much money for your property.

You may not need an appraisal to refinance

your loan if you have an FHA loan, VA loan or a USDA loan.

How long are house appraisals good for?

How Long Is A Home Appraisal In Real Estate Good For? According to the Federal National Mortgage Association, most appraisals are generally good for

90 days

, although this number can vary depending on factors like the type of loan and the current real estate market.

How long is an appraisal good for FNMA?

Fannie Mae appraisals are usually valid for

12 months

, but they also require an appraisal update after the first 120 days.

Can an appraisal hurt a refinance?


If your home’s value is so low that you’re underwater, you can’t refinance

. If your appraisal value puts your home equity at less than 20%, you’ll get stuck paying for private mortgage insurance (PMI) or having to bring some cash to the table to do a cash-in refinance.

Does a messy house affect an appraisal?

“Generally speaking, a messy house with scattered

clothes, toys or belongings does not affect an appraisal

. Appraisers are professionals that have been trained to look past the clutter and assess the true value of the property,” explains Albert Lee, Founder of Home Living Lab.

Do appraisers know the selling price?


The appraiser will most likely know the selling price of a home

. … Therefore, the appraiser will most likely know the selling price of a home but this is not always the case. There are times that we have appraised properties for private sales where both the buyer and seller have declined to provide this information.

How much does an appraisal cost?

State Average Cost California

$300 – $400
Colorado $340 – $495 Connecticut $300 – $375 Delaware $320 – $385

Do appraisers ever change their appraisal?

In 15 years of selling real estate I’ve never had that happen either. That’s very unusual indeed.

An appraiser can make changes to the appraisal and adjust it up or down

with the correct data from other comparable homes that have sold.

Can you reuse a home appraisal?

On average due to consumer protection laws governing appraisals,

most are not transferable

. When a mortgage company orders an appraisal, they have to use an appraisal management company, an independent third-party that has a panel of licensed appraisers.

Why do appraisers lowball?

Another reason some appraisers low-ball is

to avoid claims against their errors and omissions insurance policies

-for unsubstantiated value. When borrowers default or when Fannie or Freddie requires a lender to buy a loan back because of a defect in the loan file, lenders may look to blame others to recoup their losses.

Does appraiser know refinance amount?

In a refinance appraisal, the bottom line is that

the bank wants to lend you money no matter what

. … This is important to know because some home sellers see the amount that their house appraised for on the refinance appraisal and expect that it represents the true value of their home.

Do appraisers look under sinks?

If you are

an appraiser, look under the sink to know what is there

. If you are a seller, be aware the appraiser might call for repairs if seeing something like the photo above. It might be worth curing the problem before the appraiser comes (I’m not saying you should hide the issue if you know you have a mold problem).

Will an appraiser look in my closets?

Appraisers are

looking in your closets not to evaluate storage space

but because they can sometimes count the closet towards square footage. … Depending on how much notice you have of the appraiser’s visit, you might have time to complete some unfinished projects.

What should you not say to an appraiser?

  • I’ll be happy as long as it appraises for at least the sales price.
  • Do your best to get the value as high as possible.
  • The market has been “on fire”. …
  • Is it going to come in at “value”?

Do they take pictures during an appraisal?


Appraisers are required to take pictures of the exterior of your house

. In the interior, they are required to take enough pictures to support the condition rating, with a special focus on bathrooms, kitchen, and other improvements.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.