Is it better to have a higher or lower appraisal?

Asked by: Prof. Maurice Keeling  |  Last update: April 13, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (48 votes)

A higher appraisal can improve your loan-to-value ratio, which may lead to better loan terms, such as lower interest rates or reduced private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirements. For example, most of the lenders I work with will require a higher interest rate on loans under $100,000.

Do you want your appraisal to be high or low?

For those looking to refinance, a higher appraisal might nudge your interest rate in a more favorable direction, thanks to something called a 'loan level pricing adjustment. ' This is because some loan programs set their rates based on how the loan amount stacks up against the property's value.

Is it good if appraisal is higher than offer?

Appraisal should always be higher than the sale price. If it's lower, then the buyer has a financing problem to deal with. If it's exactly the sale price, then you suspect that the appraiser did a sham job and just made the number fit what the bank needed to see/what the realtors wanted.

Is low appraisal worse for buyer or seller?

Why would the buyers agent support the price with the comps, that's the listing agents job. If the appraisal comes in low, that's generally better for the buyer, as in most cases they'll get a better deal with a price drop to meet the appraised value.

Do sellers usually lower prices after appraisal?

If an appraisal comes in low, a seller might lower the price to complete the sale. The appraisal is based on market research, Grossmeier elaborates. “The seller can lower the price to match market value.” If a seller isn't willing to renegotiate, it can result in a broken sale.

Property Appraisals: Can You Negotiate When It's Too High, or Low?

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Can buyer back out if appraisal is low?

The lender makes a loan based on the loan-to-value ratio that was agreed to in the contract. Many contracts contain a loan contingency, so if the appraisal comes in low, the buyer cannot buy the property under the contract's terms and can then cancel the contract.

Can seller negotiate after high appraisal?

Can the seller back out if the appraised value is too high? The conditions of the offer contract will determine when the buyer and seller can back out of the purchase. However, the seller may simply want to renegotiate if the appraised value comes back significantly higher than the selling price.

Why do appraisers lowball?

Overpricing: Ongoing shifts in the market, several recent foreclosures in the area or the presence of many distressed homes can affect the value of a home. Sometimes without sellers even realizing it. So if they overprice their homes, the appraisal value is bound to be lower than expected.

How often do appraisals come back lower?

Real estate experts estimate between 10-20% of appraisals come in lower than the sale price. But in today's competitive housing market, more homes are selling with multiple offers and the chances of an appraisal gap is increasing. When there is an appraisal gap you have five options. Renegotiate the deal.

What negatively affects home appraisals?

Poorly maintained homes or foreclosures have been known to drag property values down significantly. Their negative impact on appearances and security concerns will be taken into account when assessing area desirability levels.

What increases appraisal value the most?

Some of the easiest ways to improve your home's appraisal value are:
  • A fresh coat of paint.
  • Fixing broken flooring.
  • Decluttering and organizing.
  • Creating good curb appeal.
  • Making minor kitchen and bathroom upgrades.

Can I negotiate my appraisal?

Real estate appraisal fees are sometimes negotiable, so it's useful to consider this option. In some special cases, it may be appropriate to negotiate the appraisal fee. This usually occurs when you are buying a property located in a rural area, sometimes called a non-lender conversion property.

Does the seller see the appraisal?

The seller often does not generally get a copy of the appraisal, but they can request one. The CRES Risk Management legal advice team noted that an appraisal is material to a transaction and like a property inspection report for a purchase, it needs to be provided to the seller, whether or not the sale closes.

What not to say to an appraiser?

In his post, he lists 10 things as a Realtor (or even homeowner), you should avoid saying to the 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”?

Does an appraiser look in closets?

An appraiser will likely look in your closet to measure it to determine how big is it as larger closets and home with more square footage are more valuable.

Does a messy house affect an appraisal?

The appraisal professional who performs your appraisal is not concerned with whether or not your dishes are done, or your laundry is put away – these things don't affect the value of your home, and the value of your home is what an appraisal is all about.

Can a seller walk away if an appraisal is low?

Not usually. The buyer has the option with an appraisal contingency, not the seller. However, if the sales agreement has a "kick-out clause," the seller can continue to show the home. If the seller finds another buyer willing to pay the asking price despite the low appraisal, you'll face a deadline to decide.

How often do buyers back out after appraisal?

3.9% of real estate sales fail after the contract is signed.

There's nothing more frustrating than having a buyer back out at the last second.

Do home appraisals usually come in high or low?

If you're wondering how often home appraisals come in lower than a home's asking price, you'll likely be happy to find out that it's fairly rare. On average, only 10% of home appraisals fetch a lower number than the asking price.

What happens if the seller won't negotiate after an appraisal?

If the seller won't negotiate a lower price, you'll be on the hook to pay the difference unless you have an appraisal contingency in your contract.

How long does it take to get an appraisal back?

Appraisals generally take 1 to 2 weeks, but can take as long as 4 weeks in a busy real estate market. The biggest reason for appraisal delays is lack of appraiser availability. The number of available appraisers is declining 3% each year.

What happens if the home appraisal is higher than the offer?

If a home is appraised to be higher than the asking price, the lender will only issue a mortgage for the appraisal amount. This leaves the borrower to either cover the remaining cost on their own or return to searching for a home with a listed price that matches the appraised value.

Does the appraiser know the purchase price?

The appraiser will most likely know the selling price of a home. Why? Because the standard appraisal forms require the appraiser to enter the information, thus the appraiser will have a copy of the purchase contract.

Can a seller back out of an accepted offer after appraisal?

Purchase contracts are legally binding. Unless the seller has a contingency (which is rare), the buyer commits fraud, or the buyer breaches the contract, sellers can't break a contract without consequences.

Can you buy a house for more than the appraised value?

Experts suggest buyers prepare to offer 1-3% above the list price, but some real estate agents say 5% is an even better buffer to add to your budget. If you make an offer above the amount you were approved for by your lender and the appraisal doesn't support it, you're on the hook for the difference.