If A House Is Appraised Higher Than The Purchase Price
You're in a good situation if this happens. It simply means that you've agreed to pay the seller less than the home's market value. Your mortgage amount doesn't change because the selling price won't increase to meet the appraisal value.
Increased Leverage A higher appraisal allows you to borrow more against the property, giving you additional funds to reinvest into other deals or improvements. This leverage can help you grow your portfolio faster without having to save for a new down payment.
Nowadays, most sales contracts have a safety net built in for buyers. There's often an addendum that allows buyers to back out without losing their earnest money deposit if the appraisal doesn't match the offer price.
Generally, the appraisal report doesn't change the fact that you and the buyer already have a contract to sell the property at a certain price point. Just because the appraisal shows the seller may have underpriced their property, they don't have the right to walk away from the deal.
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.
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.
More often than not, an appraisal comes in around what the seller expected. According to Fannie Mae, the vast majority of appraisals confirm contract price, with the share peaking at 98% in 2007. Following increased appraisal scrutiny, the share dropped towards 90% and is now closer to 95%.
If the appraisal value is lower, the mortgage lender of the buyer will not lend more than the appraised value, which could create a financial shortfall for the buyer. In such a scenario, the buyer would need to come up with more cash or renegotiate the price with the seller to match the appraisal value.
“It has nothing to do with the seller; it is ordered by your lender, and payment is due regardless of the outcome,” says Maria Jeantet, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker C&C Properties in Redding, CA. “It is typically paid by the buyer unless specifically negotiated ahead of time to be paid by the seller.”
High Appraisal
An appraisal that comes in high for a homeowner preparing to refinance can increase a homeowner's equity, which could boost their cash-out refinance proceeds or remove their private mortgage insurance (PMI) obligations on a conventional loan.
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.
If the buyer can't come up with more cash and the seller won't lower the price, the buyer may have no choice but to back out of the sale. If the purchase agreement doesn't contain an appraisal contingency, the buyer will lose their earnest money deposit and possibly even face legal action.
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.
The appraiser's primary role is to determine the fair market value of the property based on objective factors such as its condition, location, comparable sales, and market trends. The appraised opinion of value may be the same or very close to the contract price however, it may also be considerably higher or lower.
While it's always great for the property appraisal to come back higher than the amount you agreed to buy it for, this is no way affects the loan amount you need to qualify for, or the down payment you need to close on the mortgage loan. Both conventional and unconventional mortgage products offer similar requirements.
Can the seller back out if your appraisal is high? Realistically, the answer is “no.” For one, they accepted your offer and would be breaching the sales contract if they wanted to put the house back on the market to capture a higher price.
The main factors that can hurt a home appraisal include needed updates, comparable properties, market conditions, your home's location, and whether you hired an inspector to flag issues or necessary repairs.
The standard, professional answer is, of course: “No, it won't affect value. Appraisers are trained to look at the structure and layout of the house, and overlook the sinkful of dirty dishes. Don't worry.”
Most appraisals come in at the right price. According to a report by Corporate Settlement Solutions (CSS), only about 8% of properties sold in the first half of 2024 sold for more than their appraised values.
Do appraisers look in cabinets? No, appraisers typically don't look inside cabinets, but they do need to check the condition and functionality of the kitchen and other rooms. Any visible signs of damage or wear can affect the appraisal value.
3. Ask The Seller To Lower The Price. Although the seller may have accepted an offer, as a buyer, you can ask the seller to lower the asking price to something closer to the appraised value.
On the flip side, if the appraised value of a home you just bought comes in higher than the sales price, then you got yourself a deal! Your mortgage won't be affected by this, and good news—you've got a little more equity than expected.
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.