Why do I need 2 appraisals?

Asked by: Paul Kreiger  |  Last update: January 14, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (32 votes)

Guidelines require two appraisals Other programs may require two appraisals if the subject property is a flip. A flip is when an investor bought the home, remodeled it, and sells it for a profit, all within a few months. The investor wants to ensure the value is accurate with such a rapid increase in price.

Why would you need a second appraisal?

Second Appraisal as a Strategic Tool

Moreover, ordering an appraisal is often deemed necessary when the initial appraisal's value is lower than expected. Furthermore, buyers often seek this supplementary assessment to corroborate or challenge the findings of the initial appraisal.

Why would HUD require a second appraisal?

A second appraisal is required in the following circumstances: 91-180 day property flipping rule applies to the case. new sales price meets or exceeds the resale price percentage threshold. The threshold is based on the property's zip code.

Is it bad if appraisal is lower than offer?

If the appraisal comes in lower than your offer, it means the lender may not be willing to finance the full amount you agreed to pay because they consider the property to be worth less than that amount. In such cases, there are generally a few options:

How many home appraisals should I get?

If your home is still under mortgage, you should consider a home appraisal every one or two years. The updated value will help with refinancing.

FHA flip rule-- when do you need 2 Appraisals?

38 related questions found

Do sellers lower prices after appraisal?

Do sellers usually lower their asking price if the appraised value is lower? Whether the seller decides to lower their asking price will depend on a number of factors, including how motivated they are to sell or if they have other offers above asking price.

Can a seller back out if an appraisal is high?

Again, a home appraisal's impact on sellers should be minimal given that sellers typically don't see the appraisal report. Even if they do, a high appraisal doesn't give them the right to cancel the sale unless a contingency in the agreement says otherwise.

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.

Do houses usually appraise for less?

Real estate experts estimate between 10-20% of appraisals come in lower than the sale price.

Can seller negotiate after appraisal?

Can the seller back out of a high appraisal sale? 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.

Does FHA require 2 appraisals?

The second appraisal must be conducted by a different FHA-approved appraiser than who led the initial appraisal. Under certain circumstances, the requirement for a second appraisal may be waived, such as when the resale price is within a specific threshold compared to the seller's acquisition cost.

What is the purpose of a secondary appraisal?

Secondary appraisal involves people's evaluation of their resources and options for coping (Lazarus, 1991). One aspect of secondary appraisal is a person's evaluation of who should be held accountable. A person can hold herself, another, or a group of other people accountable for the situation at hand.

What is the FHA 6 month flip rule?

The FHA flipping rule requires investors to hold properties for at least 90 days before selling to FHA buyers. This rule impacts property flipping plans by imposing additional scrutiny on sales within 91-180 days. Investors need to factor these timelines into their investment strategies.

Who pays for a second appraisal in FHA?

When you buy a “flipped” home, your lender must pay for a second appraisal of the home that includes an inside inspection. The lender cannot charge you for this second appraisal.

Can I disagree with my appraisal?

Consumers should contact their lender to voice any concerns regarding their appraisals. Consumers have the option of filing a complaint regarding their appraisal or evaluation directly with their lender, or through the lender's federal regulator.

Why would a seller want an appraisal gap?

The appraisal gap clause states how much of an appraisal gap you're willing to cover. Since there's no guarantee an appraisal will match the agreed-upon sales price, sellers often want to be assured the offer will still stand even if the appraisal comes in a little low.

Do sellers lower price after appraisal?

In a seller's market, where sellers hold more negotiating power, they'll have little incentive to lower their price in response to a low appraisal. In all likelihood, the buyer will have to make up the difference in the purchase price and the loan amount the lender is willing to offer.

What if appraisal is higher than offer?

At the time of purchase the value is based on the lesser of the appraised value or purchase price. Therefore, if the house appraises higher you still must base your down payment on the actual purchase price. FHA: At the time of purchase the value is based on the lesser of the appraised value or purchase price.

How often do appraisals come in high 2024?

CSS's analysis concluded that during the first half of 2024, 51% of sales in these states had appraised values that were higher than the sale price. That's the largest share since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. In 2020, 42% of properties were appraised for more than the sale price.

Can I walk away if the appraisal comes in low?

Yahoo Finance tip: Your purchase contract must include an appraisal contingency, which states you can back out if the appraised amount is too low. Otherwise, you will forfeit the earnest money you put into the deal if you walk.

Who pays for appraisal if buyer backs out?

In most cases, it's still going to be the buyer. “The buyer is usually required to pay the appraisal fee upfront, and it is owed even if the lender does not move forward with a loan,” says Lee Dworshak, a real estate agent with Keller Williams LA Harbor Realty in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

Can I ask for lower price after appraisal?

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.

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

For Buyers: The Seller Refuses to Lower the Price

If the seller won't budge, the deal typically falls apart. That means the seller must relist and take their chances that the next buyer will offer the same price and that the new buyer's appraisal will come in at value.

How often do buyers back out at closing?

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. Even if you're lucky and the house sells quickly and above the asking price after a heated bidding war, many things can go wrong that cause a deal to fall through.

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.