Posts About Appraisal and Appraisers written by the staff of The Robinson Real Estate Appraiser Group, Maryland.

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The Rise of Multigenerational Living

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A Response to Housing Affordability Challenges

The Baltimore metropolitan area, encompassing Baltimore City and surrounding areas to include Baltimore County, Howard County, Anne Arundel, Carroll County and others have witnessed a notable trend: an increasing number of families choosing multigenerational living arrangements as a practical response to the current housing challenges. Rising costs, lack of home inventory and the economic challenges of today’s market have buyers broadening their thought process on solutions.

The cost of housing in Baltimore and its surrounding counties has been rising steadily, outpacing wage growth and making it increasingly difficult for many buyers to afford housing. This coupled with the rise of healthcare, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and other elder care services have made multigenerational living (where multiple generations of a family choose to live together under one roof) become a viable option for many.  This arrangement also helps provide in-home housing for elderly relatives, adult children, young adults facing student loan debt or caregivers while maintaining some level of independence and privacy. 

In many cultures, multigenerational living has long been a traditional practice. The respect for elders, strong family ties, and the desire to provide care and support across generations contribute to the attractiveness of this living arrangement. 

When dealing with multigenerational households, there is typically the presence of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). An Accessory Dwelling Unit, is a secondary housing unit that is located on the same property as a single-family home. Also known as granny flats, in-law units, or backyard cottages, ADUs (according to Fannie Mae) must include space for living, sleeping, cooking and bathrooms independent of the primary residence. They are designed to be smaller in size compared to the primary residence and are intended to provide additional housing options within existing residential neighborhoods. An ADU can be detached from the main dwelling, attached to the dwelling or within the dwelling. 

The regulations and guidelines for ADUs vary widely depending on local zoning laws, building codes, and community preferences. Many jurisdictions have specific requirements regarding the size, design, and occupancy of ADUs to ensure they are compatible with the character of the neighborhood and do not pose undue burden on infrastructure or parking.

Local and state governments may need to reassess zoning regulations and housing policies to accommodate the diverse needs of multigenerational households. This could include incentives for developers or builders to build multifunctional homes in support of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to create separate living spaces within existing properties.

With the current state of the housing market and the changing needs of buyers, multigenerational living represents a flexible and innovative approach for our current demographic trends as well as addressing current housing inventory needs.  

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Housing Shortage in Maryland

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Maryland is facing a serious housing shortage that is impacting the entire state, but especially the Baltimore Metropolitan area. The low inventory of available homes combined with high interest rates has made it difficult for potential buyers to find an affordable home in the area. This has caused a decrease in overall real estate sales, and an increase in rental prices. As a result, many people are unable to purchase a home due to financial constraints.


Historical median data for Harford County, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County and Cecil County all have shown a decrease of approximately 30% in closed home sales for the 1st quarter of 2023 compared to the 1st quarter of 2022. The current homes offered for sale have also decreased compared to last year’s data. Harford County homes for sale are down 19.2%, Baltimore County inventory is down 30.2% and Cecil County homes for sale are down 35.6%. With that being noted the median sale prices for each county have increased marginally.

 
So, why is the inventory amount for houses on the market so low??


One reason inventory is so low nationally is that many homeowners were able to lock in record low interest rates in 2020 and 2021. Mortgage rates have continued to  increase since then—the rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage reached 6.7% on March 9, nearly double that of a year ago, according to Freddie Mac. That means that homeowners who bought or refinanced with low interest rates are reluctant to sell their homes and buy another with a mortgage with a much higher interest rate.


Older Americans have decided to age in place. There is not much of an incentive for Baby Boomers to sell their home because of economic uncertainty. Demographics according to the National Association of Realtors owners used to sell every six or seven years but the typical seller in 2019 owned a home for 10 years. This amount is bound to increase due to the low rates of 2020 and 2021 – no one would willingly give up the low interest rates they locked into during this time.

 
Landlords are also not willing to sell. With rental rates rising and the high rates of return on investment, less and less investors are willing to sell and eliminate their lucrative cash flow. Approximately 33% of households rent their homes in Maryland: this is a large amount of inventory that will see no movement in the near future further adding to the bleak future of influx within the housing market.

 
The housing shortage in Maryland has been a long-standing issue, and it has only been exacerbated by the recent inflationary pressures. With the cost of living on the rise, the increase in interest rates for mortgages,  many households are struggling to find affordable housing and are unable to keep up with rising rents. Unfortunately, this issue doesn’t seem like it is going anywhere anytime soon. A big reason higher home prices have been sustainable is that housing inventory is markedly low. And until that changes, home prices are unlikely to drop in the near future.


*Historical data for the Baltimore Metropolitan Area was noted from quarterly reports provided by Bright MLS, Inc.

Do Rising Interest Rates Affect Real Estate?

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Interest rates play a crucial role in the housing market. Lower rates typically promote an increase in demand for properties, this in turn drives up pricing, while on the flip side of that, higher interest rates reduce the demand since the costs of a mortgage increase deterring prospective home buyers. We have been in a special situation in the past few years with respect to the pandemic.  The Covid-19 pandemic caused so much chaos and instability regarding jobs, economic growth, recession and so many unknowns it left  Americans and the world with our heads spinning.   In an effort to stimulate and grow the economy the rates were lowered to record lows in past years in hopes to aid economic growth and stability in a very unstable time.The Federal Reserve pumped money into the economy, spending trillions of dollars on mortgage-backed securities to hinder another financial crisis. This move allowed lenders to offer rock-bottom interest rates, tumbling to the mid-2% range by the summer of 2021. With the low mortgage rates prices continued to increase since buyers could borrow more money for less than ever before. The low rates coupled with the available housing supply being low caused even further price increases in home values. With buyers fighting over the homes that were on the market, bidding wars were not that uncommon in portions of 2021 and 2022. 

In March of this year the interest rates began to rise in an effort to combat inflation and curb the continual rise of home prices across the country. So far, the Fed’s six hikes in 2022 have increased rates by a combined 3 percentage points . Generally, interest rate hikes will raise costs for homeowners and reduce buying power. As mortgage rates increase, houses become less affordable. An increase of 1% interest rate can have a significant impact on mortgage costs. You can expect monthly payments to increase by an average of 10-15% . Buying power decreases and homes become less attractive for purchase thereby reducing the demand for homes. Sellers are then forced with the question of whether to reduce their price to have their home be more attractive and affordable for purchase.  The area, supply, demand, location, home type, condition and income are a few things that need to be considered before putting your house on the market and/or lowering your current price. Interest rates have continued to have a major influence in the overall market.

Investors do not necessarily share in the despair of rising interest rates compared to the typical buyer. Rising rates means fewer people can qualify for loans and will choose to rent rather than buy. Rents are at an all time high due to the demand for housing. There is more possibility for higher rates of return on investments during times of high interest rates and overall demand for rentals.  The investors that pay cash for bartering reasons or the ability not to use a bank for the purchase of a home can receive a hefty stream of cash flow without the imposed rate variation from a conventional bank.  But as we all know…it is easier to make money when you have money!

In conclusion, real estate pricing and interest rates are in a relationship with one another that can not be broken, they are like a married couple, always trying to find the best balance for both parts to work smoothly for a greater benefit. 

Appraising Real Estate During a Pandemic

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Along with the rest of the world appraisers have had to adapt to all things Covid. Being in an industry where you are entering into homes, being in one another’s personal space and typical interaction has become alarmingly apparent of risks and uncertainty.

Appraisers from the beginning of our national lock down were considered essential to continue the momentum of an economy that looked to be headed toward very unstable ground with the shock of the unprecedented closings and shut downs.

The banking industry was quick to adapt and move forward with business as “usual”. Masks and gloves were required upon entry, social distancing applied to all inhabitants within the home and due diligence for keeping everyone healthy and safe.  There were often people apprehensive and/or had compromised health issues that would not allow entry into the home, the lending institutions, in some cases, allowed an exterior only inspection with the aid of the real estate agent or borrower’s input/information coupled with interior photos of each room in order to ascertain an appraisal of the property. While there is nothing else better than an interior inspection to help determine the value, this was the best alternative considering the circumstances.

In order to ensure the economy would  stay on track the Federal Reserve lowered the rates to record breaking lows and generated quite the frenzy! The areas that we cover in Harford County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Carroll County and Cecil County have all seen values rise since the onset of the pandemic because of the lower rates and/or low inventory which also plays a part in this uptick in prices.

There is never a dull moment being an appraiser! There is a continual effort to balance and adapt to new hurdles, market  changes, lender requirements, methodology, report types, software changes and maintaining your sanity through a global pandemic. This virus has affected every person in every industry globally in some way or another, until this crazy ride is over Robinson Appraisal Group hopes you remain healthy and that 2021 can bring us back some joy and normalcy.

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Is Fannie Mae Recruiting New Appraisers??

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Could this be true? Is Fannie Mae trying to recruit new appraisers to enter the field? It seems as though over the past decade Fannie Mae has been trying to minimize and reduce the role of the appraiser with proposed changes by moving toward appraisal waivers, hybrid appraisals (also known as bifurcated appraisals) and automated valuation models. Well, it now seems that Fannie Mae has launched a new initiative to help recruit professionals into the real estate appraisal industry. In late 2018, Fannie Mae and Altisource combined forces to establish the Appraiser Diversity Pipeline Initiative (ADPI). The reason for this was to encourage career opportunities for new professionals interested in the real estate appraisal field.

One way of raising awareness is the providing of information through community events about how to become an appraiser, different career paths, what appraisers do in the field and real life experiences of an appraiser. These hosted events started in Baltimore and Philadelphia by the local Urban League Entrepreneurship Centers. In August of 2019 the Appraisal Institute (AI) became a part of this movement and will aid in expanding appraisal career workshops and facilitating incentives for new recruits that would include: appraisal software, scholarships for their appraisal education and other resources during the training process. 

So, what happened? Why does it seem now as if Fannie Mae wants more appraisers, instead of limiting us? In recent years appraisers have been concerned about our elimination by the hands of an Automated Valuation Model (AVMs), hybrid model appraisals and by increasing the amounts of education and field work needed to become a licensed or certified appraiser? 

Well…a few things are happening. The majority of appraisers are over 55 years old and will be retiring in a few years. This will cause a shortage of professionals in the field and the increased work load on the remaining appraisers will cause appraisal turn around times to lengthen: this is an ever growing problem with the current demands for quick turnovers from the lenders and management companies. The other possible explanation for the recent need for more appraisal is that FHFA (Federal Housing Finance Agency) confirmed that it asked Fannie Mae to pause any bifurcated valuation process that doesn’t result in an appraisal. This bifurcated valuation or hybrid appraisal includes an exterior observation of the property, sometimes including an interior inspection by a third-party: this third party inspection could be done by a real estate agent, a property inspector or even another real estate appraiser. The use of this type of bifurcated valuation process for lenders boils down to reducing turn-times for appraisals and lowering fees. Fortunately, the  pitfalls of this valuation were recognized and are being reconsidered. 

The only practical solution to the lessening amount of appraisers without compromising the relevancy or quality of appraisal reports are to encourage new entrants into the profession to replace the wavering supply of real estate appraisers. 

Through the ups and downs and all the talk of our profession being replaced by computer data, technology and automated options the news that the traditional role of an appraiser can not be expendable is a wonderful way to bring in the new year. May we all have a bright and prosperous 2020!

Hybrid Appraisal

What is a Hybrid Appraisal?

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A hybrid appraisal is a valuation completed by a Licensed/Certified appraiser that is very similar to a desktop appraisal. It is a shorter appraisal form than the traditional appraisal and is performed by an appraiser who typically never visits the property. However, a hybrid appraisal includes an exterior observation of the property, sometimes including an interior inspection by a third-party: this third party inspection could be done by a real estate agent, a property inspector or even another real estate appraiser.


The use of this type of “hybrid”  appraisal for lenders boils down to reducing turn-times for appraisals and lowering fees. Fast and cheap….doesn’t sound too reliable when you break it into simple terms. Appraisers typically  earn an average of $50–$100 per assignment, which is substantially less than the average fee for a typical full appraisal. The hybrid appraisal is designed so the appraiser can complete the valuation in 30–60 minutes. An alarming aspect to me as an appraiser is that another person is involved in the valuation and/or outcome of the report. There is a reliance on third party data that is very concerning, the data that has been compiled by another person could be inaccurate and/or misleading.


A major concern regarding the hybrid appraisal would be the level of risk and liability. Performing an exterior inspection is not new to the appraisal field, the 2055 form has been used in past years, the main difference is  the hybrid appraisal is when a third-party inspector does an external or interior inspection on which the appraiser relies on the data.  A variety  of companies offer hybrid valuation products, they have their own forms, statement of assumptions and limiting conditions, certifications and additional information that is provided to the appraiser and/or included in the report. Some hybrid appraisals have an exterior only inspection, while others include an interior inspection. With all of these different factors regarding the hybrid appraisal the levels of  risk and liability are heightened. Typically, anything that receives value would be the responsibility of the appraiser.  It seems as though appraisers continue to be asked to adapt to changes in forms and regulations but any change should strive to enhance and produce a credible product for lending purposes. 


If this form does gain momentum and used more in our field, this would be an advantage for the aging demographic of real estate appraisers.  This form may be a possible solution and benefit for appraisers who still want to continue appraising into their “golden” years, but due to health and/or limited mobility are no longer able to physically inspect homes. In these instances, hybrid appraisals allow experienced appraisers to continue to apply their expertise without leaving the house.


Personally, I do not feel this appraisal alternative is a viable replacement for a credible appraisal assignment. Change and adaptation is a constant in the appraisal business, whatever the direction the hybrid appraisal may lead to, all of the appraisers at Robinson Appraisal Group will continue to perform credible appraisals to achieve market value on properties within our area of Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Cecil County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County and Howard County. We look forward to providing you with reliable appraisal assignments.

estate sale appraisal

An Estate Sale Appraisal Process

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An Estate Sale Appraisal Process

After 25 years of handling estate sale appraisal in the Baltimore Metropolitan area I have seen my fair share of estate sales. But what is an estate sale? An estate sale means a person has died and the party/parties that inherited the property are selling it.  Estate properties usually are priced well to reflect that fact that they need work. Another  possible issue is that if there are multiple parties involved, they may not always agree on what price or terms they’ll accept and there may be delays  due to the need to negotiate among each other, though hopefully that is not the case.

As an appraiser there are multiple ways to appraise a property that belongs to an estate. One method is the traditional appraisal process of determining the most recent and appropriate comparables in the market area surrounding the property.

Many times we are asked to evalauate the property’s value as of the date of death of the deceased owner(s). This is typically a private appraisal for an attorney or for one of the parties who will be part of the estate looking for the market value. When establishing the value on the date of death  the sales comparables must have occurred prior to the date of passing, so if I was doing an appraisal on a house where the  deceased passed 12 months ago, the sales would had to have sold prior to that date, say 13 or 14 months ago. You cannot use sales that occurred after the date of passing: this is called a retroactive appraisal.

The appraiser can not be biased or allow recent circumstances in the market to affect the value after the retroactive date…say the market plummets or prices have increased substantially due to high demand… the estate appraisal should reflect what the market was on the date of the passing, not anytime after.

A big part of maximizing what you leave behind is minimizing taxes. Federal taxes on gifts and estates can be among the highest assessed on any financial transaction. In addition, some states levy their own estate or inheritance taxes.

An appraiser,  an attorney and a tax advisor can aid in the process of estate issues. As an appraisal company we can provide one of the services needed in regards to your estate and real estate valuation.  Robinson Appraisal Group covers the areas of Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Harford County, Cecil County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County and Howard County. Having a professional appraisal gives the parties involved a reputable report to work with in meeting IRS and state agency requirements. It would be our pleasure to work with you during this arduous process.

interest rates

Interest rates are the highest in the past 7 years!!!

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Interest rates for buyers with good credit or credit worthiness for a 30 year loan is approximately 4.875% while average buyers fall around 5%. A hike in rates have been talked about since last year with minimal increases until recently. Mortgage rates started around 4% at the beginning of 2018 and have seen a steady increase. With the positive retail sales data and the rising home costs due to low inventory in some of the major markets the interest rate hike is not a complete surprise.
Typically a rise in rates will slow down the rise of prices in this high demand/low inventory market but the demand of today’s buyer has not been derailed by the spike in interest rates thus far. We have had years of low interest rates, now with mortgage rates creeping up to 5% and gas prices rising a correction is looming for the typical buyer.
Borrowers that refinance their current loans make up a smaller portion of the mortgage business than at any time in the past two decades, which poses a challenge for lenders who already fear higher interest rates and climbing home prices could potentially stunt purchase activity.
In a January statement, Fed officials said they expected annual inflation to “move up this year and to stabilize” around the US central bank’s target inflation rate of 2%. The Fed has forecast three rate increases in 2018.
According to local real estate agents the Harford County real estate market is a bit more competitive than Baltimore and Cecil County markets. Properly priced properties typically sell within days of being listed many with multiple offers. This seller’s market may come to a screeching halt with interest rates beyond 5%, so if you are looking to buy or sell, keep an eye on trends and rates. An appraisal can help you make a decision to buy or sell in this ever changing market. Please contact Robinson Appraisal Group for any help you may need in your valuation process.