Discover practical steps to navigate the challenge of selling your home for a price higher than its appraised value in the US real estate market.

Introduction:

Selling a home can be a complex process, especially when the sale price is higher than the appraised value. While it may seem like a fortunate situation, it can present unique challenges for both sellers and buyers. In this article, we will explore the necessary steps to take when faced with selling a home at a price that exceeds its appraised value in the US.

  1. Understanding the Discrepancy:

When the sale price of a home is higher than its appraised value, it means that the appraiser's assessment of the property's worth falls short of the agreed-upon price between the buyer and seller. This situation can arise due to various factors, such as a competitive real estate market, multiple offers, or unique features that the appraiser may have overlooked.

  1. Re-evaluate the Sale Price:

In such cases, it's crucial to reassess the sale price and determine if it aligns with the current market conditions. Consider consulting with a trusted real estate agent who can provide insights

If your appraised value is lower than the agreed upon sales price, you'll have to make up the difference in cash, or cancel the deal. There's no reason to panic if your appraisal comes in lower than you expect it to, though.

What happens if seller won't lower price after appraisal?

If the purchase agreement contains an appraisal contingency, the buyer is protected in the case of a low appraisal. If the buyer can't get the seller to adjust the price or come up with the difference in cash, they can walk away from the sale with their earnest money deposit returned to them.


Should you ever pay more than appraised value for a home?

If you have more money that you can put into the purchase, you can pay more for the property than its appraised value. This isn't against the law, and there are many reasons why you might value a property more highly than a bank does.

Can sellers change price after appraisal?

For example, you signed a sales contract for 200,000 but the appraisal came in at 180,000. You can lower the price to 190,000. This means the buyer must bring an additional 10,000 to the table and you 'eat' 10,000. You aren't obligated to do this, it's just an option.


How often do sellers lower price after appraisal?

That said, most appraisals are in line with the selling price. On average, only one in 10 home appraisals come in low, but this can vary from region to region. If your house ends up in that 10%, here are some potential reasons why.

What happens if purchase price is higher than appraisal?

If your appraised value is lower than the agreed upon sales price, you'll have to make up the difference in cash, or cancel the deal. There's no reason to panic if your appraisal comes in lower than you expect it to, though.

Do appraisals usually match selling price?

Most appraisals come in at the right price. According to CoreLogic, in general, appraisals come in below contract only about 7-9% of the time. That average was skewed when the appraisal gap reached its peak at 20% in April 2022 but has been leveling out ever since.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if seller won't negotiate after appraisal?

If the buyer can't get the seller to adjust the price or come up with the difference in cash, they can walk away from the sale with their earnest money deposit returned to them.

Is appraised value higher than market value?

If buyers are few and far between when you list your home, there's a chance the market value will be lower than the appraised value. On the other hand, if you're seeing a ton of interest in your home from multiple buyers, you may find that the market value is higher than the appraisal value.

Do houses usually appraise for more than selling price?

Since appraisals look at past homes sold and don't account for future prices, appraisals will often come in lower than the selling price. It would be like pricing a tank of gas based on what you paid for it yesterday rather than today's market conditions.

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

Does a Higher Appraised Value Lower PMI? When it comes to calculating mortgage insurance or PMI, lenders use the "Purchase price or appraised value, whichever is less" guideline. Thus, using a purchase price of $200,000 and $210,000 appraised value, the PMI rate will be based on the lower purchase price.

How much over appraisal should I offer?

An appraisal is not an exact science and often two different appraisers will come to different conclusions as to the value of an identical property. When intending to stay in the property for a long time paying 1 to 5 percent over the appraised price will likely be insignificant 10 to 20 years from now.

Should you appraise your house before you sell?

Before selling your house

Homeowners considering putting their house on the market can have a pre-listing appraisal conducted to get a better sense of the market value of the home. Doing so can help determine a realistic asking price, increasing the likelihood of a fast sale.

FAQ

Is appraisal close to selling price?
Since appraisals look at past homes sold and don't account for future prices, appraisals will often come in lower than the selling price. It would be like pricing a tank of gas based on what you paid for it yesterday rather than today's market conditions.
Can a seller want more than the appraisal?
You can sell a home for more than the appraised value — but it's not ideal because it can cause financial problems for the buyer. Therefore, listing your house above the appraisal amount may significantly limit the number of potential buyers for your home.
What happens when appraised value is lower than purchase price?
If the appraisal comes in lower than the purchase price, your lender will likely decrease the amount you can borrow. So you'll either have to pay more out of pocket or get the seller to lower their asking price.
Do houses ever appraise for more than selling price?
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 does not change because the selling price will not increase to meet the appraisal value.

What is the difference between appraised value and selling price?
Appraised value states what the home is worth, while sales price illustrates what buyers—or, at least one buyer—are willing to pay for this home, in this neighborhood, in this market. Appraised value is essentially the “true value” of the good, while the sales price is all about supply and demand.
What negatively affects home appraisal?
Structural And Other Construction Materials

This includes things like asbestos tile and insulation and lead paint. Even if the materials are safe, if they haven't been updated, your home may not be as energy-efficient, which could also affect value. This is especially true for old windows and doors.

What to do when sale price of home is higher than appraised price

Can you sell for higher than appraisal? Yes, homes can and do sometimes sell for more than their appraised value. This happens more frequently when inventory is low, or the market is competitive.
Is land recorded at appraised value? The appraised value is an attempt to determine the property's current market value. The appraisal report for real estate will usually report the appraised value of the land separate from the appraised value of the structures.
Is the appraisal the exact sales price? The appraisal can come in higher, but the lender will not count the difference as equity. Thus, unless there is a large and obvious difference between the purchase price and the market value, the appraiser will often "hit" the purchase price as long as it is within the range of market value.
What happens if appraisal comes back higher? If the appraisal is below or above the asking price, the transaction can get delayed or fall apart entirely. If a home is appraised to be higher than the asking price, the lender will only issue a mortgage for the appraisal amount.
What happens if appraisal is lower than price? When the appraised value comes in below the contract price, it limits the amount a lender will finance because they base the loan on the appraisal. A low appraisal might delay or even derail your closing.
Is it worth buying a house more than appraised value? Your buyer agent can help you when the home has unique characteristics (such as location in the neighborhood, location relative to shopping, schools, work, and other special characteristics that cannot be replicated in another property) where it may be fine to pay above appraised price.
  • Is a higher appraisal better?
    • Sometimes the appraised property value is higher than what appears on the sales contract and sometimes the property is appraised at a lower value. In a purchase transaction, a higher appraised value doesn't have much of an impact.
  • Does higher appraisal mean more equity?
    • Any difference above the appraised value compared to your contract price is added equity in your favor. One of the purposes of an appraisal is to create an opinion of the property's fair market value based on data from recent sales of similar homes in close proximity.
  • What happens if the appraisal comes in higher than the sales price?
    • If A House Is Appraised Higher Than The Purchase Price

      It simply means that you've agreed to pay the seller less than the home's market value.

  • Can you challenge a high appraisal?
    • Most lenders have a process for challenging an appraisal, says Bob Lear, a real estate appraiser for more than two decades. But you must be prepared to point out mistakes the appraiser made in comparing other properties or by missing new or upgraded features in your home.
  • What is the difference between appraised price and selling price?
    • Appraised value states what the home is worth, while sales price illustrates what buyers—or, at least one buyer—are willing to pay for this home, in this neighborhood, in this market. Appraised value is essentially the “true value” of the good, while the sales price is all about supply and demand.
  • What if they appraise my home higher thatnt eh sale amount
    • Oct 29, 2021 — 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 

Leave A Comment

Fields (*) Mark are Required