Capitol City Appraisals

read moreThis is not a complete list of the services we can provide. Please contact us if the service you need is not listed. Henrico County, City of Richmond, Chesterfield County, Hanover County, Colonial Heights, Petersburg, City of Hopewell, Dinwiddie County, Prince George County, New Kent County, King William County, Powhatan County, Goochland County. We also cover several towns/municipalities within these cities/counties. Please call our office if you need coverage not listed here.

read moreMost localities determine your property tax burden based on an ad valorem assessment of the property's value. Sometimes, as a property owner, you get an unwanted surprise in the mail telling you your taxes are going up, and sometimes it may seem as though your assessment is too high. Often, matters like this can be resolved with a phone call. We've listed the phone numbers to every tax assessor's office within our coverage area on our website. You can find the numbers to your local municipality by clicking on "Tax Assessor's Offices."

read moreLenders, mortgage brokers and others can now order appraisal reports online from our website. What are the advantages of online ordering? No more wondering if the order got through. No more wondering if the appointment has been set, or the inspection completed. No more wondering where your report is! These are all advantages of ordering your reports online.

read moreA home purchase is the largest, single investment most people will ever make. Whether it's a primary residence, a second vacation home or an investment, the purchase of real property is a complex financial transaction that requires multiple parties to pull it all off. Most of the people involved are very familiar. The Realtor is the most common face of the transaction. The mortgage company provides the financial capital necessary to fund the transaction. The title company ensures that all aspects of the transaction are completed and that a clear title passes from the seller to the buyer.

read moreWhat is USPAP? USPAP, which you might hear pronounced like "YOOS-pap, " is the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. USPAP is published and maintained by the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) of the Appraisal Foundation, a non-governmental entity charged by Congress with promulgating appraisal standards. USPAP is revised periodically, usually annually, and almost never radically. It includes sections covering rules, such as an Ethics Rule, a Departure Rule, and a Competency Rule. It includes Standards, 10 of them, each covering in detail different functions an appraiser might perform ("Real Property Appraisal, Reporting"; "Business Appraisal, Development").

read moreStarting November 1, 2005, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will require newly redesigned appraisal forms for their loans. Since as you know most lenders use Fannie's forms in all cases, not just loans they're selling to Fannie Mae, you'll be seeing a lot of these new forms. Some lenders have applied for an extension from Fannie Mae that will allow them to accept the old versions of the forms past November 1. Fannie and Freddie have been allowing the new forms to be used in lieu of the old for some time on a voluntary basis.

read moreFor homeowners, a real estate appraisal is the linchpin to buying or selling their home. It allows the property transactions to occur among the buyer, seller, real estate agent and mortgage lender. Before an Appraiser arrives, there are a few things you should know. By law, an appraiser must be state licensed to perform appraisals prepared for federally related transactions. Also by law, you are entitled to receive a copy of the completed appraisal report from your lender. Once your appraiser has arrived, you do not need to accompany him or her along on the entire site inspection, but you should be available to answer questions about your property and be willing to point out any home improvements.

read moreIf you are going to sell your home you would be wise to invest in a professional appraisal. Professional appraisals do not cost money, they pay in the long run! Unless a homeowner studies real estate values on a day to day basis, like a professional appraiser does, it's difficult for them to get a handle on real estate values. We are not talking about how much you have invested in your home, how much you paid for it, or how much you want for it. We are talking about the true market value of your home.