Attention homeowners in Bakersfield and Kern County: Need an appraisal?

See the top 7 reasons why California homeowners order from American Appraisal:

Find the right listing price (whether they're selling the home themselves or using a real estate agent)
To challenge your property tax assessment in California
To reduce your mortgage payments by removing PMI
To reinstate their Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
Review a different appraiser's report for verification
In the case of a divorce in the state of California, when real estate property needs to be divided
Settle an estate in California by determining the true market value of a property


	Need help determining the value of your home in or near Bakersfield, California? Contact American Appraisal.

At American Appraisal, we understand the unique needs of a homeowner seeking appraisal services. While our typical clients understand the appraisal process and standard reporting formats, you as a consumer will get an extra level of customer service in the form of an explanation of the process and even special consumer-friendly reporting forms if the assignment allows for them.

For-Sale-by-Owner (FSBO) / Pre-Listing Services

It's very hard to be objective about your house because you most likely have an emotional attachment to it. The professional appraisers at American Appraisal will tell you what you need to know -- not just what you want to hear. We are objective. In addition to helping you set a realistic price to sell at so your property will attract buyers, a professional appraisal is a crucial negotiating tool once you have an attainable buyer. It's something tangible to show your buyer. An appraisal is an independent third party's opinion of your home's value -- not just how much you think your home is worth. Interested buyers know that you have an emotional attachment to your home and will be much more likely to give credibility to an accomplished appraiser's value report than yours.

Challenge a property tax assessment

Your local tax assessor may have your house overvalued if your house not appreciating as much as other homes close to yours. This only means you are most likely paying higher taxes than you should be paying. Since your property assessment may likely go up again in the next period, the earlier you take care of things like this, the better. An expert appraisal from American Appraisal is your number one weapon when challenging your property tax assessment.

Appraisals to remove PMI

A popular money saver for homeowners is getting the PMI eliminated from their mortgage loan, thus saving them money on their monthly payments. PMI stands for "Private Mortgage Insurance". Once your mortgage loan amount is down below 80% of the value of your home, in most cases you can apply to your lender to have the PMI eliminated from your loan, which will make your monthly payments go down. We are qualified in helping folks just like you delete undesirable PMI insurance.

HELOC recently frozen?

If your home is in a declining area, your lender might decide to automatically freeze your home equity line of credit (HELOC) - even if your specific property has not declined in value. This can be difficult and inconvenient from a cash flow point of view, and unfavorable to your credit score since it may appear as though that credit line is maxed out. American Appraisal can provide you with efficient appraisal that will help you reinstate your home equity line of credit.

Field and Desktop Appraisal Review Services

Have you just been handed a copy of your appraisal and you would wish to have a seasoned professional double-check it for precision or do you desire a second opinion without the cost and delay of waiting for a whole new appraisal? We can go out and check the subject and comparables in a field review. Or, if you're in a rush, we can provide desk review and verify as many facts as we can, using online data sources as well as our own files.

We can also provide a retrospective review of any appraisal you may have in your possession. Although most review work is requested by lenders for quality control, homeowners suspecting they've been the victim of mortgage fraud are wise to invest in a second opinion.