Real estate appraisals for Florida couples made easier with divorce mediation
Floridians are well aware that the state’s real estate market is still on the rebound from the economic downswing that occurred a few years ago. For couples in the midst of a divorce, finding a fair value for their real estate holdings can be a difficult task. Yet if those couples take advantage of divorce mediation, their real estate stands a better chance of a fair appraisal.
The need for a fair market appraisal does not depend on which one of the parties plan to stay in the home, nor upon whether they plan to sell the home and split the proceeds. A fair appraisal by a quality real estate appraiser is essential, especially in today’s volatile market.
An appraiser should have an excellent grasp on the local real estate market, because an appraisal is based, for the most part, upon recent sales of similar homes in the area. In general, a good market appraisal will differ widely from the one given by the tax assessor.
Updates to the home may not be worth what the homeowners think they are. Often, such updates are done for the needs of that particular family, and are of no importance to new buyers, who come with different needs. An experienced appraiser that has kept up-to-date with the needs of most current buyers is essential to obtaining a quality appraisal.
Divorce itself is a difficult process for most couples. Agreeing on a real estate appraiser is only one of the issues that the couples must hammer out. Yet, when those couples can enter into the mediation process without prejudice, there is a good chance that the couple will be able to come away with an agreement that is fair to both parties—and one which gives them the best possible value for their home.