In January of this year, Housingwire.com had a post about Homeowner's valuing their properties differently than appraisers... For instance, if Jane in Los Angeles thinks her home is worth $400,000 and her appraiser sets the value at $440,000 the appraisers value is 10% higher than Jane's. A year ago, appraisers figures on typical house values were 6% higher than homeowners. That amount has shrunk to 3% as of November 2014, according to quickenloans.com (Western U.S. only).
First of all, I'm surprised that homeowners have ever felt their homes were less valuable than their appraisers. I join those who welcome this latest trend of similar valuations, but wonder why it is happening. The report only shows the changes in differences of opinion over the last month, and not the actual values. Are the appraisers lowering their figures, or are homeowners raising theirs due to the stabilization of the housing market after the foreclosure crisis?
The article suggests that if the trend continues, the numbers will flip, and homeowners will become troubled that their home is appraising for less than they will think it should. That will seem "normal" to me, although the article suggests that's a problem. I don't see why. Do you?