Frequently Asked Questions Received by Our Real Estate Appraisal Division
1. What are the reasons to get an appraisal of my property?
2. How long does it take to complete an appraisal?
3. How much does an appraisal cost?
4. What is a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser?
1. What are the reasons to get an appraisal of my property?
- The most common reason is to obtain financing from a lender.
- Estimate value for purchase or sale.
- Estate Tax Return (Date of Death).
- Adding or removing a property from a Trust or Partnership/LLC.
- Estate Planning (Gifting a Property over several years).
2. How long does it take to complete an appraisal?
- Typically 1 to 4 weeks depending on difficulty.
3. How much does an appraisal cost?
- For Commercial Properties, Fees start as low as $1,000 and can be upwards of $5,000, depending on difficulty.
- For Residential Properties, Fees start at $300 for a SFR.
4. What is a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser?
- There are 4 “Levels” of Licensing in the State of California:
- Trainee (Must work with a Licensed Appraiser)
- Licensed (1-4 Unit Residential)
- Certified Residential (1-4 Unit Residential “Complex”)
- Certified General (Any Residential, Commercial, or other type of Property)