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Same House, Same Value: Why Appraisal Purpose Doesn't Change the Number

Does loan type or appraisal purpose affect the value? Whether it's FHA, conventional, refinance, divorce, or estate — the market value analysis is the same. Here's what actually differs between appraisal types.

"The Appraiser Killed My Deal" - Why Appraisals Come in Low (And What to Do About It)

This guide addresses the common misconception that appraisers intentionally kill deals by coming in low. It explains why appraisals come in below contract price (different comp selection, missing adjustments, market timing, unique property appeal, and occasional errors), emphasizes that appraisers face negative consequences for low appraisals, and provides four specific methods for addressing low appraisals - from requesting factual error corrections to presenting new comparables with proper adjustments.

Why Most CMAs Get Adjustments Wrong (And How to Think About Them Correctly)

This guide teaches real estate agents why property adjustments matter in CMAs, identifies the three most common mistakes (no adjustments, arbitrary numbers, using full price per square foot), explains the framework for thinking about adjustments through contributory components, and provides verification methods to test if adjustments are working.

When to Order an Appraisal: Timing That Protects Your Client (and Your Case)

This guide helps Colorado attorneys understand the critical timing considerations for ordering appraisals in divorce and estate cases. It covers the difference between retrospective and current market value appraisals, the risks of ordering too early or too late, how to handle property access issues, the impact of market seasonality, and provides a recommended two-week sweet spot timeline that balances accuracy with practical scheduling needs.

How to Pick Comps That Actually Work (Even When Inventory is Tight)

This guide teaches real estate agents how to select comparable properties by thinking like a buyer, setting up smart search criteria, and using time adjustments to expand their comp pool from 3-6 months to a full year. It covers defining market boundaries, bracketing search parameters, the two-step process for narrowing down to the best comps, and how proper time adjustments make older but highly similar properties usable - giving agents access to better comps in today's limited inventory market.

Why County-Wide Market Stats Are Lying to You (And What to Do About It)

This guide helps real estate agents move beyond misleading county-wide statistics to understand what's actually happening in their specific neighborhoods. It explains why both broad MLS reports and narrow niche market data can be unreliable, introduces a trendline analysis approach using multiple timeframes, and provides three practical methods agents can use to get accurate hyperlocal market trends - including a simple Excel tutorial approach.

What Makes an Appraisal Hold Up in Court: A Guide for Colorado Attorneys

This guide helps Colorado attorneys identify defensible appraisals before relying on them in court. It covers the most common issue - missing methodology documentation - and provides three red flags to watch for: lack of supplemental explanations, missing adjustments when property differences exist, and wide adjusted price ranges. The post explains what separates data-backed analysis from opinion-based valuations and offers practical steps for vetting appraisers upfront.