Sara Goodwin's Blog

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Real Estate Appraiser - Estimation Nation Corporation
RECENT BLOG POSTS
How to do your own ‘Comp Search': 1) Talk to your borrower about their house.  Ask them if they have any amenities or upgrades (inground pool, new roof, updated kitchen, etc.).  Ask them what year their house was built and what style it is (Ranch, Split-Level, Traditional, etc.).  Ask if there ha...
10/08/2007
 Whether you (as an appraiser) know it or not, you may be giving your information to FNC which turns around and sells it to AVMs per this article:http://www.alamode.com/News/07/070125.aspxand then a link here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/19/AR2007011900089.html[Ap...
10/08/2007
Oh my word... this is actually a statement that a lender has put on their prerequisites for their appraisal report:      "Please be sure to adjust for any personal decor or condition issues in your grid and/or comment on decor in the narrative section of your report.  The client considers persona...
10/08/2007
So it's our job (as Appraiser's) to research the facts in historic sales for the Market Approach to value and now it's the Realtor's job to hide those facts.  Just when I thought that groups like AR were bringing the RE industry closer together, the industry leaders attempt to keep us butting hea...
10/08/2007
Dave from my myspace appraiser group (I think he's lurking in the shadows on activerain as well) posted informatoin about lenders wanting a cost to cure statement for unpermitted additions - Here is one of his quotes: "I do not include the square footage of any additions in the GLA, in the report...
10/08/2007
 Portland was ranked the nations "Dog-Friendliest City" by Dog Fancy Magazine in 2006 and it's no wonder why. Today was Portland's annual Doggie Dash.  The route took dogs and their people along the Waterfront Park, over a bridge, down the eastside Esplanade, over another bridge and back down to ...
10/08/2007
This is what Not to write to an appraiser... especially upon initial contact. The following note was sent to me today.  Appraiser's please feel free to elaborate on as many violations as possible that an appraiser could break should they choose to accept this without wording their answers VERY ca...
10/08/2007
When measuring Do you: Deduct 6 inches for brick facades or use measurements from the interior or exterior?Round to the nearest inch, 1/4 foot, 1/2 foot, foot? Eliminate one level of the stairway and open spaces?It all adds up (or down) and when it comes down to it, it's all about how the county ...
10/08/2007
I have lived in the Portland Metropolitan area all my life.  It could be told that I know my way around and that I even impress some folks with my knowledge of shortcuts.  But as it turns out, at times I get lost.  I get lost a lot.  I reach an unfamiliar neighborhood toward the end of a sunless ...
10/08/2007
"[Appraiser's] don't calculate energy improvements made to homes because standards don't exist to accurately measure the increased value from energy upgrades."Reference: http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2001/07/30/focus7.htmlI was reading this old article on bizjournals.com about app...
10/08/2007
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Sara Goodwin

Portland, Oregon Appraiser
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