You’ve accepted an offer, the buyer’s excited, and everything’s on track—until the appraisal throws a wrench into the deal. Suddenly, your home is valued lower than the agreed-upon price. What now?
Don’t panic. This scenario is more common than you think, and the outcome doesn’t have to spell disaster.
As a REALTOR® serving Denton County, I’ve guided sellers through dozens of these moments, and I can tell you: you have options—if you know how to respond strategically.
Why Do Appraisals Come In Low?
Appraisals are performed by licensed third-party professionals hired by the buyer’s lender. Their job is to confirm that the home is worth the contract price based on comparable recent sales, upgrades, and market trends.
But when the numbers don’t align—say, your $500,000 contract appraises at $485,000—it creates a $15K gap. The lender won’t approve a loan for more than the appraised value, so someone has to cover the difference.
What Are Your Options?
At this point, the buyer might:
- Bring cash to cover the gap
- Ask you to lower the price
- Propose a compromise
If neither side agrees? The buyer can walk, usually with their earnest money refunded.
In fast-moving areas like Lantana, Highland Village, or Corinth, these gaps happen when homes appreciate faster than comps reflect. Timing and neighborhood-specific pricing play a big role.
How I Help Sellers Respond
The first step is reviewing the appraisal report in detail. Were the right comps used? Were your upgrades overlooked? I often catch outdated or mismatched data that we can use to dispute the value with hard evidence.
If a value dispute isn’t successful, we explore other solutions:
- Meeting the buyer halfway
- Offering incentives instead of price cuts
- Relisting, if the market shows we can do better
Real-World Example
Recently, I helped a seller in Robson Ranch navigate a $10K appraisal shortfall. Instead of panicking, we negotiated a shared adjustment—the buyer brought $5K in extra funds, and we lowered the price by $5K. The deal closed without delay.
Final Thought
A low appraisal can feel like a roadblock, but it doesn’t have to end your sale. With the right plan—and the right agent—it’s just another step on the path to closing.
Thinking of selling your Denton County home? Let’s talk about how to price, prepare, and protect your deal from surprises like this. I’m Steve Depoe with The Rose Realty Team, and I’m ready to help you sell smart from day one.
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