Appraisers See Some Improvement in Sales, Prices, and Their Own Business

A new survey conducted by United StatesrnAppraisals found a majority of appraisers are at least somewhat bullish on therncurrent housing market.  Over 54 percentrnof the nationwide panel of residential appraisers questioned said they had arnmildly or moderately strong level of confidence in the current housing marketrnwhile 24.9 percent were neutral.</p

Options were slightly higher regarding home values with 46.2 percent ofrnrespondents reporting a mild increase in values in their area, 15.6 percent arnmoderate increase and 24 percent were neutral. rnMost said their business was improving; 26.1 saying order volume hadrnincreased mildly, 17.8 percent saw moderate increases, and 18.5 percent saidrnthe volume increase was substantial. rnOnly 15.3 percent reported any reduction in order volume.</p

“Appraisers tend to be realistic, focused on their local markets andrnunmoved by news stories and national numbers,” said AaronrnFowler, President of United States Appraisals.  “We believe they provide a good gauge ofrnthe status of the housing market. After the last few years, a mildly strongrnlevel of confidence shows some definite improvement in appraiserrnattitudes.” </p

The survey results were reported along with quotes fromrnthe respondents which varied widely.  Somernreported a ‘fragile” recovery, others said indications were positive, othersrnthat foreclosures ere holding the market back or said improvement depended on therncost level of homes, or expressing fear that current good news might be anotherrnfalse alarm. </p

United States Appraisals plans to conduct its new survey on a quarterlyrnbasis.

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