Lake Conroe Appraisals Blog

So, you’ve got a buyer waving around a briefcase of cash (okay, more likely a wire transfer) and you’re thinking: “Sweet! We can skip the appraisal, close faster, and keep this simple.” Not so fast, my friend. While an appraisal isn’t always required when there’s no lender, it can still be one of the smartest moves you make—especially here in Montgomery County, where home prices can swing faster than a boat dock on Lake Conroe during storm season. ✅ Why Cash Buyers Sometimes Skip the Appraisal When there’s no mortgage lender, there’s no bank telling you, “We need to know this house is worth what we’re loaning.” So technically, you can skip the appraisal. For some cash buyers, this means they’re confident in the deal, they know the market, or they’re buying as-is for a tear-down, rental, or investment. 🧐 Why You (or Your Buyer) Should Consider One Anyway Here’s the kicker: just because it’s optional doesn’t mean it’s smart to skip. A cash buyer might have deep pockets, but ...

When someone passes away and leaves behind a home, emotions run high—and paperwork tends to pile up just as fast. Whether you're keeping the house, selling it, or dealing with multiple heirs (who may or may not be getting along), one thing's almost always required: an estate appraisal . So let’s break it down in plain English: what is an estate appraisal , when do you need one, and why is it so important here in Montgomery County? 📅 What Is a Date-of-Death Appraisal? An estate appraisal—often called a “date-of-death appraisal”—is a professional valuation of a property as of the day the owner passed away. This is the value used for: Probate court IRS reporting (if needed) Inheritance planning Trusts and estate settlements And no, it’s not the same as the market value today. Even if you're getting the appraisal six months later, the value needs to reflect what the home was worth on the exact date your loved one passed. 🧾 Why You Can’t Just Use Tax Rec...