What to do if Your Appraisal Comes in Low
When the home buying process gets to the point of a serious offer, it is kind of an exciting thrill ride of ups and downs until closing. One of the big variables that can throw a monkey wrench in the works is when the appraisal comes in lower than the accepted offer. This can leave a seller feeling like they paid more for a home than it’s worth, or they must scramble to make up the difference with extra funds or the deal may fall through.
Right now, appraisals are based on comparable sales that closed when prices were lower. In a rising market, comps can’t keep up with home sale prices in a competitive market, so values may be lower than expected. If you have a gap between your loan amount, you may be asked to come up with a larger downpayment.
But don’t despair, you have several options: