Homeowners say their homes are worth more than what appraisers say they’re worth, and the gap between the values is growing, according to Quicken Loans’ latest Home Price Perception Index reading for March.
Appraisals, on average, were 1.77 percent lower than what homeowners expected, according to the index. This marks the fourth consecutive month in which the gap between homeowner estimates and appraiser opinions has widened.
That said, appraisals are showing higher values than what homeowners expected in some of the hottest housing markets, mainly on the West Coast, according to the index.
“The national average shows appraisals lower than homeowner expectations, but some cities are bucking that trend,” says Bill Banfield, Quicken Loans’ vice president of Capital Markets. “With prices sprinting forward in many of the booming housing markets in the West, it can be difficult for homeowners to keep up with appraisers, who are on the ground, examining real estate price changes every day. This study is one more reminder for consumers to keep an eye on their local market before selling or refinancing. The state of their local market could affect their home’s value—on either end of the spectrum.”
