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You are here: Home / Blog / Tips for Home Buyers

What’s the difference between an Appraisal and an Inspection?

February 1, 2022

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN APPRAISAL AND A HOME INSPECTION?

If you’re planning to buy a home, the home inspection and appraisal are important steps in the process. Here’s the key difference between an appraisal and an inspection:

“In simplest terms, a home appraisal determines the value of a home, while a home inspection determines the condition of a home.”

Here’s the breakdown of each one and why they’re both important when buying a home.

Appraisal

The home appraisal is a professional evaluation of the market value of the home you’d like to buy. In most cases, when you apply for a mortgage, an appraisal is ordered by the lender to confirm or verify the value of the home prior to lending a buyer money for the purchase.

Regardless of what you’re willing to pay for a house, if you’ll be using a mortgage to fund your purchase, the appraisal will help make sure the bank doesn’t loan you more than what the home is worth.

This is especially critical in today’s sellers’ market where low inventory is driving an increase in bidding wars, which can push home prices upward. When sellers are in a strong position like this, they tend to believe they can set whatever price they want for their house under the assumption that competing buyers will be willing to pay more.

However, the lender will only allow the buyer to borrow based on the value of the home. This is what helps keep home prices in check. If there’s ever any confusion or discrepancy between the appraisal and the sale price, your trusted real estate professional will help you navigate any additional negotiations in the buying process.

Home Inspection

The home inspection is a way to determine the current state, safety, and condition of the home before you finalize the sale. If anything is questionable in the inspection process – like the age of the roof, the state of the HVAC system, or just about anything else – you as a buyer have the option to discuss and negotiate any potential issues or repairs with the seller before the transaction is final. Your real estate agent is a key expert to help you through this part of the process.

Bottom Line

The appraisal and the inspection are critical steps when buying a home, and you don’t need to manage them by yourself. Let’s connect today so you have the expert guidance you need to navigate through the entire home buying process.

Filed Under: Tips for Home Buyers Tagged With: Appraisal, Home Inspection

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"I was able to see Russ in action when he helped my aunt and uncle buy a house here in Green Valley. He is very knowledgeable about this area and the home buying process. He went above and beyond in many ways: showing lots of houses, pointing out pros and cons of each house, helping decide on an offering price and recommending a good loan agent. Russ is everything a real estate agent should be and I highly recommend him."
- L.S., Green Valley AZ
"Russ Fortuno is a 5-Star professional who I highly recommend without reservation. He is knowledgeable, experienced, prompt, efficient, polite, fair, honest, and very personable. We interviewed four real estate agents and he was far and above the most experienced, proficient, and knowledgeable. He gave us excellent advice on how to prepare the house for the market, and directed us on having an estate sale. He sold our house in Green Valley, AZ before it even went on the market, and did an excellent job negotiating a fair price. Our entire family was thrilled with the service he provided to us. You cannot go wrong with Russ Fortuno."
- N. T., Highland Park, IL
"Russ was always very responsive and returned calls in timely manner. Was extremely Calm and rational when going gets jiggy. Keeps any drama from becoming dramatic. His experience in executive management is an asset when dealing with the variety of challenges related to closing the sale. I Highly recommend him to handle complicated transactions. "
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Russ Fortuno, Associate Broker

I'm a Southern Arizona native and year-round Green Valley resident. Whether you’re buying or selling a home in the Green Valley or Sahuarita area, you’ll experience unsurpassed service and professionalism at all stages of your real estate transaction. I welcome the opportunity to assist in your next home sale or purchase.
Meet Russ

Tierra Antigua Realty

18745 S. I-19 Frontage Rd., Ste. A105
Green Valley, AZ 85614
(520) 333-0446
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