Appraisers have a hard row to hoe these days.  Realtors and lenders, buyers and sellers are all mad at them because two and three years ago they “inflated” prices.  Now they aren’t taking any chances and seem to be “deflating” prices.  Or they mark a home as being located in a declining market area allowing some lenders – at their discretion – to require a bigger down payment or they don’t fund the loan at all.

All in all, though, I think appraisers are doing the best they can with what’s been handed them.  One appraiser I just spoke with has been handed a big pile of mess to deal with.  She’s been asked to appraise a home that has been foreclosed on and the people who lost the home are hostile about the eviction.  But she’s expected to go in – even though she had nothing to do with the foreclosure or eviction – and face an angry family so she can determine the value of the home on behalf of the bank.

I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes right now.  Not at all.