09/09/2026
Once your offer is accepted, the home appraisal is one of the major checkpoints before closing.
📋 Your lender orders the appraisal — you don't pick the appraiser, but you usually pay the fee
đź“‹ The appraiser is independent, federally regulated, and works from comparable recent sales
📋 You'll get an appraised value — sometimes it matches the contract price, sometimes it comes in lower
When an appraisal comes in low, you have options: renegotiate, dispute with comps, bring more cash, or walk away if your contract allows.