If you are an immigrant who has been working in the United States, own a home and wish to acquire American citizenship, an application must be completed. As part of the process, the Department of Homeland Security requires you to complete an Affidavit of Support. This document is a detailed report of your assets.
As proof of your home’s value, you will need an appraisal from a third-party licensed appraiser. The appraised value minus how much you owe on your mortgage will show them how much equity you have in your home. Here are the answers to some common questions:
An appraisal for immigration purposes is no different from a bank appraisal or private appraisal for a pre-listing decision. It will be a current unbiased objective report from a licensed professional.
We will send a PDF copy of the report to you via email. This way you will have a digital copy should you need to forward it to anyone or submit it on a website as part of your submission process
Typically, the appraisal inspection can be scheduled within a week of calling. After the inspection, the turn-around time is usually a few business days to a week.
Absolutely. If you are pressed for time with a deadline and need the appraisal report done as soon as possible, we can accommodate this request. Depending on the complexities, an additional fee may be required.
No. This information is private and will not be posted on any websites or provided to the town you reside. The report will only be sent directly to the client.
During the exterior part of the appraisal inspection, the appraiser will view the style, curb appeal, and note the materials of the siding, windows, and roof. They will also measure the exterior of the home to determine the square footage of the property. They will observe the surroundings to see if there are any beneficial or detrimental views: skyline, lake, ocean or commercial buildings, high tension lines, and highway overpass. Finally, they will determine if the location is beneficial or suffer from external obsolescence. This could include close proximity to a train station, school, downtown or a gas station, railroad tracks, and major roadway noise.
During the interior inspection, an appraiser sketches out the floor plan and takes photos of each room. During this process they observe the condition and quality of the kitchens and bathrooms as well as the rest of the home. The appraiser will enter the basement to check if it is finished or not, if there is a bathroom, and to check on the type of heating and cooling system. At the end of the inspection the appraiser will know the room count and overall condition and quality.
For residential properties, the sales comparison approach is the most common way to determine fair market value. After the appraiser inspects the home (subject property), and gathers all of the data necessary, they will go back to the office and search for comparable properties on the MLS. These properties will have ideally sold recently and be in close proximity to the subject.
In the sales comparison approach, the appraiser will make adjustments to the value of the comparables selected based on differing factors as compared to the subject property. Examples could be location, lot size, style, condition, number of bathrooms, square footage, basements, garages, etc. A professional appraiser will know how to make appropriate adjustments for each differing amenity. After the comparables have been adjusted, each comparable will have an adjusted value. Then the appraiser will reconcile the estimate of value for the subject property within the range of adjusted values of the comparables.
We can help make the immigration appraisal process smooth and convenient. Our team of licensed appraisers can accommodate your needs should you require the report right away. It will be supported with market data and accepted by the Department of Homeland Security. Call us now at 908-233-1337 for your appraisal today.
Evan from American Realty Appraisals came out to our home last spring to conduct a home appraisal in support of our property tax appeal. He arrived promptly at the agreed time, was very professional and conducted a thorough walk through. We were very satisfied with the results of his appraisal - they were well-researched and accurately captured the features of the home. His appraisal proved to be a crucial element in a very successful tax appeal. I would gladly recommend his services to others.
I was extremely pleased in my experience with American Realty Appraisals. Evan was very knowledgeable and was happy to answer any questions I had. His appraisal was useful in our being able to successfully appeal our taxes. It was worth every penny. He also shared some suggestions on how to shore up insulation efficiency around the house. 5 Star service. thanks!
Evan was extremely helpful in our obtaining a favorable result from our tax appeal and I highly recommend his services
If you want the Do's and Dont's. I would say DO use Evan. It was a very smooth and easy process. He worked around my schedule. His turnaround time was very impressive. Price: He was in line with the other quotes I received. And you DON'T need to worry. I will recommend him and use him again
Prepared the documents to submit for a tax appeal and accompanied me to the tax appeal hearing to present my case. I have used American Realty Appraisals twice and have won my tax appeal each time.
I was appealing my real estate taxes and American Reality did an appraisal on my home. The appraisal went well and as a result the tax appeal was successful and our real estate taxes were lowered.
I was ignoring go through Tax appeal process because I thought it was so cumbersome with very little chance of winning. In this process, I used Evan for a tax appeal. Not only we won but it was very easy and simple process between him and the lawyer. I highly recommend to use Evan, he knows what he is doing!
The tax appeal through you and Lisa Walsh was successful, and you may use me as a reference any time in the future
Evan was great. He was instrumental in helping me to appropriately lower my taxes via an accurate appraisal. I highly recommend his services to anyone in need of an appraisal in NJ.
When the interest rates dropped last year, I decided that it was a good idea to refinance my mortgage. I was recommended to American Realty Appraisals by my mortgage company. They were affordable, expedient, and ultimately put together a very comprehensive report with figures, photos, and local comps. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a professional and honest appraisal company.
Evan and his team at American Realty Appraisals are simply the best at what they do. As a mortgage banking professional, I have worked with dozens of appraisal firms over the years and I continually return to American Realty Appraisals when I can for their expert advice and service. I would highly recommend them if you are an individual looking to have your home appraised, or a banker looking to add a high quality appraisal firm to your list of approved appraisers.
Before I went to list my home, I hired Evan at American Realty Appraisals. I wanted an unbiased opinion of what my home was worth. He provided a thorough report that gave me piece of mind and a leg to stand on when it comes time to negotiate. I was also pleased with how fast he turned the report around after the inspection.
I am an attorney in Westfield and I refer all of my clients to American Realty Appraisals. I have worked closely with Evan Siegel for the past two years and I have been impressed with his professionalism, integrity and expertise as an appraiser. Relying on his appraisals, I have been able to negotiate property tax reductions for numerous clients in Union County. I highly recommend American Realty Appraisals for all of your residential real estate appraisal needs.
ARA did a great job of handling my tax appeal. The guidance was spot on and the staff, specifically, Evan Siegel, was professional and knowledgeable. The outcome was excellent and I'm saving a good amount of money on my real estate taxes. Thanks ARA!!
I used Evan for a tax appeal project. It was a seamless operation between him and the lawyer. Zero blips, and we won.
Mr. Siegel performed an appraisal for my home for tax appeal purposes. He was very professional and helped me lower my taxes by 17%. I am quite satisfied with his work.
Highly recommend. Excellent service, professional, prompt. Great result
908-233-1337
908-233-1337