Inman

Appraisers publish homebuying guide

A new homebuying guide offers consumers advice on timing their purchase, selecting a real estate agent, and choosing the best home on the market from the "uniquely unbiased perspective" of a real estate appraiser, according to its publisher, the Appraisal Institute.

"An Insider’s Guide to Home Buying," by Indianapolis-based real estate appraiser and agent Mark R. Rattermann, according to the publisher, offers "advice that will help protect consumers from abuse, explains biases that exist in the real estate industry, and provides clues to possible problems, potentially protecting homebuyers from significant financial losses."

Because appraisers are not paid by sales commissions, "they have the unbiased perspective needed to help homebuyers weigh their options carefully, make logical decisions and effectively navigate the sales negotiation and mortgage application processes," the Appraisal Institute said in announcing the publication of the 190-page book.

The Appraisal Institute, an association of real estate appraisers, claims more than 25,000 members and 91 chapters worldwide. Its stated mission is to advance professionalism and ethics, global standards, methodologies and practices through the professional development of property economics worldwide.