4 Things to Know About Home Appraisals

Louisiana REALTORS • June 17, 2019

When you decide to sell your home, the appraisal process is big deal.  The appraisal is the evaluation of your home and property that is used to determine its value.  It is an unbiased opinion used by mortgage lenders to assign an objective worth to the home, ensuring that the amount that they lend to your buyer is appropriate.  Working with a knowledgeable, professional REALTOR® can help to not only sell your home, but to help through each stage of the process, including the appraisal.  Here are four important things to know about your home’s appraisal.

What does an appraiser do?

The appraiser assesses the property and provides an unbiased, objective judgement that is meant to validate the contract price of the home.  These findings are used by the lender.  The visit includes measuring the living space, taking pictures, performing a visual inspection of the interior, exterior, and surrounding area of the home. 

Can any improvements I’ve made impact the appraisal?

While making updates, improvements, and renovations to your home can enhance its appeal, it may not always result in a higher appraisal.  The cost of your updates will not result in an equivalent increase in appraised value.  While they may make your home more attractive to prospective buyers, they’ll have marginal impact on your appraiser’s valuation.

How does the appraised value compare to market value?

It is not uncommon for the market value of a home to be higher than the appraised value.  Working with a REALTOR® will help you price appropriately, but when financing is involved, if the appraised value is lower than the asking price, it can make a purchase at that price less likely.

What other factors influence the appraised value?

There are other factors involved than simply what the appraiser collects during their visit.  Comparable properties are a significant element that is used.  These are other homes in your area that are similar in size that have sold recently.  These sale prices will influence the appraised value of your home, in addition to the other data collected.

 

2026 Legislative Session Scoop - Week 1 Recap

By Louisiana REALTORS® • March 13, 2026
Louisiana’s 2026 Regular Session opened this week with several developments that matter directly to REALTORS ®, property managers and housing providers, alongside some broader political shifts worth watching. HB 292: Security Deposit Return Timelines Rep. Delisha Boyd’s HB 292, which addresses procedures for returning residential security deposits, was deferred to next week. This provides additional time for stakeholders to engage with members on practical impacts for lease administration, move out inspections and documentation standards. We’ll continue working to ensure any changes to deposit law are clear, workable and do not expose housing providers to unreasonable liability. Land Use and Development: St. James Parish Decision The Louisiana Supreme Court’s recent St. James Parish decision significantly tightens the standards for overturning local land use decisions, reinforcing that zoning and permitting authority rests with parish and municipal governments as long as their decisions are not arbitrary or capricious. For real estate and development, that means more predictability if projects are aligned with adopted plans and ordinances, but also higher stakes in local elections, planning processes and parish-level negotiations. Governor’s State of the State In his State of the State address, Governor Jeff Landry reiterated his push to phase out the state income tax, expand the LA GATOR and MJ Foster scholarship and workforce programs, and replace vehicle inspection stickers with a QR code system. These programs frame a debate around long-term competitiveness, workforce readiness and household cost of living which are all key drivers of housing demand and migration patterns. Business & Market Trends The business community is focusing the session on insurance, workforce and energy. Commercial and property insurance costs remain a top concern for employers and property owners, and we are monitoring civil justice and insurance reform proposals that could affect market stability and availability. At the same time, Louisiana is seeing more than $100 billion in announced industrial and data center projects, which could reshape local markets, labor conditions and housing needs in multiple regions of the state. Please view the weekly bill tracking report at the link below provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
Real estate agent showing a couple a tablet, possibly displaying property details in a bright room.

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