Business Details
37 Years
experience
Certified Los Angeles Real Estate Appraisal Services
Established in 1989, Hooks and Associates has served as a trusted Southern California real estate appraisal firm for over three decades. Our certified professionals specialize in comprehensive residential property valuations across Los Angeles County, including single-family homes, townhouses, and 2-4 unit residential properties. With over 17,000 completed appraisals and expertise in niche markets like equestrian estates and PMI removal, we maintain strict adherence to Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and California regulatory requirements.Our firm's reputation for accuracy and reliability is evidenced by our extensive clientele of attorneys, CPAs, and estate professionals who depend on our authoritative valuation reports. We maintain active memberships in major industry organizations while providing customized solutions for complex appraisal scenarios ranging from date-of-death valuations to property tax appeals.
Services
Estate Appraisal
Trust Appraisal
Divorce Appraisal
PMI Removal
Property Tax Appeal
Home Measurement
Equestrian Properties
Relocation Appraisal
Pre-Foreclosure Appraisal
FSBO Appraisal
Details
- Year established: 1989
Highlights and features
- Over 30 years of Southern California real estate appraisal experience
- State-certified appraisers meeting IRS, Treasury, and USPAP standards
- Specialized expertise in complex valuations including equestrian properties
- Member of Worldwide Relocation Council and National Association of Appraisers
- Proven track record with 17,000+ completed residential appraisals
Associations and certifications
- California BREA License #AR006438
- National Association of Appraisers
- Certified Home Measurement Specialist
What people say
Prompt, courteous service
Highly knowledgeable appraisers
Court-compliant reports
Accurate valuations
Thorough documentation
Services
Estate Appraisal
Specialized estate appraisals meet federal, state, and IRS requirements for probate and trust settlements. Our certified professionals conduct date-of-death valuations accepted by courts and tax authorities. Services include retrospective appraisals and compliance with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
Trust Appraisal
Comprehensive trust property assessments ensure accurate asset distribution and tax reporting. We follow California probate code requirements while providing detailed market analyses for both revocable and irrevocable trusts. Our reports support trustees in meeting fiduciary obligations with court-compliant documentation.
Divorce Appraisal
Objective property valuations for marital asset division meet strict legal standards. Certified appraisals document fair market value for court proceedings including retrospective assessments tied to specific marriage dates or significant life events affecting property status.
PMI Removal
Professional appraisals confirm 20% equity positions to qualify for PMI cancellation. We follow Homeowners Protection Act guidelines with accurate market assessments demonstrating increased property value or principal reduction in Los Angeles County properties.
Property Tax Appeal
Certified appraisals support property tax reduction claims before Los Angeles County Assessment Appeals Board. Our reports document market value discrepancies through comparative analysis meeting Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice requirements for evidentiary presentation.
People
John R. Hooks
Certified Real Estate Appraiser
Over 30 years of Southern California residential appraisal experience with 17,000+ completed evaluations. Certified since 1991 with specialized expertise in estate, divorce, and PMI removal appraisals. Active member of Worldwide Relocation Council and National Association of Appraisers.
Kathy
Office Manager
Administrative lead handling client communications and appraisal coordination for over 20 years. Primary contact for scheduling services and pricing inquiries. Maintains office operations excellence in Torrance headquarters.
Questions
What types of real estate appraisals do you specialize in?
We specialize in estate/trust valuations, divorce settlements, PMI removal, property tax appeals, FSBO appraisals, equestrian properties, and relocation services meeting federal/state standards.
Do you handle complex property valuations?
Yes, we appraise challenging properties including equestrian estates, homes in niche communities, and properties with unique legal histories requiring specialized market analyses.
How quickly can you complete an appraisal?
Standard appraisals completed within 5 business days. Emergency services available for urgent estate or legal requirements with expedited reporting options available upon request.
Are your appraisals accepted for legal proceedings?
All reports meet Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and are admissible for court proceedings, tax filings, and institutional lending requirements.
What areas do you service?
We primarily service Torrance, Palos Verdes, South Bay communities, Westside, and Pacific Palisades areas covering full Los Angeles County for residential appraisals.
Reviews (7)
Susan B.
Mar 18, 2020
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Where's the 10 STAR rating? A 'fiver' just doesn't cut it for John Hooks and Assoc appraisal services. Talk about Perfection in Professionalism! John's got it hands down. I'm a RE agent. Recently I had a very sensitive sale, the owner passing, ensuring the Trust was in order, etc. A fellow colleague highly recommended John to assist me in establishing the best appraised price for quite a unique property. John's credentials are absolutely outstanding. His appraisal prowess is undeniably incredible. I felt so confident in his abilities to research historical and
Ray Millman
Aug 12, 2019
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John Hooks is an experienced professional appraiser that I have had the pleasure of working with on many sales over the years. He is also excellent for doing an appraisal for siblings to buy one another out of a property and for measuring to confirm the square footage is correct. (when is question). John is also a nice guy and you will enjoy meeting him. I highly recommend John Hooks for appraisals.
Josh M.
Dec 28, 2017
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John was sent by the bank to do an appraisal at our home. He was courteous and on time. He appeared knowledgeable and friendly. A a few days later we received the information from the bank that the appraisal has come in way below the targeted amount. The house was appraised 7 months ago for an amount of $200k+ more than what was on Johns report. Also, the Los Angeles County Tax Assessor has the home assessed at $200k more than Johns report. The home was purchased about 13 years ago and has had an extensive recent remodel throughout the home and property totaling more than $200k. Johns report
Woody S.
Apr 26, 2016
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John is knowledgeable and very professional. I have referred several clients to John (for estate appraisals) and all have been very happy with the results. John also happened to be the appraiser on one my buildings as well recently - the value was spot on. John knew more about the sale comps that I did! 5 Starts all day long!
Boris B.
Jun 17, 2015
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Very disappointed in the lack of knowledge and professionalism put forth by John Hooks. I'm a real estate agent who was working on a short sale, and John Hooks got assigned to do the appraisal for the bank. Despite showing up on county records as 576/SF, John measured the property at 805/SF (229/SF of which are unpermitted), and proceeded to give the lender a value based on the higher square footage. When a dispute was filed, their response was: "...sometimes the county records are incorrect". Now the bank is valuing the property way to high and no buyer is willing to pay to dollar
R. C.
Mar 06, 2015
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I needed two appraisals for an estate. Kathy and John were fantastic to deal with. They were quick and efficient, yet also caring and respectful of my situation. I cannot recommend them enough. Very courteous and professional.
Kathy S.
Jun 07, 2013
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I'm considering refinancing my home and called to ask some questions about some concerns I have about a possible appraisal. John took the time to return my call and answered all of my questions and alleviated my concerns. I appreciated his time and expertise especially in light of the fact that I'm not a potential customer.
