Ras Associate

An appraisal is a professional appraiser's opinion of value. The preparation of an appraisal involves research into appropriate market areas; the assembly and analysis of information pertinent to a property; and the knowledge, experience and professional judgment of the appraiser.

The role of the appraiser is to provide objective, impartial and unbiased opinions about the value of real property - providing assistance to those who own, manage, sell, invest in and/or lend money on the security of real estate.The preparation of an appraisal involves research into appropriate market areas.

R.A.S. Associates appraisers are certified and licensed to conduct real estate appraisals in the entire state of New Jersey, including all towns in Morris County, Sussex County, Passaic County, Warren County, Bergen County, Somerset County, Essex County, Hudson County, Monmouth County, Ocean County and Union County, as well as Orange, Rockland and Westchester Counties in New York State, and the five boroughs of New York City: Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.

R.A.S. Associates Real Estate Appraisers offer many services in the creation of your residential, home, commercial, industrial or special use real property appraisals. In addition to standard mortgage appraisals, we specialize in fast and accurate appraisal services in cases of divorce, estate settlements, family planning, and real estate tax appeals.

R.A.S. Appraisers will provide quick and accurate appraisals and serve as expert witnesses in court to ensure optimal results for divorce settlements. Going through a divorce is always a painful and turbulent experience. A shared lifetime's worth of belongings, assets and property must be divided, hopefully fairly and equitably.

In times of loss, it is often difficult to think of the various steps that must be taken to resolve any outstanding monies of the deceased. An appraisal is required to establish fair market values of any real estate properties in the estate for tax filings and any presentation to multiple heirs. The aid of an appraisal is a necessity to dispose of the estate properly.

Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI is the supplemental insurance that many lenders have to purchase when the amount being loaned is more than 80% of the value of the home (LTV loan to value). This additional payment is often folded into the monthly mortgage payment and is quickly forgotten. After a rise in values and/or payment to principal goes below this 80% level PMI is no longer required.