Residential Appraisals - Single Family Residences - Condominiums - Vacant Land - Field Review - Multi Family Units (2 - 4 units) - New Construction plus Desk Reviews 

"The Empire Group" provides real estate appraisals for primary and secondary mortgages, Mortgage refinancing, Employee relocation, Private mortgage insurance removal (PMI), Estate planning, Divorce settlement. We provide FHA, Reverse Mortgage (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage - HECM) and Conventional Loan Appraisals.

"The Empire Group" Electronic (E-Mail) appraisal delivery gets your the full color appraisal report FAST!!! 

"The Empire Group" Appraiser edits and most rewrites are completed same day requested (pending on when requested). 

"The Empire Group" specializes in assisting with appraisals for PMI removal. 

"The Empire Group" The What & Why of Real Estate Appraisal Services: A Real Estate Appraisal is an unbiased estimate of what a buyer could expect to pay - or a seller receive - for a particular parcel of real estate or property, where both buyer and seller are fully informed parties.

To be an "Informed Party" Realtors, Lenders, Banks, Plus many Buyers and Sellers turn to a licensed, certified, professional appraiser to provide them with the most accurate estimate of the actual or "True Value" of their property. "The Empire Group" hopes you will join our long list many satisfied clients (since 1987) and allow "The Empire Group." 

"The Empire Group" understands that a home purchase is possibly the largest, single investment many people will ever make. Whether it's your primary residence, a vacation home or investment property, the purchase of any real property demands competence and experience in working with the various aspects of each transaction... "The Empire Group" has that experience working with Bank, Lenders, Realtors, Escrow Companies and Property Owners to assure your appraisal is completed fast and accurately plus submitted properly. (Since 1987)

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The Empire Group Can Help You Get PMI Removed...
If you have a home loan with Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), you probably know just how expensive PMI can be, but we find that often borrower are confused as to the steps required to get it removed, or feel it is too expensive to have removed. NOT SO!and, no you do not have to refinance you loan to get out of PMI.

What is PMI "Private Mortgage Insurance" ?
PMI or "Private Mortgage Insurance" is normally required when you buy a house with less than 20% down. Mortgage insurance is a type of guarantee that helps protect lenders against the costs of foreclosure. This insurance protection is provided by private mortgage-insurance companies. It enables lenders to accept lower down payments than they would normally accept.

In effect, mortgage insurance provides what the equity of a higher down payment would provide to cover a lender's losses in the unfortunate event of foreclosure. Therefore, without mortgage insurance, you might not be able to buy a home without a 20% down payment. The cost of PMI increases as your down payment decreases. Example: The cost of PMI on a 10% down payment is less than the cost of PMI on a 5% down payment. Your PMI premium is normally added to your monthly mortgage payment.

The decision on when to cancel the private insurance coverage does not depend solely on the degree of your equity in the home. The final say on terminating a private mortgage-insurance policy is reserved jointly for the lender and any investor who may have purchased an interest in the mortgage. However, in most cases, the lender will allow cancellation of mortgage insurance when the loan is paid down to 80% of the original property value. Some lenders may require that you pay PMI for one or two years before you may apply to remove it.

Cancellation of Private Mortgage Insurance: Federal Law May Save You Hundreds of Dollars Each Year If you put less than 20 percent down on a home mortgage, lenders often require you to have Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). PMI protects the lender if you default on the loan.

The Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 - which became effective in 1999 - establishes rules for automatic termination and borrower cancellation of PMI on home mortgages. These protections apply to certain home mortgages signed on or after July 29, 1999 for the purchase, initial construction, or refinance of a single-family home. These protections do not apply to government-insured FHA or VA loans or to loans with lender-paid PMI. For home mortgages signed on or after July 29, 1999, your PMI must - with certain exceptions - be terminated automatically when you reach 22 percent equity in your home based on the original property value, if your mortgage payments are current.

Your PMI also can be canceled, when you request - with certain exceptions - when you reach 20 percent equity in your home based on the original property value, and if your mortgage payments are current. The typical cost of the required appraisal is $350.00, but can be discounted if "The Empire Group" performed the appraisal for the loan in question. Be sure to call and ask...

The Basic exceptions are as follows:

1) If your loan is "high-risk." 
2) If you have not been current on your payments within the year prior to the time for termination or cancellation. 
3) If you have other liens on your property.

For these loans, your PMI will probably be required to continue. Ask your lender or mortgage servicer (a company that collects your payments) for more information about these requirements. Also keep in mind if you signed your mortgage before July 29, 1999, you can ask to have the PMI canceled once you exceed 20 percent equity in your home; but federal law does not require your lender or mortgage servicer to cancel the insurance.

On a typical $300,000 loan with 10 percent down ($30,000), PMI might cost you $120 a month. If you can cancel the PMI, you can save $1,440 a year and many thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Check your annual escrow account statement or call your lender to find out exactly how much PMI is costing you each year.

Check with your lender or mortgage servicer, or call Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, for more information. Contact your lender or mortgage servicer to learn whether you're paying PMI. If you are, ask how and when it can be terminated or canceled.

 Pre-Listing Appraisal 
 Services

REALTORS & FSBOs; Save Time, Reduce Frustrations and assure you receive the fair value for your home or property by using "The Empire Group" Pre-Listing Appraisal Services. For $150.00 (Most Properties), "The Empire Group" will preform an appraisal complete with pictures, property foot print and market comparables... this service removes the uncertainty and all potential conflicts of interests in using Realtor CMA reports to establish value.

This service saves money and helps sell your property faster.