What
standards
do
appraisers
use
to
estimate
value?
A:
Appraisers
use
several
factors
when
estimating
a
home's
value,
including
the
home's
size
and
square
footage,
the
condition
of
the
home
and
neighborhood,
comparable
local
sales,
any
pertinent
historical
information,
sales
performance
and
indices
that
forecast
future
value.
For
detailed
information
on
appraisal
standards,
visit
the
Appraisal
Institute
website,
www.appraisalinstitute.org,
or
contact
the
organization
at
550
W.
Van
Buren
St.,
Suite
1000,
Chicago,
IL
60607;
(312)
335-4100.
Q:
Where
do
I
get
information
about
closing
costs?
A:
For
more
on
closing
costs,
ask
for
the
"Consumer's
Guide
to
Mortgage
Settlement
Costs,"
Federal
Citizen
Information
Center,
Pueblo,
CO
81009;
(888)
878-3256;
www.pueblo.gsa.gov.
Q:
Where
do
I
get
information
on
filing
consumer
complaints?
A:
For
information
about
filing
consumer
complaints,
look
to
these
sources:
*
Consumer
Federation
of
America,
1424
16th
St.
N.W.,
Suite
604,
Washington,
DC
20036;
(202)
387-6121;
www.consumerfed.org
*
American
Homeowners
Association;
PO
Box
16817,
Stamforc,
CT
06905;
(800)
470-2242;
www.ahahome.com.
*
Consumers
Union,
1535
Mission
St.,
San
Francisco,
CA
94103
or
call
(415)
431-6747;
www.consumersunion.org.
*
Consumer
Action,
116
New
Montgomery
St.,
Suite
233,
San
Francisco,
CA
94105;
(415)
777-9635;
www.consumer-action.org.
Q:
Where
do
I
get
information
on
housing
market
stats?
A:
A
HomeJoy
Real
Estate
agent
is
a
good
source
for
finding
out
the
status
of
the
local
housing
market.
So
is
your
statewide
association
of
Realtors,
most
of
which
are
continuously
compiling
such
statistics
from
local
real
estate
boards.
For
overall
housing
statistics,
U.S.
Housing
Markets
(meyersgroup.com)
regularly
publishes
quarterly
reports
on
home
building
and
home
buying.
Your
local
builders
association
probably
gets
this
report.
Finally,
check
with
the
U.S.
Bureau
of
the
Census
in
Washington,
D.C.;
(301)
763-3199;
census.gov.
The
Chicago
Title
company
also
has
published
a
pamphlet,
"Who's
Buying
Homes
in
America."
Write
Chicago
Title
601
Riverside
Ave.,
Jacksonville,
FL
32204;
(888)
934-3354;
ctic.com.
Q:
Where
do
I
get
information
on
IRS
publications?
A:
The
Internal
Revenue
Service
publishes
a
number
of
real
estate
publications.
They
are
listed
by
number:
*
521
"Moving
Expenses"
*
523
"Selling
Your
Home"
*
527
"Residential
Rental
Property"
*
534
"Depreciation"
*
541
"Tax
Information
on
Partnerships"
*
551
"Basis
of
Assets"
*
555
"Federal
Tax
Information
on
Community
Property"
*
561
"Determining
the
Value
of
Donated
Property"
*
590
"Individual
Retirement
Arrangements"
*
908
"Bankruptcy
and
Other
Debt
Cancellation"
*
936
"Home
Mortgage
Interest
Deduction"
Order
by
calling
1-800-TAX-FORM.
Q:
How
do
I
reach
the
IRS?
A:
To
reach
the
Internal
Revenue
Service,
call
(800)
TAX-1040;
www,irs.gov.
Q:
Where
do
I
get
information
about
finding
a
real
estate
attorney?
A:
To
find
a
real
estate
attorney,
contact
your
local
bar
association,
which
may
offer
local
referral
services.
You
may
also
ask
friends
or
your
HomeJoy
Real
Estate
agent
for
their
recommendations.
When
you
have
several
names,
call
each
to
find
out
about
fees
and
their
level
of
experience.
Copyright
2006
Inman
News
Features
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