As the PP noted, be sure to meet the appraiser and be armed with recent comparable sales if possible. The loan officer is forbidden under the new regulations from speaking with the appraiser. I would also avoid the big banks for this as many process loans outside of our market. Consider trying Bill Rozek with Embrace Home Loans in Rockville at 301-325-6399 and let him know Craig referred you. Explain the situation and discuss your options before spending money on the appraisal.

I think this is worth calling Meg Finn at Long & Foster to see if she has any lenders to recommend. Definitely go with a local rather than a big national bank.

No lender is going to know the "micro market". You can hope for a local appraiser that the bank hires to know - and you can certainly bring this up when he shows up to do an appraisal.

We need to refinance our home in Takoma Park but we will be very close to 80/20 LTV. We need a lender that is very familiar with the micro market that is Takoma Park (ie - house values differ tremendously block by block in some areas) and has a history of "generous" appraisals. Can anybody recommend a lender?

Thanks!