Appraisal and Financing

After the option period, your lender moves into full underwriting. Juliana's first rule: change nothing. Avoid new credit, large purchases, job changes or unexplained transfers until after closing.

Luxury homes can be harder to appraise because truly comparable sales are rare. You will learn what an appraisal gap is and the options when the value comes in below the price: renegotiating, bridging the difference in cash, or using the contract's protections.

Juliana also covers jumbo loans: larger down payments, higher reserve requirements, sometimes two appraisals, and why it helps to allow extra time in your contract timeline.