Emanuel Stewart - Reliant Home Lending

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Mortgage Info
    • FAQ
    • First Time Home Buyer Tips
    • First Time Home Seller Tips
    • Closing Costs
    • Home Appraisal
    • Home Inspection
    • Loan Checklist
    • Loan Process
    • Loan Programs
    • Mortgage FAQ
    • Mortgage Glossary
  • Resources
    • Links
    • Forms
  • Apply
  • Contact

Emanuel Stewart July 6, 2022

An Overview Of A Drive By Appraisal

An Overview Of A Drive By AppraisalIf you are applying for a home loan of any kind, there is a high likelihood that your lender will require a home appraisal. An appraisal is done to figure out how much your home is actually worth because the lender does not want to lend you more money than you could theoretically sell the home for in the future. There are some situations where the lender might be fine with a drive/by appraisal. What does this mean?

Comparing A Traditional Appraisal To A Drive By Appraisal

A traditional appraisal is a very thorough process where the appraiser comes to the home and inspects almost every portion of the home. This includes the interior and exterior. Then, the appraiser uses the information to calculate an estimate of the value of the home.

In a drive-by appraisal, the appraiser will only look at the exterior of the home. Then, the appraiser will compare this to the exterior of similar homes in your area, such as in your neighborhood, to get a better idea of how the value of your home compares to similar homes near you. Then, the appraiser uses this to figure out the value of your home. 

When Is A Drive By Appraisal Permitted?

Ultimately, a drive-by appraisal is permitted at the discretion of the lender. Typically, if you are applying for a new home loan, the lender will want a full appraisal; however, due to the pandemic, some lenders have become more lax and have been allowing drive-by appraisals for safety purposes. In addition, if you are applying for a refinance, the lender might not require a full appraisal. This is likely dependent on the time between your original home loan and the current refinance. It might also be dependent on your financial situation. 

Do I Want A Drive-By Appraisal?

There are a few advantages to you if the lender allows a drive-by appraisal. The process is usually faster, so it could help you expedite the closing process. In addition, if someone occupies the home currently, a stranger doesn’t have to enter the home to inspect every nook and cranny. If your lender requires a home appraisal, be sure to clarify what type of appraisal has to be done to get you to the closing table. 

Filed Under: Mortgage Tagged With: Appraisal, Drive By Apprasial, Mortgage

Emanuel Stewart Photo

Contact Emanuel


Mortgage Broker

Call (225) 313-6189

NMLS ID 107678

Reliant Home Lending

Connect with Me

Let’s Keep In Touch!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Logos BBB Accredited

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Blog
  • Contact

Equal Housing Lender

NMLS Consumer Access

BBB accredited business

Previous Posts

Categories

Looking For Something?

Our Location


Reliant Home Lending
8550 United Plaza Boulevard Suite 702
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Return to top of page

Copyright © 2025 Emanuel Stewart – Reliant Home Lending. All rights reserved.   Log In