#appraisal

Last summer, Nathan Connolly and his wife, Shani Mott, welcomed an appraiser into their house in Baltimore, hoping to take advantage of historically low interest rates and refinance their mortgage.

They believed that their house — improved with a new $5,000 tankless water heater and $35,000 in other renovations — was worth much more than the $450,000 that they paid for it in 2017. Home prices have been on the rise nationwide since the pandemic; in Baltimore, they have gone up 42 percent in the past five years, according to Zillow.com.

But 20/20 Valuations, a Maryland appraisal company, put the home’s value at $472,000, and in turn, loanDepot, a mortgage lender, denied the couple a refinance loan.

“We were clearly aware of appraisal discrimination,” said Dr. Connolly, 44. “But to be told in so many words that our presence and the life we’ve built in our home brings the property value down? It’s an absolute gut punch.”

ROBERT LEE BREWER/POETIC ASIDES; Appraisal

Of course, people are used to concepts such as home appraisals and appraising jewelry. 

However, the poem could be a self-appraisal, or appraise something or someone else. 

For instance, one could appraise their breakfast or dinner.

SHERWIN-WILLIAMS: Ionian

CHARLOTTE RAINS DIXON: I never promised you a rose garden.