Property Valuation Report
A formal appraisal of a property's market value, prepared by a licensed property appraiser, most commonly required by a bank to confirm the value of collateral before granting a mortgage loan.
Сфера дії: Польща.
Визначення
A property valuation report (operat szacunkowy) is prepared under the Act of 21 August 1997 on Real Estate Management by a licensed property appraiser (rzeczoznawca majątkowy), a profession requiring state certification. The appraiser inspects the property, analyzes comparable transactions, and documents the methodology used, arriving at a formal opinion of the property's market value that is binding in form and content under the Act's implementing regulations.
For a mortgage loan, the bank uses the reported value — typically the lower of the appraised value or the agreed purchase price — as the basis for calculating the loan-to-value ratio, which in turn caps the maximum loan amount the bank will offer. Some banks commission their own valuation through an in-house or panel appraiser rather than accepting a report the borrower obtained independently.
A standard valuation report is generally treated as valid for around 12 months from its date for lending purposes, though banks may set their own internal limits; a property valuation is also commonly required outside the mortgage context, for example in inheritance proceedings, tax disputes, or court cases involving property value.
Приклади
A bank orders a valuation report before disbursing a mortgage, and the appraised value comes in slightly below the agreed purchase price — the buyer's LTV, and required own contribution, are recalculated based on the lower figure.
An heir commissions a valuation report to establish the fair value of an inherited apartment before dividing the estate among several siblings.
A borrower refinancing an existing mortgage with a new bank has to commission a fresh valuation report, since the original one from the initial purchase is now several years old.
Як це впливає на купівлю та продаж
Buyers relying on mortgage financing should be aware that the bank's own valuation, not the agreed sale price, ultimately determines the maximum loan amount — a valuation that comes in below the purchase price can force a buyer to increase their own contribution or renegotiate the price. Sellers benefit from knowing that an unusually high asking price relative to comparable transactions increases the risk that a buyer's bank valuation will fall short, which can stall or unravel an otherwise agreed deal.
