A. Jay Cottle Appraisers LLC

01/03/2026

Mortgage rates have been sliding downward over the past year (see the chart 👇), and whenever rates dip, more buyers start jumping back into the market. The twist? As demand rises, prices can creep up again which means some of the ‘savings’ from lower rates can disappear.

So here’s the real trade-off in today’s market:

Would you rather…
🔥 Lock in a lower interest rate now
or
🔥 Hold out and hope for a better price later?

Curious to hear what you’re seeing and thinking locally.

01/03/2026

📊 Wilmington & New Hanover County friends - take a look at this.

These two charts tell an interesting story about what’s happening in our local market.

👉 The number of appraisal firms here peaked in 2022 and has dipped slightly since
👉 Meanwhile, our county gained +651 new households, many bringing in higher incomes than those who moved out

So we’ve got fewer appraisal firms… but more people moving in with stronger buying power. That combination can shape pricing trends, competition, and how values are interpreted across neighborhoods.

I’m curious - how does this line up with what you’re seeing?

• Are you noticing more people moving into the area?
• Do you think this growth is helping or hurting affordability?
• How do you think this impacts buyers, sellers, and investors right now?

I study this data every day as part of my appraisal work, but I love hearing real-world perspectives from people living it on the ground.

Drop your thoughts below 👇

07/29/2025

The Role of Appraisals in Real Estate Investment Decisions:
https://www.ajcottleappraisers.com/information/the-role-of-appraisals-in-real-estate-investment-decisions/

Understand how real estate appraisals influence investment choices, property valuation, and risk management for informed decision-making in real estate.