Clatsop County appraiser shortage delays home sales

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) — A shortage of appraisers in Clatsop County is causing long delays in the home-buying process.

The Daily Astorian reports (http://bit.ly/2eyJ3wA ) that the county has eight appraisers, whose job is to determine home values, with active licenses, a number that is small compared to the county’s competitive housing market.

Clatsop Association of Realtors Executive Director Debbie Morrow says so many purchases are taking place that appraisers are facing a major backlog of work. She says transactions that would normally take a few weeks are now taking eight weeks or longer.

RE/MAX Coastal Advantage broker Alaina Giguiere says some sellers don’t want to wait for appraisals to take place, meaning deals are at risk of falling through.

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Information from: The Daily Astorian, http://www.dailyastorian.com