Stuck with a slow lender? This blog shows how an appraisal transfer can rescue your timeline and save your deal.
If you’re an investor trying to close a DSCR Rental loan, time is everything. The market moves fast, but traditional lenders? Not always.
Maybe you’ve already paid for an appraisal, but your lender is dragging their feet. Weeks go by, and you’re stuck. Unable to move forward but unwilling to throw away the money you’ve already spent. The good news? You have options.
One of the most underutilized tools in a real estate investor’s toolkit is the appraisal transfer.
What Is an Appraisal Transfer?
An appraisal transfer allows you to delegate an existing property appraisal when switching lenders, instead of paying for a new one and restarting the process. If your deal is delayed or you find better terms elsewhere, you can request an appraisal transfer letter from your original lender.
This letter authorizes the new lender to accept and underwrite the appraisal, helping you move forward without added cost or unnecessary delays.
Why Appraisal Transfers Matter
Appraisals aren’t cheap. For single-family properties, they typically range from $300 to $600, and for complex multifamily or unique assets, they can exceed $1,000.
More importantly, they take time. Waiting for a new appraisal can push your closing back by a week or more, time you may not have when a property is under contract.
By transferring your appraisal, you:
- Avoid duplicate appraisal costs
- Eliminate unnecessary delays
- Keep your financing timeline on track
At Dominion Financial, we make the process simple. All we need is the appraisal transfer letter from your current lender. Our in-house review team validates the report quickly, so you can keep moving toward closing with confidence.
Switching Lenders? Don’t Settle… Leverage Our DSCR Price-Beat Guarantee
Transferring an appraisal is only half the equation. If you’re shopping for better terms on a rental property loan, Dominion Financial offers something else that stands out: our DSCR price-beat guarantee.
If you’ve received a term sheet from another lender, we’ll beat it.
Because we work with all major note buyers and have a fully integrated lending platform, we’re able to offer competitive pricing tailored to your specific deal. It’s not one-size-fits-all; it’s real estate lending designed for real investors.
Why Real Estate Investors Trust Dominion Financial
Dominion Financial was built by real estate investors, for real estate investors. That’s why our rental loans are designed with speed and simplicity in mind.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Get a quote in under 24 hours
- Fast closings with no tax returns required
- In-house underwriting from a team that knows investment real estate
Whether you’re working with a single rental property or scaling a large portfolio, we understand the urgency, and we deliver on it.
INVESTOR TAKEAWAYS
An appraisal transfer allows a borrower to reuse an existing appraisal when switching lenders. Instead of ordering and paying for a new appraisal, the original lender authorizes the report to be released so a new lender can review and underwrite it.
Investors can use an appraisal transfer when a valid appraisal already exists and the original lender agrees to release it. This often happens when a loan stalls, terms change, or an investor finds better pricing or faster execution with another lender.
Appraisal transfers eliminate the need to restart the appraisal process, which can delay closings by days or weeks. By reusing an existing report, investors keep their financing timeline intact and reduce the risk of missing contract deadlines.
Yes. Appraisals can cost several hundred dollars for single-family rentals and significantly more for multifamily or unique properties. Transferring an appraisal avoids duplicate fees and preserves capital for reserves or future acquisitions.
Not all lenders accept appraisal transfers. Acceptance depends on internal underwriting standards, appraisal age, and regulatory requirements. Investors should confirm upfront whether a new lender allows transfers before switching financing.
