I've actually done exactly that—used equity to invest in a rental property. A few things I learned along the way: - It can definitely pay off if you'...

Haha, yeah, I totally get that frustration. But honestly, from my experience refinancing last year, appraisers do notice more than just bedrooms and b...

Had a similar experience with our basement reno—appraiser didn't like our drywall finishing and said the flooring looked "temporary." A few things hel...

Good point about double-checking the appraisal. Had something similar happen when we refinanced last year: - Appraiser missed our updated kitchen com...

Totally agree—just refinanced recently, and the appraisal was pretty much the same story: - Checked roof and gutters - HVAC age and efficiency - Plumb...