Who We Serve

Clients trust us with their most important Appraisal work.
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Why Work With Us?

Quick Turnaround
Times

Buying a house is one of the biggest decisions most people will ever make. With this in mind, we provide quality reports in a timely, efficient manner.

In-Depth Research
Analysis

The valuation of each and every house is unique with a multitude of factors contributing to market value. We at Kern Valuation Services back all our appraisals with extensive market research and analysis to provide you with a well-grounded, reliable appraisal report.

Local Experience

Professional home appraisals require local market knowledge. Our team consists of local experts knowledgeable in the analysis of fluctuating market trends and neighborhood characteristics relative to your specific home.

Multiple Review
Process

From lenders to homeowners, realtors, accountants, and attorneys, there are many parties relying upon the information in the appraisal report. This is why we leave no stone unturned and subject all our appraisal reports to a multi-staged in house review.

Who is Steve Magar?

Steve is a top-rated, licensed Real Estate Appraiser with over 20 years of experience in the local Kern County market. To date, he has completed over 10,000 appraisals in Bakersfield and the surrounding Kern County area. Steve holds the prominent SRA Designation with the Appraisal Institute and is a 20-year member and past president of the Central California Chapter of the Appraisal Institute.

Yes, I want to work with Steve

SRA Designation:
A Cut Above The Rest

Steve Magar holds the prominent SRA Designation with the Appraisal Institute and adheres to the Appraisal Institute Code of Professional Ethics and Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice underscoring a commitment to sound and ethical professional practice.

Learn More

What Our Clients Say

  • Steve Magar has been a valuable resource to my business. He is knowledgeable in the field of residential real estate and his "Letter of Valuation" has proven to be of great guidance to my clients on unique or different properties in this market
    Gary Belter
    Realtor
  • You are always kind and willing to listen. Few appraisers would get involved or spend time to help. I want you to know that you are much appreciated PLUS You’re cool!
    Rosina Dewar
    Business Owner
  • Steve Magar had always been the consummate professional! He has his finger on the pulse of the market, continues to educate himself on ABC’s status of top of the market trends.
    Darlene Tobias
    Real Estate Agent
  • I've been in the real estate industry since 1991 and Steve Magar is one of my most trusted sources when it comes to property valuations. He is experienced, accountable to client needs, and can be relied upon in any given scenario. I recommend all my clients to Kern Valuation.
    Scott Hacker
    Branch Manager
  • Prompt service and very thorough appraisal report. Good communications. Very impressed with Steve's willingness to help me with every question I had regarding my appraisal. Very knowledgeable about all kinds of issues I was having. He was very honest and to the point and made me feel very educated. Thank You! I highly recommend their service.
    Beauty Beduya
    Real Estate Agent
  • I have used Kern Valuation Services for many years and have found Steve to be very professional and knowledgeable with regards to every aspect of the business. I will continue to highly recommend Steve Magar to my friends and clients.
    Lezlie Chaffin
    Real Estate Agent
  • Kern Valuation Services is always available when information is needed and is considerate of other people's timelines
    Kym Plivelich
    Broker

Ready to start your Appraisal?

Tell us about the property you need appraised and we’ll let you know the price and estimated turnaround time.

Frequently Asked QuestionsAsk Steve ...

What is an appraisal?

The typical appraisal process consists of an on-site inspection to document property characteristics and a subsequent report analyzing comparable sales to provide an opinion of value. The real estate appraiser will typically utilize the Sales Comparison Approach along with a Cost Approach and/or Income Approach when applicable to determine a current market value. These conclusions are reported in the appraisal report document.

What is an appraiser?

An appraiser is an unbiased party to the real estate transaction who provides research and analysis to produce a credible opinion of market value.

Who do appraisers work for?

Appraisers are typically employed by lenders for mortgage transactions through the use of Appraisal Management Companies. Appraisers can also be employed directly by banks for in house lending and real estate agents, homeowners and attorneys for non-lending transactions or to determine the current market value of an estate.

Where does an appraiser get the information used to estimate value?

Gathering data and analysis is one of the primary roles of an appraiser. Specific data is gathered from the home itself via on-site inspection and interviews with the homeowner and other parties involved in the transaction. Details on location, condition, quality and amenities, home size, functional utility, and other relative data are gathered by the appraiser during the on-site inspection. Additional resources to include public record, aerial photography, multiple listing services, real estate agents, private data sources, tax documents, and zoning resources are but a sample of the many resources utilized to compile and research property specifics. A detailed search of the subject neighborhood and review of market trends are required to determine the most comparable sales to a specific property.

Why do I need a professional appraisal?

An appraisal will be required by a lender or bank to determine the collateral value of your home. The appraisal assists the lender in determining the asset value of the home for purposes on lending in a financial transaction. Alternatively, homeowners may utilize a professional appraisal report to determine the market value of a complex property relative to a listing transaction or estate dispute. Attorneys and CPA’s utilize the appraiser to determine home valuation relative to legal and other professional uses. The selection of a qualified appraiser, with knowledge of current market trends and experienced in the valuation of your unique property type is essential to this process.

What exactly is PMI and how can I get rid of it?

PMI stands for Private Mortgage Insurance. It insures a lender against loss on homes purchased with a down-payment of less than 20%. Once equity in the home reaches 20% you can eliminate the PMI and start saving immediately.

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What's New

Why choose an SRA designated appraiser?

When it comes to real estate appraisals, especially for complex or high-stakes situations, choosing an SRA-designated appraiser can make all the difference. The SRA designation, awarded by the Appraisal Institute, signifies an appraiser’s advanced expertise in residential valuation, rigorous ethical standards, and a commitment to delivering the highest-quality assessments. Here’s why hiring an SRA-designated appraiser […]

Zillow Zestimates – Know When It Doesn’t Work and What Works

Zillow was founded in 2005 – a time when real estate was doing great before the big crisis. It brought with it all the power of the internet by allowing users to see how much homes were sold for. In essence, this could have been tremendous. If buyers could just see the home value posted […]

Items Most Frequently Called for Repair

*Note: This list is for reference only, and will require analysis on a case by case basis. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Check your local municipal building department for local building code requirements.  This list is not meant to replace and may differ from your local building code requirements.

Meet our NEWEST Appraiser – Josh Hensley

Meet our NEWEST Appraiser — Josh Hensley! Steve and Josh have been working together for many years, and Josh officially joined the team in 2015 and has been diligently pursuing his appraisal license and gaining residential appraisal experience since that time.  Josh excels in the valuation of residential homes and new construction projects.  Congratulations Josh […]