House valuation
 

When filling out the proof of funds did any one get an estate agents valuation or did you get a survey of your house to show your proof of funds.

Re: House valuation
 

Yes. All perfectly normal stuff.

Re: House valuation
 

I'm fairly sure I gave them a copy of my mortgage paperwork, which showed how much equity I had in the place. I don't recall doing more than that.

I would be wary of getting it valued by a surveyor, although that is based largely on my experience in Canada. When we sold our house here last year, we had it valued by an independent appraiser. We had to do that because it was a corporate relocation and our allowances etc were based on the value of the house. The appraiser's job was to put a fair market value on it. His valuation was over $20k less than what our agent had suggested. We sold our house, immediately, at 99% of the agent's suggested price.

Similarly, when I bought my last place in the UK (end 98), the surveyor who did the mortgage survey said I was paying over the odds for it. I sold it 15 months later at a 30% profit.

My point here is that agents have a better idea of market prices than surveyors do, although they probably don't carry the same professional credibility.

Re: House valuation
 

We sent a copy of the up to date mortage statement and a new valuation which shows the equity in your property...........hope this is okay for you

Re: House valuation
 

We submitted an existing valuation + provided spreadsheet showing use of estimated total net assets to relocate then converted this to calculate final net settlement funds in $ CA at various rates of exchange.

Not had any problems & wouldn't expect to, providing it is all realistically worked out and include all known costs.

CIC still need to see the £/$ in bank when you land tho.

Rich.

Re: House valuation
 

If so, that must be fairly new. When I landed at Pearson five years ago, the immigration officer asked me how much money I had, I told her and she wrote it on my visa (a scrap of paper in those days). I didn't have to show any proof.

Re: House valuation
 

Guess so, things change, proof of settlement funds needed/should be proven as per PR schedule, number of bods, dependents, etc.

Visa is plastic hologrammed shiny thingy now, gets stuck in to passport.

Rich

Re: House valuation
 

That must be 9/11-related. The visa I was given was something a five-year old with a box of crayons could reproduce in ten minutes. The PR card I later had to get is another matter, seriously hi-tech.

Re: House valuation
 

Oh yeah, 'cos of course Canada, that great white northern land of liberalist dope smoking gay-marriage sanctifying tree hugging hippies, was letting all the terrorists right in through the back door. None ever come in to the USA any other way.

;)

So, much better now with a plastic hologram and some super glue. That's fixed that, then.

Rich.

Re: House valuation
 

We sent in one estate agent's valuation and a recent mortgage statement. We didn't do any complicated sums or convert anything to dollars. We didn't ask for any credit card debts or anything else to be taken into account either.

I assumed we would have to have sold and have the money as such in an account before we could land, but I today received an assurance from our adviser that proof of equity will still be accepted as settlement funds if we have not yet completed the sale so long as we explain this to immigration!

Re: House valuation
 

Sure did do this

Sent in an up to date mortgage statement, showing how much was left to pay on the house ( gave me a fright )

I also paid an independent valuer, cost me £170. I sent in his report which showed current house value with my application
In total we sent in valuation, up to date mortgage statement, balance letters from our banks showing total savings.

I would recommend paying for the independent valuation as this at least shows he is being impartial in estimating the value of your house. I had an estate agent value my house a few weeks before he came. He basically asked me how much I thought my house was worth, agreed with me and that was that. I guess the independent chappie has to do a good job as you are paying him pounds and shillings for an accurate report, not like an estate agent who gives you his valuation for nothing.

London and Sydney are the only immigration offices that accept house equity as part of proof of funds, although you would be wise to have minimum settlement funds in place as well.
We had the minimum settlement funds for a family of five, but sent in the additional info for peace of mind.

Eddie

Hope this helps