About Real Value Group
An Education Company That Just Happens to Provide Appraisals!
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
We love to talk with our clients and educate! Homeowners like you have questions!
You want answers to those questions and getting answers from the typical appraiser can be like pulling teeth!
Homeowners often wonder what the real market value of their home is. Zillow is more than willing to tell you what their algorithms think your home is worth based on almost no knowledge of your home whatsoever, or the specific nature of your home in your specific neighborhood.
When the real and true market value of your home matters to you, you need a well trained human being who understands the nuances of your specific home in your specific neighborhood, not a computer or an algorithm or a highly motivated commissioned sales person telling you how much they think they could sell your home for in the current market.
What somebody will pay for your home today is one thing, what the ‘market’ says it’s worth is where a highly trained and knowledgeable real estate appraiser familiar with your specific area comes in.
Since 2001, mortgage lenders, consumers, attorneys, Realtors, as well as other real estate professionals, have relied on our education, our classes, our appraisal review videos, and of course, our home appraisal expertise, to provide high-quality real estate appraisals on a wide variety of Michigan property in Kent, Ottawa, Barry, Allegan, and Ionia Counties.
By continuously analyzing local real estate trends in those areas and staying current on home valuation techniques through accredited courses, classroom training, in-the-field experience, and extensive testing, our real estate appraisers have been consistently able to produce very credible and reliable home valuations for people like you.
We also take great pride in the time we spend educating our clients and customers about how real estate appraisals work, the story they tell, what their specific appraisal is really saying and also 'not saying', and what a reasonable plan might be for them moving forward.
Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Blaine Feyen and the Real Value Appraisal team have also become the preferred source for real estate appraisal education, appraisal reviews, legal appraisal work such as divorce appraisals, date of death appraisals, home appraisals for setting up trusts and financial planning, and settling estates.
Blaine and the Real Value Appraisal Group staff have become leaders in the market by being willing to spend any time necessary to talk with clients and customers about their appraisal and the appraisal process.
They have also been leaders in leveraging technology as a high-tech-paperless office, utilizing the latest in tablet technology and software for Appraisers, and mastering screen-casting technology to provide a comprehensive video walk-through of the key points of their appraisals when needed or requested. This has been a vital benefit for homeowners, real estate agents, lenders, and attorneys using our real estate appraiser services as it saves a tremendous amount of time since our clients no longer have to try and guess why we chose a particular comparable sale or where a particular feature of a home might be located on the appraisal.
At Real Value Group, our commitment is simple: give homeowners clarity, confidence, and honest answers. We believe real estate valuation shouldn’t feel confusing or inaccessible, so we take the time to talk with you, explain the process, and ensure you fully understand what your appraisal means—and what it doesn’t.
We’re dedicated to providing transparent, human-driven insight rooted in real experience, not algorithms or sales pressure. When the true market value of your home matters, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Our Commitment
━━━━━━━━
Our Expertise
━━━━━━━━
With more than two decades of experience serving Kent, Ottawa, Barry, Allegan, and Ionia Counties, Real Value Group delivers proven, reliable appraisals backed by rigorous education, advanced valuation techniques, and deep knowledge of local market nuances.
Our team combines accredited training, ongoing analysis of market trends, and extensive fieldwork to produce credible valuations for lenders, attorneys, financial planners, Realtors, and homeowners. From traditional home appraisals to divorce, estate, trust, and legal appraisal work—as well as industry-leading appraisal education and review services—we’re recognized for delivering accurate reports, cutting-edge technology, and unmatched clarity through our detailed explanations and video reviews.
© 2025 Real Value Group
Elite Broker Blogs
━━━━━━━━
Do I need an appraisal if I'm getting divorced in West Michigan
⚖️ Do I Need to Get an Appraisal If I’m Getting Divorced?
(Why a Professional Home Appraisal Can Protect Your Interests)
Divorce isn’t just emotionally difficult—it’s financially complex. And one of the biggest questions that arises in nearly every divorce involving real estate is:
“Do I need to get an appraisal if I’m getting divorced?”
If you own property together—especially a primary residence—the answer is almost always:
✅ Yes, you do need an appraisal.
Here’s why getting a professional home appraisal is one of the smartest steps you can take during the divorce process, especially if you live in West Michigan.
🏠 The House Is Usually the Largest Shared Asset
In most divorces, the home represents the biggest financial asset that needs to be divided. Whether one person wants to stay in the home or you’re planning to sell and split the proceeds, you’ll need to know:
What is the property actually worth?
How much equity is available?
Is there enough value to justify a buyout?
💡 A professional appraisal provides a clear, unbiased answer to these questions—based on current market conditions, recent comparable sales, and property-specific factors.
⚖️ Courts and Attorneys Rely on Neutral, Third-Party Valuations
Real estate values are not something you want to estimate, guess, or argue over. A divorce-certified appraiser offers a neutral, court-defensible opinion of value that can be used in:
Mediation
Legal negotiations
Court proceedings (if needed)
Determining fair equity splits
In Kent County family courts, judges and attorneys rely heavily on appraisal reports to help make equitable property decisions.
🔁 What If One Spouse Wants to Keep the House?
That’s one of the most common scenarios—and one of the biggest reasons to get a divorce appraisal.
A formal appraisal:
Helps calculate how much equity buyout may be owed to the other party
Protects both spouses from overpaying or underselling the asset
Creates a clear, documented value for financial disclosure
Prevents future disputes over fairness
🧠 Example: You’re getting divorced in Grand Rapids, and your spouse wants to keep the house. You’ll need an appraisal to determine the fair market value, subtract the remaining mortgage, and calculate what’s owed to you as your half of the equity.
📆 Do I Need a Retrospective Appraisal?
Sometimes, yes. In certain divorces, especially where separation occurred long before legal action was filed, the court or attorneys may request a retrospective appraisal—which estimates the property’s value as of a past date (such as the date of separation).
This can be critical if property values have significantly changed over time.
🤝 Can We Just Agree on a Value Without an Appraisal?
In theory, yes—but in practice, it’s risky.
Without a formal appraisal:
One spouse may overvalue or undervalue the property
You may lose out on thousands in equity
Disagreements could arise later—potentially leading to legal disputes
The court may require an appraisal for documentation
For something as significant as a house, it’s better to base decisions on verified facts—not opinions.
🧠 Why You Should Use a Divorce-Specific Appraiser
Not all appraisals are created equal. When you're going through a divorce, you need an appraiser who:
Understands family law requirements
Is comfortable working with attorneys and courts
Can perform retrospective valuations, if needed
Provides detailed, court-ready reports
In places like Ada, East Grand Rapids, Rockford, and Kentwood, real estate values can vary block to block—so a local expert matters.
✅ Final Thoughts
If you're getting divorced and real estate is involved, a home appraisal isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
It protects your interests.
It brings clarity to complex decisions.
And it ensures that you walk away from the divorce with a fair and accurate understanding of your home’s value.
Whether you’re staying in the home, buying out your spouse, or preparing to sell and split the proceeds, the first step is knowing what the property is really worth.
