You can sometimes save $700-$1000 with an appraisal waiver. These can be available for refinance and purchase. Some of the things that help are: Down payment of 20% or more (exceptions for rural purchases as low as 3% down), higher credit score(s), property age, and last purchase or loan date. With a waiver and the required documents at submission, I've had a loan cleared to close on the day of submission. So, it can save you money and really speed up the process by a week or more.
