Without getting into it too deep or hiring an appraiser how do you vet good comps?

Hi BP,I just did a cash out refinance on my property that is supposedly worth $350k (waiting for appraisal inspection next week).

We have managed to have 2 houses now under contract but one fell apart due to inspection red flags, and the other fell apart because it didn't appraise for what we were willing to pay for it and the seller wouldn't come down at all.

They're going to be gathering several data points, then likely performing an appraisal, and evaluating both the data and the appraisal to make a final underwriting decision.However, it'd be really nice to secure financing before I found the deal.

Cash out refi comes when there is enough equity on the unit and in a good enough market to where it appraises well, making it make sense to deploy that equity in a new deal. 

The market values are now much higher than the appraised values.

It appraised 4-5 years ago for $65,000 when her husband passed, and she wants $60,000 for it.  

If it gets appraised at 284,000 again or higher to 296,000. 

Appraisals in CA are faster than anywhere else in the country and are turned around by appraisers in 5-7 business days.

A conventional investment loan will be limited to 80% of appraised value, usually called "20% down" although if the sale price is below appraised value that gets you in with < 20%.