Samantha is a licensed real estate broker and attorney with a Doctor of Law (JD) degree from the University of Missouri. With over 15 years of experience, she is dedicated to educating Veterans about the VA loan process and realty best practices.
Updated on January 14, 2022 Veterans: Check your $0 down eligibility today! Expert ReviewedNeed a study guide along the way? Let’s take a look at eight things buyers and agents must understand about the VA appraisal.
You’ll have a lot of choices to make on your homebuying quest. But if you’re using a VA loan, you can’t choose to opt out of the VA appraisal.
Every home purchased with a VA loan must be evaluated by a VA-certified appraiser. Your VA lender requests and schedules the appraisal, and informs you once the appraisal report is complete.
The VA appraiser has two tasks:
Buyers will usually need to pay for the appraisal upfront. Appraisal fees vary by state of purchase and type of home (single-family vs. condo vs. manufactured home), but plan for $600 or more. You can try and recoup this fee at closing as part of your negotiations with the seller.
Ten days is the typical timeline to complete a VA appraisal. However, turn times vary from one area to the next, and the unprecedented volume in recent years may set your timeline back.
The VA issues appraisal “timeliness requirements” for each state, but they’re more guidelines than actual requirements. In addition, if repairs are required, the appraiser will have to come back out for a re-inspection, so plan on additional time when calculating your closing date.
The VA appraisal is good for six months from the effective date of the appraisal for refinance loans or until the loan closes for purchase loans.
The VA appraiser ensures homes are:
Notice the word “perfect” is not on that list. It’s never been the VA appraiser’s responsibility to promise you’re buying a blemish-free property. The home does need to meet basic livability standards, but make no mistake: costly repairs could pop up any time after you sign those closing documents.
And that’s why you need to also remember the following point:
The VA appraiser will carefully measure your property against MPR criteria, which you can learn more about here. Still, a professional home inspector typically performs a much more in-depth, comprehensive investigation.
While the VA appraiser rarely ventures outside the bounds of the MPR checklist, a good home inspector will thoroughly describe every deficiency noted on the property. The inspector documents findings with photos, makes recommendations and may estimate the cost of needed repairs.
The professional home inspection report is an excellent tool for renegotiating a purchase contract and should never be skipped. Some buyers prefer to have the home inspection first before deciding whether to move forward with a VA appraisal.
Typically the VA appraisal is completed quickly without complications. However, that's not always the case, and it's important to recognize that the results of the VA appraisal could send a purchase down a different track. Consider these potential challenges:
Even though the VA appraisal can have a drastic impact on a home purchase, there’s no need to fear this process unless you’re unprepared.
Poor knowledge sets a potential VA homebuyer up for disaster. If you’re planning on any of the following, you could be in for a rough road:
But if you’re familiar with VA MPR criteria, you're working with a knowledgeable real estate agent and have partnered with a skilled VA lender, get set for a rewarding venture. You’re well on your way to the plethora of benefits afforded by VA home loans, including 100 percent financing, no private mortgage insurance, flexible credit standards and low closing costs.
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A licensed real estate agent and former loan originator and attorney, Samantha has insider experience dealing with VA loans, from the initial application and contracts to loan funding. She has over 15 years of real estate experience, and nearly 300,000 people follow her Veteran Friendly Real Estate Agents community on Facebook.
About Our Editorial Process
Veterans United is recognized as the leading VA lender in the nation, unmatched in our specialization and expertise in VA loans. Our strict adherence to accuracy and the highest editorial standards guarantees our information is based on thoroughly vetted, unbiased research. Committed to excellence, we offer guidance to our nation's Veterans, ensuring their homebuying experience is informed, seamless and secured with integrity.
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