Need 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. That fee varies by state of purchase and type of home (single-family vs. condo vs. manufactured home), but plan for $500 or more. You can try and recoup this fee at closing as part of your negotiations with the seller.
VA appraisals are completed in under 10 days on average, but turn times vary from one area to the next.
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 reinspection, so plan on additional time when calculating your closing date.
Read more: What Can I Do to Speed the VA Appraisal Process Along?
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, but 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 each and every deficiency noted on the property. The inspector documents findings with photos, makes recommendations and sometimes estimates the cost of needed repairs.
The professional home inspection report is an excellent tool for renegotiating a purchase contract, and should never, EVER be skipped. Some buyers prefer to have the home inspection first before deciding whether to move forward with a VA appraisal.
» VA Loans: Get preapproved online
With good preparation and a little luck, your VA appraisal is completed quickly and without complications.
But 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 home buyer 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 an VA approved 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.
Your real estate agent and loan officer are the foundation of your team. Get connected with experienced lending team to guide you through the homebuying process. Talk to a Veterans United loan specialist at 855-870-8845 today. You can also start your journey online.
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A VA Loan is a mortgage option issued by private lenders and partially backed, or guaranteed, by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Here we look at how VA loans work and what most borrowers don’t know about the program.
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