Cheat Sheet: VA Appraisal Timelines By State

A required step along the path to VA loan approval, the VA appraisal takes place shortly after contract acceptance. The appraisal helps lenders calculate a home’s reasonable market value and ensures the property measures up to the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs).

It’s a tall order for a VA appraiser. Compiling these detailed reports takes careful analysis, supporting documentation, and most importantly, time.

But just how long should a prospective buyer expect to wait for a VA appraisal?

Delays Can (and Do) Happen

Timeliness guidelines are certainly helpful for buyers, sellers and agents on a narrow closing time frame. But don’t mistake these “guidelines” for “deadlines.” Delays can happen, and those delays could push a deal past its ideal closing date. Any of the following situations could extend VA appraisal completion times:

• Local appraiser shortages
• Higher than usual VA appraisal demand
• Difficulty accessing the property due to weather or other conditions
• Lack of suitable comparable sales
• Difficulty contacting real estate agents involved in the transaction

Appraisers must provide the lender with an explanation for any delays. To stay on top of any holdups, buyers are best-advised to stay in constant (daily) contact with their lenders at this stage of the game.

What Can I Do to Speed the Process Along?

Anxiously awaiting the results of the VA appraisal, it’s common for buyers to wonder, “Is there something I can do to speed the process along?”

The answer to this question: Choose the right lender, and stay in constant contact.

Getting an appraisal report isn’t as simple as calling an appraiser. Take a look at the entire process:

• The lender orders the appraisal. (Potential delay: Perhaps the lender needs to finalize credit details before ordering the appraisal.)
• The appraisal request gets sent to the next available appraiser. (Potential delay: Perhaps there is a huge backlog of appraisal requests in your area.)
• The appraiser must request access to the property via the real estate agent. (Potential delay: Perhaps the listing agent fails to return the appraiser’s call for two days.)
• The appraiser could request additional inspections (roof / electrical / plumbing).
• The VA appraisal report goes to the Staff Appraisal Reviewer (SAR) for approval. (Potential delays: The property may not meet Minimum Property Requirements or the appraisal report may be incomplete.)

The key point is this: There are several players involved in the VA appraisal process, and mistakes made by any of these players could result in delays.

Buyers can’t “choose” their VA appraiser or their listing agent. But they can certainly choose the right VA lender.

An experienced VA lender like Veterans United Home Loans orders VA appraisals promptly, knows how to handle appraisal delays, and has adequate SAR staffing to provide optimal VA appraisal turnaround times.

So don’t underestimate the importance of choosing the right lender. When dealing with a potentially complex process like the VA appraisal, an experienced VA lender is one of the best advocates to have on your side. Choose wisely, and you’ll have your homeownership dreams (and keys) in hand as quickly as possible.