Please use the links below to find out more about appraisals in relation to VA Loans.
Your loan officer will order the VA appraisal. He/she will submit the appraisal request through the online portal of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA then randomly assigns an appraiser to your property. Contact a VA Loan Specialist for more information about appraisals or to get started with your loan.
The fee for a VA appraisal is state mandated and set in each state. It is normally between $300 and $400 depending on the state. Often times you will be required to pay this fee before you close on the loan.
It is recommended that the appraisal be ordered as soon as possible to avoid any potential delays from the appraiser.
Find out more about VA appraisals and other military-related real estate information today by joining our Future Military Homeowners community on Facebook.
With a VA Loan, the VA randomly assigns an appraiser to your new property to prevent any conflict of interest on the loan. In order to prevent this conflict, it is not possible to request an appraiser.
Not necessarily. VA appraisers are trained and approved by the VA to represent them. They will give you a true value of the home based on comparable listings in the area. In order to protect you as the buyer, the VA does require any significant problems with the property to be repaired before closing.
Many issues can affect an appraisal and certain things must be repaired before a VA Loan can close. Often these are safety issues, such as stairs with no railings or back doors without decks. The home cannot be in disrepair. It needs to be livable and in decent condition.
Yes, for the most part all repairs noted on an appraisal have to be completed before closing on the new loan. Sometimes if circumstances arise beyond your control the lender will allow you to escrow for a repair and take care of it when weather or other factors permit.
If this happens, there are a few things you can do. The VA will allow you to ask for what is called a reconsideration of value. With a reconsideration of value, you can request the value of the home be higher based on other comps not used in the appraisal. Another option is for you to possibly take a slightly higher rate on the loan and have your lender credit you back some money to offset the difference. If you cannot come up with the money to cover the difference yourself, the seller ultimately has to come down on the price to match the house's appraised value. The VA Loan can only go up to the lower of the sales price and the appraised value.
If you have questions, or if you want to determine if a Veteran Home Loan is actually the best financial decision for you, you may get advice from a VA Mortgage Specialist online or call 800-405-6682.
