VA Appraisal & Inspection Requirements 2026
To buy a home with a VA loan, you’ll have to qualify as a borrower. You already knew that. But did you know the home you’re buying has to qualify, too? This VA home inspection checklist and appraisal guide shows what that takes.
It’s true: the Department of Veterans Affairs won’t back a loan for just any home. To qualify for the VA loan program, a home must:
- Meet the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs)
- Have an appraised value that meets or exceeds the loan amount, not counting any financed VA funding fee
Before closing your loan, the lender will order a VA appraisal to make sure the home you’re buying meets these requirements.
Verify your VA loan eligibility with Veterans United (Nov 3rd, 2026)What is the VA appraisal process?
The VA wants veterans and active-duty service members to buy homes that are safe, structurally sound, and sanitary.
Before a lender finances a home, the VA appraisal process checks whether it meets the VA’s standards.
The VA mortgage appraisal has two components:
- A valuation: The VA appraiser will assess the value of the home you’re buying, comparing it to similar homes in the area. This home appraisal will show whether the home holds enough value to secure your loan amount
- A condition check: The VA appraiser won’t conduct a home inspection or test mechanical systems. But they must note readily apparent repairs the home needs, including problems such as dry rot and insect infestations
Failing either of these standards will derail your loan process, at least for a while.
Step-by-step appraisal process
The VA appraisal process begins when you’ve found the right home, entered a purchase contract with the seller, and applied for a mortgage with a VA-approved lender.
- Your loan officer will order the VA appraisal, and VA will usually assign an appraiser from its panel. That appraiser will schedule the visit to the property
- The appraiser will assess the home’s value and check the home’s condition to make sure it meets the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs)
- A completed report goes into VA’s online system. A Staff Appraisal Reviewer at your lender, or VA staff, will review it and send you a Notice of Value (NOV)
- If the home holds enough value to justify the loan amount, and if it meets all MPRs, the appraisal process is complete and your loan can continue
- If the home fails to meet MPRs but you want to proceed with the loan, you’ll need the required repairs completed and certified. Your NOV will say whether your lender or the VA appraiser certifies them. If the appraiser physically returns to check the work, VA’s 2026 fee schedule allows a $150 re-inspection fee
Modern, well-maintained houses that are priced at or below market value usually sail through the VA appraisal process.
However, the appraisal could uncover problems that would complicate your loan.
What is a VA home inspection?
A VA home inspection is a private inspection that a buyer arranges when using a VA loan. VA doesn’t perform or require one. Still, it provides a complete top-to-bottom review of a property so you can make a fully informed decision before purchasing a home. The VA home inspection checklist below shows what it should cover.
By contrast, a VA appraisal is required to qualify for a VA purchase loan. A VA-assigned appraiser estimates the property’s value and notes any repairs it needs to meet VA requirements. If a home doesn’t pass the VA appraisal and the problems aren’t resolved, the loan won’t go through.
What’s the difference between a VA appraisal and a VA home inspection?
The VA appraisal and a VA home inspection are easy to confuse, so let’s go into a little more detail about each process.
A VA appraisal is intended to protect the borrower, the lender, and VA from a property that is not safe, sound, or sanitary. It also estimates the property’s market value.
The appraisal evaluates the property according to the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs). Your VA appraiser must note readily apparent repairs, but won’t test mechanical systems or appliances.
By contrast, a VA home inspection is a top-to-bottom examination of the home. It’s not required to move forward with the mortgage process, but VA highly recommends it. An inspection evaluates elements of the home not covered by the VA appraiser, such as a full roof inspection and potential future problems.
Common VA appraisal problems
Since the VA appraisal process covers two main areas, common problems with your VA appraisal will fall into two basic categories:
- A low home valuation: The VA appraisal report could come back with a valuation that is lower than your loan amount. This is a problem because your lender can’t make a VA loan that exceeds the home’s value, apart from a financed VA funding fee
- Failure to meet VA Minimum Property Requirements: The VA home appraiser will look for readily apparent problems with the home’s mechanical systems and structure, based on the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements, or MPRs. We’ll explore MPRs in detail below
If the home you’re buying fails to meet these VA appraisal requirements, you’ll need to make some changes if you want to continue your VA loan process.
To get back on track with your loan, you’ll need to deal with the problems with the home you’re trying to get financed, or you may want to find a different home to buy.
See if you’re eligible for a VA home loan. Start here (Nov 3rd, 2026)
How to handle problems with your VA appraisal
You can resolve problems with your VA appraisal. Your approach should depend on the specific problem you’re facing:
Problems with the home valuation
A VA loan can finance up to 100% of the home’s value, plus any financed VA funding fee. This is generous compared to most mortgages. An FHA purchase loan won’t finance more than 96.5%, and a conventional loan sold to Fannie Mae generally won’t surpass 97%.
But even a VA loan won’t exceed 100% loan-to-value (LTV) to cover the purchase price of your home. For example, you couldn’t borrow $350,000 when the home is valued at $325,000.
Options when the appraisal comes in low
If your home appraisal comes in lower than your loan amount, you can address this problem by:
- Asking for a reconsideration of value: After the NOV is issued, you can ask VA in writing to review the value, either directly through the VA Regional Loan Center or through your lender. VA staff review the request within 5 business days, or within 20 business days if they do a field review. Market data isn’t required. However, without new data, such as more recent comparable sales, the value may not change. That wouldn’t solve your problem.
- Asking the homeowner to drop the sales price: The homeowner may be willing to knock a few thousand dollars off the price to keep your loan approval sailing along. Don’t expect much if you’re competing in a hot market against home buyers with cash offers or huge down payments.
- Making a down payment: Can you cover the difference between your home’s valuation and its sales price? If so, you’d make up the difference as a cash down payment from your own resources. As a result, the lender would finance only the home’s appraised value. This should get your loan process back on track.
- Choosing a different home: If all else fails, you may need to start looking at homes again.
Some borrowers who hit snags with their notice of value may be tempted to start their entire loan process over with another VA lender. But this likely won’t help because the appraisal will follow you to a new lender, assuming you’re trying to buy the same property.
Problems meeting minimum property requirements (MPRs)
The VA home appraisal is not a home inspection. In other words, the VA appraiser will not inspect the home from the chimney tops to the footings, the way a private home inspector should.
But the VA does want to make sure veterans buy homes with the basics of modern life: hot water supply, sewage disposal, enough space, a sound roof, and other protections from the elements.
When a home misses the mark with one or more of the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements, or MPRs, you’ll need to:
- Ask the owner to fix the problems: Sometimes a home’s problems are minor. Lead paint can be remediated, a roof can be patched, and a window can be replaced. If the owner fixes the problems and the repairs pass certification as your NOV requires, you’re back on track. This is a common solution for appraisal problems.
- Ask for seller concessions: Bigger problems, such as replacing a dangerous electrical system or upgrading leaky plumbing, may take too long to fix. In this case, ask the homeowner to deduct the cost of the repairs from the home’s sales price. Your lender may hold funds in escrow so the repairs can be finished after closing. However, VA won’t guarantee the loan until someone completes the repairs and the lender pays out the funds.
- Look for another home: When you can’t agree on a solution with the homeowner, it may be time to start shopping for another home to buy.
How much the seller agrees to cooperate often depends on market conditions. When sellers in a hot market have multiple offers, they’re less likely to work with buyers to complete the sale.
VA appraisal timeline: How long does it take?
VA’s timeliness standards give appraisers 6 to 21 business days to finish, depending on the county (table effective May 1, 2026). Your NOV comes after that, once a lender’s reviewer or VA staff reviews the appraisal. VA can also temporarily extend these time frames in areas with high demand.
This appraisal waiting period is another reason why many buyers like to get their own private home inspection before getting the VA-required home appraisal. That way they don’t have to wait for the appraisal results to decide whether to proceed with the mortgage loan.
To find the fee and waiting time for your county, check out the table linked from this page at va.gov.
Remember: VA doesn’t require an appraisal for a Streamline Refinance, also known as an Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), though a lender may require one. But you would need an appraisal to close a VA cash-out refinance.
If time is a factor, ask your lender about the possibility of ordering the appraisal on a rush. A lender and appraiser can negotiate a rush fee, but VA doesn’t allow it to be charged to the veteran.
Does a VA loan require a home inspection?
A lot of VA homebuyers think the VA requires a full home inspection. It doesn’t. While the VA appraisal process includes an inspection component, this inspection isn’t as thorough as a private home inspection should be.
The VA appraisal inspection process checks a home’s condition in several specific areas. Its purpose is to keep the VA from guaranteeing a loan on a home that’s not sound. By extension, this inspection protects the buyer, too.
But buyers who want to know as much as possible about the home they’re buying should get their own, separate home inspection. A qualified home inspector will look at every aspect of the home, much like the VA home inspection checklist below.
You may even want to get your own home inspection before your lender orders the appraisal. That way you’d know sooner whether you’d like to move forward with the mortgage loan.
Who pays VA home inspection and VA appraisal fees?
The home buyer usually pays for both the VA appraisal fee and the home inspection. But VA allows the seller, lender, or another party to pay loan fees, including the appraisal fee, for the buyer.
Home inspection costs will vary by location and the size of the home. Typically, buyers pay this fee before closing instead of lumping it into closing costs.
VA’s maximum appraisal fee for a single-family home ranges from $650 to $1,500, under its table effective May 1, 2026. The price varies by location, with variations even within the same state.
For example, under that 2026 table, a VA home buyer in Alpine County, California, might pay $1,000 for an appraisal. A buyer in Mariposa County, California, could pay $750.
VA home inspection checklist
While there may be some overlap in what a home inspection and VA appraisal covers, a home inspection should provide homebuyers with a holistic look at the quality of the entire home.
The main items your VA home inspection checklist should cover:
- Home structure. The construction of the home is sound, including walls, floors, foundation, roof, and ceilings
- Home exterior. Determine the life of the siding, windows and trim, plus inspect exterior lighting and other exterior features like fences. Also, the property has proper drainage based on the grade and elevation as well as landscaping
- Plumbing. Identify the pipe materials and confirm that everything is up to current standards. Also, inspect toilets, showers, sinks, and faucets for leaks and other needed repairs
- Home systems. These include chimney and fireplaces, water heaters, furnaces, air conditioning units, and septic systems if applicable
- Roof and attic. In addition to inspecting the construction of the roof, your home inspector should check the framing, flashing and gutters, insulation, and ventilation
- Electrical. Determine the type of wiring and that it’s properly grounded. Inspect ceiling fans, light fixtures, and the main electrical breaker
- Appliances. Evaluate the condition of dishwashers, ranges, built-in microwaves, garbage disposals, smoke detectors, and any other relevant small appliances in the home
Ask whether the home inspector you hire guarantees the work, and get any guarantee in writing. That way, if you discover a problem with the home later on, you know what recourse you have.
Check your VA mortgage rates. Start here (Nov 3rd, 2026)
How to find a home inspector
While a home inspection is not mandatory, it’s a good idea for homebuyers to have an inspector evaluate existing and potential problems with a property and offer an emotionally objective assessment of the home.
Not all home inspectors are equal, though. Different home inspectors provide varying levels of service. Here are some suggestions for finding a home inspector:
- Ask for recommendations. Your real estate agent or loan officer will be able to offer home inspector recommendations. Also, check with family and friends who have recently purchased homes
- Check with trade groups. Organizations like the American Society of Home Inspectors have lists of local members. ASHI members follow its Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics. Its Certified Inspector credential requires passing a national exam and completing at least 250 inspections
- Check qualifications. Licensing requirements vary from state to state. Ask your real estate agent about state requirements and make sure your home inspector meets them
- Request a sample inspection report. This can tell you a lot about an inspector’s level of experience. Look to make sure the report is clear, covers the items on the VA home inspection checklist above, and includes images of any identified problems. It should include recommendations for potential homebuyers
- Ask about fees. Home inspection costs can vary depending on the provider, the size of the home, and location. Ask for the total price before you book
What are the VA Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs)?
MPRs exist to help ensure that a home is safe, sanitary, and structurally sound. Also, the property must comply with local zoning. New construction must meet the building codes adopted by the local authority, and a manufactured home must meet HUD construction standards.
A home that meets the VA MPRs may still have existing or potential problems. This is why VA highly recommends that home buyers get a home inspection, with a checklist like the one above, and not rely only on the VA appraisal.
In fact, many VA homebuyers begin with a home inspection for an in-depth look at the property. If satisfied by the inspection, then they have the lender order a VA appraisal. The loan team will send a request through VA’s system, and VA will usually assign an independent appraiser from its panel.
Read More: VA Minimum Property Requirements
VA appraisal checklist 2026
Some of the more basic MPRs are unlikely to be an issue since most homebuyers want only homes with adequate living space, modern sanitary facilities, and safe conditions.
The VA MPRs cover more than just those basics, though. Some of the other amenities covered:
Heating and electricity
- The heating system must be permanent and keep areas with plumbing at 50 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer (above the temperature point at which pipes can freeze, burst, and flood the home). Homes in mild climates may not need heating
- Solar systems and other alternative energy equipment get no value in the appraisal if they are leased
- Each living unit must have electricity for lighting and necessary equipment, and any visible frayed or exposed wires need repair
Water
- The home must have hot water, safe drinking water, and a safe method of sewage disposal (such as public sewer or a private septic system)
- Homes with a well (instead of community or public water) will require a water quality analysis to ensure that the water is safe to drink
- Homes on a community water system need evidence that a local or state health authority approved it. The supply must also be sufficient for the homes served
Roof, crawl space, and multi-unit requirements
Roof and crawl space
- The roof must not leak and must have viable life left. If the roof appears defective, the appraisal will call for a repair, because VA tells appraisers to recommend repairs instead of inspections
- Any crawl spaces must be accessible, clear of debris, and properly vented. Likewise, the attic must be vented
Utilities and multi-unit homes
- For 2- to 4-unit homes, each living unit must have sufficient space for living, sleeping, cooking and dining, and sanitary facilities
- Water, gas, sewer, and electricity may be shared by multiple units under the same VA loan, as long as there are separate shutoffs for each unit
- Appraisals for multi-unit properties cost more under VA’s 2026 fee table
Access, defects, and location requirements
Access to the home
- The home must be accessible by foot or car from a public or private street and the access must be viable all year-round
- For multi-unit properties, each unit must be accessible without trespassing through another unit or property
Defects and deterioration
- The property must be free of defective construction or decay. The VA appraiser will also evaluate the home for any evidence of wood-destroying insects like termites, which can cause expensive damage. In areas with a high probability of termites, your NOV must require a wood-destroying insect inspection report
Lead-based paint
- For homes built prior to 1978, VA presumes lead-based paint is present. Any defective paint, such as chipping or peeling, is a safety hazard that needs repair, and the VA-assigned appraiser must certify the repairs
Location of the home
- A VA appraiser will also evaluate the home’s geographical location. No part of the home may sit within a high-pressure gas or liquid petroleum pipeline easement
- There is a similar restriction for high-voltage electric transmission line easements
Manufactured homes
- Manufactured homes must meet all the MPRs for standard homes along with some specific, additional requirements
- The home must sit on a permanent foundation built to withstand supporting loads and wind-overturning loads, and it must meet state and local requirements
- Manufactured homes must also meet HUD construction and safety standards and have at least 400 square feet (single-wide) or 700 square feet (double-wide)
VA appraisal & inspection FAQs
What are the VA appraisal requirements?
The VA appraisal requires the property to be valuable enough to justify the loan size and to meet the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements, or MPRs.
Who orders the VA appraisal?
Your VA loan officer will order the VA appraisal. Depending on where you’re buying, VA’s 2026 time standard gives the appraiser 6 to 21 business days to finish your appraisal report.
Do VA loans require an appraisal?
Yes, any new VA loan besides the VA Streamline Refinance (IRRRL) loan will require an appraisal to determine the home’s eligibility for a VA mortgage loan.
Does a VA IRRRL require an appraisal?
No, VA does not require an appraisal for the Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan, or IRRRL, though a lender may. These loans refinance only existing VA loans. However, a VA cash-out refi will require an appraisal even if you already have a VA loan. The VA needs a new appraisal to make sure the home is valuable enough to support the cash back you’re getting.
What will not pass a VA appraisal?
A home will not pass the VA appraisal if it fails to meet the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements. Also, the home won’t pass if the appraiser values the home below the loan amount you need to buy the home.
Does a low VA appraisal stay with the property?
For you, yes, while the NOV is valid. An NOV lasts six months, and VA doesn’t allow a duplicate appraisal for the same veteran on the same property during that time. Switching lenders won’t reset it, because the new lender reviews the same appraisal. Another buyer’s lender may also use the same NOV while it’s valid. You can, however, ask for a reconsideration of value or choose a different home to buy.
How many days does a VA appraiser have to complete the appraisal?
VA appraisal turn times vary by county. VA’s table effective May 1, 2026, gives appraisers 6 to 21 business days. Busy metro counties often have the shortest standards, and remote areas often have longer ones.
Can I use the same appraiser that did an appraisal for me before?
No. Borrowers have no control over which VA appraiser visits the property.
Are VA appraisers harder on appraisals than conventional loan appraisers?
VA appraisers estimate market value much as conventional loan appraisers do. Both appraisers base their valuations on recent, comparable sales in the neighborhood or ZIP code. But VA appraisers also have a specific duty: Noting any repairs the home needs to meet the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements.
Does a VA loan require a home inspection?
No. VA doesn’t require a private home inspection, though it highly recommends one. The VA appraisal includes only a basic condition check, designed to see whether the home provides basic living conditions. For more complete information, buyers should hire their own home inspector and use a VA home inspection checklist like the one above.
What will fail a VA home inspection?
VA loan requirements include buying a home that meets the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs). A home that does not meet these requirements, which you can read here, will not pass the VA appraisal process’s inspection.
How strict is a VA inspection?
The inspection that’s required by the VA appraisal process is based on the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements, or MPRs. MPRs help make sure the home you’re buying is safe, structurally sound, and sanitary. This VA process isn’t as thorough as a private home inspection based on a full checklist, which you, or your Realtor, can arrange.
When is a home inspection required for VA loans?
VA doesn’t require a private home inspection for any VA loan. If you’re buying a new home with a VA loan, the VA will require its full appraisal process, which includes checking the home against Minimum Property Requirements. Refinancing into a VA loan from another loan type will also require the appraisal. However, if you already have a VA loan and refinance through the VA’s Streamline Refinance program, VA doesn’t require the appraisal, though your lender may.
Find a home that meets VA requirements
The VA appraisal process is intended to help make sure that the home you’re buying is safe and worth what you’re paying for it. By familiarizing yourself with the Minimum Property Requirements and this VA home inspection checklist, you can help ensure that the home you’re buying is one that is likely to pass the VA appraisal process.
Check your VA mortgage rates. Start here (Nov 3rd, 2026)
