When you buy with a VA-backed loan, the home goes through a VA appraisal. It helps protect you, because it confirms two things: that the home is worth what you are paying, and that it meets the VA's minimum property requirements (MPRs). Here is what to expect.
What the appraisal is
- A VA-approved appraiser looks at the home and its neighborhood and writes a report on its value and condition.
- The appraiser is not a home inspector. An inspection is a much more detailed look at systems such as the roof, plumbing, electrical and heating, which you should still order.
- The VA guides lenders on appraisals in its Lenders Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7), and chapter 12 covers the minimum property requirements. The VA has revised its appraisal rules in 2026, so ask your lender which version applies to your loan. Start with the VA's home loan page.
What the minimum property requirements are about
In plain terms, the home needs to be safe, structurally sound and sanitary, with the basics in working order. Areas the requirements cover include adequate living space and facilities, safe access, heating, the roof, water and sewer, and hazards such as drainage or soil problems. Cosmetic issues and normal wear are not the target, though anything that affects safety or soundness is.
What happens if something fails
- The appraisal report lists any item that does not meet the requirements, and it must be fixed.
- The seller or buyer can complete the repairs, and the appraiser re-checks the home before closing.
- Many sellers fix small items quickly. A larger problem can be a reason to renegotiate, ask for a credit, or move on to another home.
- Ask your agent to look at the home with the requirements in mind before you offer, so problems show up early.
Tips for a smooth appraisal
- Make an offer that is supported by recent sales of similar homes; Rudy will check them with you.
- Ask the seller about the age and condition of the roof, heating and cooling, and water heater.
- Order your own inspection early so repair requests can be handled together.
- Keep your lender informed and ask which items they are watching.
Related
General information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Programs, rules and rates change, so confirm current details with the official source, your lender and your advisors. The VA's Lenders Handbook and your lender decide what applies to your loan.
More guides
- Who Is Exempt From the VA Funding Fee? — The VA funding fee can be rolled into the loan, and some veterans, service members and surviving spouses do not pay it at all.
- VA Loan or Conventional Loan? How to Compare Them — A fair, side-by-side way to compare a VA loan with a conventional loan, and the numbers that matter most.
- San Diego Military Bases and Where People Look for Housing — The main San Diego-area installations, where they are, and the tools to compare commutes and housing near each one.
- The Best Time to Buy or Sell in San Diego, Month by Month — Charts and numbers show which months San Diego homes sell most, when prices peak and when buyers have the most room to negotiate.