Title: Does a VA loan require an inspection? What are the VA loan inspection requirements for buyers and spouses?
Had a buyer once who thought the VA appraisal was like a home inspection on steroids—spoiler: it’s not. The appraiser flagged some chipped paint and a missing smoke detector, but totally missed the fact that the water heater was leaking like a sieve. We only caught it because the inspector crawled around in the basement and got his socks soaked. Honestly, I tell folks the appraisal is more like a “does this house look alive?” test, while the inspection is where you find out if it’s secretly haunted by plumbing disasters. If you’re buying, don’t skip the inspection... unless you enjoy expensive surprises.
Yeah, I learned the hard way that the VA appraisal isn’t a real inspection.
That’s spot on. When we bought, the appraiser checked for stuff like paint and railing, but our inspector found a busted sump pump and some sketchy wiring. VA doesn’t require a full inspection, but skipping it is just asking for trouble. It’s wild what you can miss if you only rely on the appraisal.the appraisal is more like a “does this house look alive?” test, while the inspection is where you find out if it’s secretly haunted by plumbing disasters.
It’s wild how many folks assume the VA appraisal is a safety net. I’ve seen buyers get blindsided by stuff like hidden water damage or electrical issues that the appraiser just isn’t looking for. The VA’s Minimum Property Requirements are more about making sure the house is basically safe and sound—not a deep dive into every system. Curious—did your inspector flag anything that turned out to be a dealbreaker, or was it all stuff you could fix after closing? Sometimes I wonder if folks realize how much can slip through the cracks...
I totally get what you mean about the VA appraisal not being a catch-all. When I bought my place with a VA loan, I thought the appraisal would cover everything major, but nope—my inspector found a bunch of stuff the appraiser never mentioned. There was some old knob-and-tube wiring hiding in the attic and a slow leak under the kitchen sink that had started to rot the cabinet floor. Neither showed up on the VA report.
The Minimum Property Requirements are really just about making sure the house isn’t falling apart or hazardous, but they don’t dig deep. My inspector’s list was long, but nothing was a total dealbreaker—just a lot of “fix it soon” stuff. Still, if I’d skipped that inspection, I’d have been in for some nasty surprises.
It’s wild how many buyers think the VA process is more thorough than it is. If you’re using a VA loan, definitely budget for your own inspection. It’s worth every penny, even if it feels like just another hoop to jump through.