Does a VA loan require an inspection? What are the VA loan inspection requirements for buyers and spouses?

Yeah, I’ve seen it go both ways. Had a property a couple years back where the VA appraiser flagged some electrical issues I honestly hadn’t expected them to catch—old panel, outdated wiring in the attic. It forced us to bring everything up to code before closing, which was a pain at the time but probably saved everyone trouble down the line. On the flip side, I’ve also had VA appraisals that felt pretty surface-level, just checking boxes.

I think you’re right that it really depends on who you get. Some are super thorough, others not so much. But I’d never skip a separate inspection either—too many things can slip through if you rely only on the appraisal process. The VA’s minimum property requirements do help weed out some bigger problems though, especially stuff like roof or safety issues. Not perfect, but definitely better than nothing.

Had the same experience with a VA appraiser once—guy picked up on a leaky water heater I’d totally missed. But like you said, sometimes it feels like they’re just there to snap a few pics and move on.

“I’d never skip a separate inspection either—too many things can slip through if you rely only on the appraisal process.”

Title: Does a VA loan require an inspection? What are the VA loan inspection requirements for buyers and spouses?

I get why people want to double up with a separate inspection, but honestly, I think sometimes it’s overkill—especially if you’re buying a place that’s basically new or has had one owner who babied it. The VA appraiser is supposed to flag the big stuff, and yeah, maybe they miss a few things, but I’ve had “professional” inspectors gloss over issues too. One guy spent more time talking about his favorite BBQ joint than looking at the roof. Not saying you should skip an inspection if you’re worried, but I wouldn’t call it a must every single time.

Plus, those inspection fees add up, especially if you’re already stretching for closing costs. Sometimes you just gotta trust your gut—and maybe a handy friend with a flashlight. Peace of mind is great, but so is not draining your savings on stuff that might not even matter. Just my two cents...

I kinda get what you mean about the “professional” inspectors. When I bought my place, the inspector showed up late and then spent most of the time chatting about his fantasy football team. Meanwhile, my dad—armed with a headlamp and zero chill—found a leaky pipe the guy totally missed.

Sometimes you just gotta trust your gut—and maybe a handy friend with a flashlight.

VA loans are a bit weird about inspections. Here’s the rundown from my experience:

- Technically, VA loans don’t *require* a home inspection. But they do require a VA appraisal, which is like an inspection’s less-thorough cousin who just checks if the house meets “minimum property requirements” (MPRs) and isn’t falling apart.
- The VA appraiser isn’t going to crawl under the house or poke around in the attic. They’re mostly making sure there’s no obvious health/safety hazards, the roof isn’t caving in, and there’s running water. Stuff like that.
- If you want a real inspection (and trust me, you do), that’s on you as the buyer. The VA doesn’t demand it, but skipping it is like buying a used car without popping the hood.
- For spouses: same deal. The requirements don’t change if you’re married or not.

I’ve had inspectors who seemed more interested in their lunch than the house, too. My uncle once brought a screwdriver and a suspiciously large flashlight and found more issues in 10 minutes than the inspector did in an hour. Moral of the story: always bring your own “dad with a headlamp” if you can.