A lot of folks mix up the VA appraisal with a full inspection, but they’re really two different animals. Here’s how I break it down:
- VA appraisal: Checks if the property meets basic safety and livability standards (Minimum Property Requirements), but it’s not a deep dive.
- Inspection: Much more thorough—looks at plumbing, electrical, roof, foundation, etc.
Turns out there was a slow leak under the kitchen sink that only showed up when the inspector ran all the faucets for a while. Not something an appraiser would catch.
That’s a perfect example. I’ve seen buyers skip the inspection to save money, but then end up with way bigger costs later. Curious—has anyone here actually had the VA appraiser flag something major that an inspector missed? Or is it usually the other way around?
Honestly, I’ve never seen a VA appraiser catch something big that an inspector missed. Usually, it’s the other way around—inspectors are the ones crawling into attics and poking around in crawl spaces. VA appraisers are more like, “Is this place standing? Is there heat? Any obvious hazards?” That’s about it. I get why folks mix them up, but skipping the inspection is just rolling the dice, in my opinion. Anyone ever had an appraiser actually go above and beyond? I’m skeptical...
Title: Does a VA loan require an inspection? What are the VA loan inspection requirements for buyers and spouses?
I’m right there with you—my appraiser barely peeked in the attic, let alone crawled around. The inspector, on the other hand, found a leaky pipe I never would’ve noticed. I get why people mix up the roles, but honestly, skipping an inspection just feels like tempting fate. Maybe there’s a unicorn appraiser out there who goes above and beyond, but I haven’t met one yet...
Maybe there’s a unicorn appraiser out there who goes above and beyond, but I haven’t met one yet...
- VA loans don’t technically *require* a full-blown home inspection—just the VA appraisal, which is more about making sure the place meets “minimum property requirements” (MPRs). That’s stuff like: is the roof caving in, is there heat, are there obvious safety hazards?
- The appraisal isn’t meant to dig deep. It’s more like a “does this house look habitable?” check. If you’re hoping they’ll find every leaky pipe or weird electrical quirk, you’ll probably be disappointed.
- Home inspections are optional but honestly, skipping them is risky. I’ve seen folks regret it big time when hidden issues pop up after closing.
- For buyers and spouses, the VA doesn’t have extra inspection hoops—just those MPRs. But if you’re buying something like a fixer-upper or older home, I’d say an inspection is money well spent.
I get the confusion between appraisers and inspectors. They both poke around, but only one’s really looking for trouble. And yeah, if you ever meet that unicorn appraiser, let us know... I’d love to shake their hand.
- Totally agree, the VA appraisal is just a baseline check, not a deep dive.
- One thing I’d add: even if the house “passes” the MPRs, that doesn’t mean it’s problem-free. I’ve seen places with clean appraisals but hidden mold or plumbing nightmares.
- Skipping a home inspection to save money can backfire fast. A friend thought they were good with just the VA appraisal—ended up with a $4k foundation repair six months later.
- Honestly, I wish the process was clearer about the difference between an appraisal and an inspection... it’s easy to mix them up, especially if you’re new to homebuying.
