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How Does the VA Appraisal Panel Operate?

A VA loan permits an eligible veteran to borrow up to 103.3% of the purchase price or the value of the home, whichever figure is lower. The VA uses state-licensed or state-certified appraisers to provide opinions of value for the homes on which it guarantees the mortgages. In order to complete a VA appraisal, you must be on the VA panel. Here’s an overview of how the VA appraisal panel operates.

VA appraisal panel vs. FHA appraisal roster

Most residential appraisers are familiar with the FHA appraiser roster. It is important to note that the VA appraisal panel works very differently from the FHA appraisal roster.

As one example, the FHA roster is open to all qualifying appraisers. If you meet the FHA roster requirements, all you have to do is apply, and you will be added to the FHA roster.

Conversely, the VA panel is only opened up when the VA Regional Loan Center (RLC) has a need for appraisers in certain geographic areas. For example, there might be a need for appraisers in one city, and the VA will open up the panel and accept appraiser applicants from that city. But if you are from another city where there is not a perceived need for appraisers, the VA will not add new appraisers to the panel from that city.

There is no fee to apply or maintain membership on the VA panel.

Are you a current or prospective VA panel appraiser? Enroll in our new CE course: Appraising for the VA.

Appraiser selection

The VA does not originate or underwrite individual loans, but the VA does select the appraiser who will complete the appraisal for each VA loan. It uses a rotation system to select appraisers to complete appraisals on VA loans in a certain geographic area.

For example, let’s say there are four VA panel appraisers in Anytown. They are:

  • Jane Doe
  • John Smith
  • Mary Jones
  • John Q. Public

If a VA appraisal assignment becomes available in Anytown, it will go to Jane Doe because her name is at the top of the list. After she receives the assignment, her name rotates to the bottom of the list, and the list now looks like this:

  • John Smith
  • Mary Jones
  • John Q. Public
  • Jane Doe

The next VA appraisal assignment in Anytown will go to John Smith, then his name will go to the bottom of the list, and so on. It’s a simple yet effective system, and it protects and maintains appraiser independence.

As noted previously, the VA differs significantly from the FHA when it comes to appraiser selection. For FHA, the lender (or the AMC working as an agent of the lender) is permitted to select the appraiser. For VA loans, the VA selects the appraiser, period. The originating lender has no input into who is selected to complete their appraisal.

Appraisal fees

Another difference is that the VA sets appraisal fees; these are maximum allowable fees which are based on geographic areas. The fee schedule is available on the website of the VA Regional Loan Center (RLC) that has jurisdiction. This is in direct contrast to FHA, which does not set or establish fees. An appraiser may negotiate with the lender or AMC to establish an FHA appraisal fee that is agreeable to all parties; not so with VA.

The maximum allowable VA appraisal fees are available on the VA’s website here: http://www.benefits.va.gov/HOMELOANS/appraiser_fee_schedule.asp. The VA Lenders Handbook, Pamphlet 26-7, provides some additional information about appraisal fees.

Want more info and insights? Check out our VA appraisal course: Appraising for the VA.

Written by Dan Bradley. Daniel A. Bradley, SRA, CDEI is the Director of Online Appraisal Curriculum for McKissock Learning. He has been a practicing real property appraiser since 1987, and has been instructing and authoring appraisal courses since 1992. He is a state certified general appraiser in Pennsylvania and is currently on the FHA appraiser roster. From 2004 to 2013, Dan was a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers, serving for five years as vice-chairman and three years as chairman. He has also has served as a contracted expert witness appraisal reviewer for the Pennsylvania Department of State.

The post How Does the VA Appraisal Panel Operate? appeared first on McKissock Learning.

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