5 Common Obstacles to VA Home Inspection

Military borrowers face the most difficulty during the VA home appraisal and the mandatory VA home inspection. 

Before closing the loan, the Department of Veteran Affairs enforces several criteria for Minimum Property Requirements (MPR) before extending the agency’s guarantee on the mortgage. 

With a range of considerations, these Minimum Property Requirements serve to preserve the safety and health of VA-eligible homebuyers.

When considering a property and conducting a home inspection, the VA endorses homes that require minimal repairs or rehabilitation before the borrower can move in. Consequently, issues that present considerable health or safety hazards must be renovated before the borrower can close the loan.

Of the issues which can impede VA loan acquisition, here are the five most common obstacles when obtaining a VA home inspection:

Heating

Homes that do not have satisfactory heating systems will not receive approval during the home inspection conducted by the VA. 

The property must have a competent and appropriate source of heat that facilitates an adequate living condition for the home to receive VA approval. 

For instance, homes that utilize a wood stove as the primary source of heat must also use a secondary system that can preserve a minimum temperature of 50 degrees in areas of the house with plumbing.

Electrical

For a home to be considered inhabitable, the property must have functioning electricity. Accordingly, during home inspection, appraisers will observe whether a home presents sufficient electricity for lighting and also has the appropriate mechanism to sustain this consumption.

Roofing

In addition to heating and electrical, VA appraisers also note whether roofing is in an adequate condition prior to approving. Especially during the home inspection, appraisers will inspect for any holes in the roof that can cause leaks and create further issues, both financial and health-related. A damaged roof can depreciate a home's value considerably as well as develop into serious problems once the house gets older. 

As such, the VA inspects these issues which must be resolved before loan closing.

Broken Windows

While most military servicepersons purchasing a home will not be concerned with a broken window, during a VA home inspection, appraisers may feel differently. Since broken windows not only affect the efficiency of a home’s heating but also the home’s outer perception to the neighborhood, all broken windows must be fixed before the purchase can be completed.

Infestation

Due to the problems presented by termites and other insects, the VA does not approve home purchase transactions of properties containing these nuisances. 

Before receiving approval for the sale, sellers must arrange proof of section one termite clearance. Also, appraisers will convey any indication of other detrimental infestations, such as fungus growth or dry rot.

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Gretchen Wegrich

Gretchen Wegrich is an editor at Lender411. She specializes in mortgage basics, personal finance and green living. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in writing from University of California, San Diego and previously worked at the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Contact her at gretchen@lender411com.