What Does a VA Appraisal Check? Minimum Property Requirements in New Jersey

A VA appraisal does two jobs: it gives an opinion of what the home is worth, and it checks the home against VA's minimum property requirements, the basic condition standards a home has to meet for a VA-backed loan. In New Jersey, VA's posted fee for a single-family appraisal is $650, and the appraiser has 9 business days to finish, or 7 in Ocean County, under VA's table effective May 1, 2026.

I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato with The Dennis Mark Group. Before I sold real estate, I built and remodeled homes in New Jersey. On a VA purchase in Monmouth or Ocean County, I read the house the way the appraiser will, so nothing on the report surprises you.

What does a VA appraisal check?

According to VA.gov, a VA-approved appraiser makes sure the house meets the minimum property requirements, called MPRs, and gives an opinion of value. Your lender orders it, not you.

When it's done, you get a Notice of Value. VA's Buyer's Guide says it shows the estimated value, the comparable sales the appraiser used, the floor layout, photographs, and a list of any items that need repair to meet the MPRs.

The appraisers on VA's fee panel aren't employees of VA, your lender or your agent. VA says they're licensed and have at least five years of experience appraising in your area.

What are VA's minimum property requirements?

VA has to make sure any home it backs is suitable to live in. In a December 2023 Federal Register notice, VA listed the MPR topics in its Lenders Handbook. Among them:

• Space, access, and drainage of the lot
• Utilities, water supply, and sewage, including private wells and septic systems
• Heating and other mechanical systems
• Roof covering, attics, crawl spaces and basements
• Lead-based paint, radon, and stationary storage tanks
• Wood-destroying insects, fungus and dry rot
• Defective conditions and hazards

VA also said MPRs expose defects or maintenance issues that could affect a home's value. VA can update the list, and your lender and appraiser work from the current version.

What makes a home fail a VA appraisal?

Usually it doesn't fail outright. It comes back with repairs that have to be done before VA backs the loan. Those repair items tie back to the MPR topics above, which are about condition and basic livability.

That's where my builder background earns its keep. On a tour, I'm looking at the roof, the heat, the crawl space or basement, the attic, and any wood that's soft where it shouldn't be. If something on that list looks like it'll show up on the Notice of Value, you hear it from me before you write the offer, not after the appraiser leaves.

If repairs come back, who handles them is part of the negotiation. VA's Buyer's Guide lists repairs as something buyer and seller can work out, up until closing. VA's MPR list also includes a topic for requests to waive repairs, which goes through your lender.

Does a VA loan need a termite inspection in New Jersey?

Yes. VA's local requirements page lists New Jersey among the states where wood-destroying insect information is required statewide before the Notice of Value is issued. Plan for that report on every VA purchase here. Who pays for it is negotiated in the contract.

How much does a VA appraisal cost in New Jersey, and how long does it take?

VA posts a fee and timeline by state and county. From its table effective May 1, 2026:

• Single-family home or condo: $650
• Manufactured home: $700
• 2 to 4 units: $800
• Time to complete: 9 business days in most of New Jersey, including Monmouth County, and 7 business days in Burlington, Camden and Ocean counties

VA's fee page says the clock starts the first business day after the assignment, weekends and federal holidays don't count, and rush fees can't be charged to the Veteran. The appraisal fee is on VA's list of costs you and the seller can negotiate.

How do you keep the appraisal from slowing down your closing?

Start it early. VA's Buyer's Guide says lenders should request the appraisal early in the loan process to avoid delays. On a military timeline, those 7 or 9 business days, plus any repairs and a re-inspection, all have to fit before the closing date. When I build the calendar backward from your report date, the appraisal window is one of the first blocks I put on it.

Is a VA appraisal the same as a home inspection?

No, and VA says so directly. The appraisal protects the loan. An inspection protects you. VA strongly recommends an inspection, and the Buyer's Guide suggests a structural engineer for an older home. As a former builder, I'd never skip it.

The inspection looks deeper at the systems, the structure and what's wearing out. Put an inspection contingency in your contract alongside the VA escape clause. If the appraisal comes in low, read what to do when a VA appraisal comes in low.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it hard to pass a VA appraisal?

It depends on the house. The MPRs are about condition and basic livability, so a home with working systems and no deferred maintenance gives the appraiser less to write up.

What is the average cost of a VA appraisal in New Jersey?

VA posts a set fee rather than an average: $650 for a single-family home or condo in New Jersey, effective May 1, 2026.

Who orders the VA appraisal?

Your lender. VA's Buyer's Guide says the lender, not you, requests the VA-approved appraiser after you and the seller sign the contract.

Can a seller fix VA repairs before closing?

Yes, if buyer and seller agree. Repairs are negotiable, and the lender confirms what VA needs to see completed.

Does a VA appraisal look at lead paint or radon?

Both are on the list of MPR topics VA published, along with storage tanks. How they apply depends on the home, so ask your lender what VA's current requirements mean for the house you're buying.

This is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Your lender confirms VA's current requirements for your loan.

About the author

Dennis Mark Interdonato is a REALTOR® and Master CDRE® who leads The Dennis Mark Group at Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living in Point Pleasant, NJ, helping buyers and sellers throughout New Jersey make their next move, with Monmouth and Ocean County as home base. See how I handle military and VA home purchases and sales.

Keep reading

• The free Military Home Guide
• Selling your home to a VA buyer
• Essential upgrades that add value to a New Jersey home
• Find out what your home is worth
• Have a question this didn't answer? Send it to Dennis Mark.