FHA Appraisal Requirements | NextAdvisor with TIME

So you’ve just signed the sales agreement on your new FHA-approved home. While congratulations are in order, you’re not out of the woods yet.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requires your property to undergo an appraisal before closing. In addition to assigning a value to your home, this FHA appraisal ensures your home is safe, sound, and secure.

What Is an FHA Appraisal?

An FHA mortgage is a government-backed loan that offers low-down payment home financing to people who otherwise may not qualify for a conventional mortgage.

The FHA appraisal, which is completed before closing, reviews the home in two key ways. “A regular appraisal is simply looking at the value of the property, [but] FHA appraisals also check to make sure the home is habitable and safe,” says Nick Gromicko, founder of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.

But these types of appraisals weren’t always required. “FHA and HUD realized the importance of home inspections after many homes were thrown into foreclosure because the new owners didn’t have any money to repair major deficiencies. They had put every penny they had into the downpayment, but because they didn’t get a home inspection, they didn’t realize that the furnace didn’t work or the roof leaked,” says Frank Lesh, ambassador at the American Society of Home Inspectors

FHA Appraisal vs. Regular Appraisal

Appraisals and home inspections are typically two different processes. During a conventional home-buying experience, the lender sends one of its approved appraisers to formally evaluate the home’s value based on the size and structure of the home. And a buyer can order an optional home inspection from their choice of contractor to look at the roof, plumbing, HVAC, termites, and other potential issues.

What makes an FHA appraisal different is that it requires a home inspection element. “An FHA inspection is a peek at what it’s going to be like to actually live there,” says Gromicko. “FHA inspectors make sure the house is sound, that it doesn’t have water intrusion issues, that the appliances function, that it doesn’t appear to have any environmental issues like mold or asbestos, that the windows and receptacles function, and that it isn’t infested with rodents or wood-destroying organisms.”

And unlike a typical appraisal or inspection, the FHA will require any repairs to be completed for the sale to go through.

How Does an FHA Appraisal Work?

The FHA appraisal occurs after the sales agreement is signed by both parties and before closing. The appraiser is chosen by the lender and paid for by the borrower. The cost typically ranges from $312 to $404, according to HomeAdvisor, a platform that connects homeowners with plumbers, painters, electricians, and other home contractors.

FHA appraisals require a walkthrough of the home to make sure the “minimum property requirements” are met, in accordance with HUD’s Single-Family Housing Policy Handbook. An appraiser will look at any visible damage to the home and its structure, but typically aren’t as thorough as a licensed home inspector. 

The appraiser will take photos of the property and fill out reports needed to complete the home-buying process. If any defects are found, you’ll receive a list of needed repairs. “If the seller wants to keep the deal from falling apart, the seller has the obligation of fixing anything FHA wants to have repaired,” says Gromicko. “This is slightly different than a conventional real estate deal where the seller and buyer negotiate over issues and repairs. There’s no negotiating with the FHA.”

Alternatives to the seller having sole responsibility of repairs include:

• Getting a renovation loan, such as a Fannie Mae HomeStyle loan or FHA 203k, which finances both the cost of the home and renovations
• Using a conventional mortgage so you can buy the home “as-is”

FHA Appraisal Requirements

The appraiser will look for potential damage and hazards to the home and the homeowner.

“The federal government has numerous regulations and protocols that have to be adhered to during this process. And those regulations are in a constant state of flux,” says Lesh. “Be sure your inspector, appraiser and lender are all up to date on those regulations.”

Defective conditions include:

• Defective construction
• Evidence of continuing settlement
• Excessive dampness
• Leakage
• Decay
• Termites
• Environmental hazards

An appraiser will note and may order another inspection for the following conditions:

• Standing water
• Hazardous materials
• Faulty plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems
• Structural failures, such as settlement, bulging foundation wall, unsupported, floor joists and cracked masonry walls
• Pest infestation
• Leaking or worn-out roof
• Continuing and sufficient supply of safe and potable water with adequate pressure
• Safe method of sewage disposal
• Adequate space and heating “for healthful and comfortable living conditions”
• Hot water
• Electricity adequate for lighting and cooking
• Operational appliances
• Lead paint
• Mold
• Radioactive materials
• Damage from soil or flooding
• Termites

Any defects found will need to be corrected by the seller. If the property is in tip-top shape, you should be able to move into closing quickly after the appraisal.