VA Approval

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1

Originally Posted By: pdacey
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Does anyone know if there is a requirement for any kind of certification to do inspections on a house for a VA loan?


San Antonio is a big military town and lots of Va loans. I just got a call to ask if I was VA certified. Do I need to be?

--
Slainte!

Patrick Dacey
swi@satx.rr.com
TREC # 6636
www.southwestinspections.com

2

Originally Posted By: jwalker
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Patrick,


If your are licensed by TREC it is my understanding that you can and are certified to do VA/FHA home inspections. It's just another inspection.

--
James Walker

Our Service Is A Long Term Investment!

OneSource Real Estate Inspections
DFW, Texas
www.dfwhomeinspector.com

3

Originally Posted By: pdacey
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


James,


Thanks for the info. I have a call into the VA. Just waiting for a reply.

I'm going to call TREC to see what they say.

--
Slainte!

Patrick Dacey
swi@satx.rr.com
TREC # 6636
www.southwestinspections.com

4

Originally Posted By: Nick Gromicko
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Call NACHI member Larry Ott. He is our FHA/203K/HUD/VA/OVR expert. He recently got NACHI’s Online Inspector Examination as the sole exam for Occupational and Vocational Reahabilitation programs in several states. He also got several governement programs to pay for membership in NACHI. Up till now most states only paid for home inspection courses, but not NACHI membership fees. He’s big into anything with the government.


Nick

5

Originally Posted By: pdacey
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Thanks Nick!

–
Slainte!


Patrick Dacey
swi@satx.rr.com
TREC # 6636
www.southwestinspections.com
6

Originally Posted By: Mike O’Handley
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Hi,


Some who never got the message think there is still a requirement for 'certification'. Four or five years ago there was a requirement to be HUD certified to do VA inspections, but that was dropped - around 1999, I believe. All that is required now is to do a professional home inspection to some sort of standard and provide the results in writing.

I've done a few of 'em. At one, the VA appraisal guy showed up with his partner and began going over the home with a fine-toothed comb - like no appriaser I'd ever seen, and I've seen a few. After a while, he came over to me when my client went to use the bathroom and wanted to know what I'd found. I told him I get paid for my observations - just like him - and wasn't willing to just give my results to anyone who asked. Then I asked if it was true that they were required to look at roofs from the eaves and go in crawlspaces like I'd heard, because I'd never seen any VA inspector do that. He walked away muttering something about a smartass.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike O'Handley
Your Inspector(tm)
Kenmore by the Lake, WA

7

Originally Posted By: ismetaniuk
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


This membership was a big waste of my time!

–
Igor


Top To Bottom Inspections


Glen Spey, NY

8

Originally Posted By: jremas
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


With VA or FHA loans, unless the property has a well and septic then only a termite inspection is required. UNLESS the bank itself has its own requirement. The appraiser must be an approved FHA appraiser & it is actually their appraisal that calls out what is needed. A home inspection is recommended but not required.


If you want to find out the FHA requirements for a home sale good luck. You will not find any published goverment literature that specifies much of anything. Most of the time they refer to local building codes and unless the local municipality requires that someone do something, very little is actually required. Lots of confusion in this area. This is more of a subjective inspection than objective. You must address health and safety issues which can lead to a whole discussion.

Example (I will expect some rebuttle on this one):
*If there is no receptacle in the bathroom, do you have to make them install a GFCI receptacle? Would that be a requirement?

AnsER: NO, NO Now if the local municipality required it for a real estate transaction then OK but if they don't they the FHA does not either.

If the bathroom was being renovated then yes, one would be installed or an addition was being added then yes, but that is because of local codes which the FHA always refers to.

Call HUD and order for free the following material:

HUD Handbook 4905.1 REV-1 Requirements for existing housing, 1-4 units
HUD Handbook 4910.1 Minimum Property Standards for housing. (sec-Konly (also known as 24CFR200.926d)
HUD Handbook 4145.1 REV-2 Architectural processing and inspections for HMI
HUD Handbook 4150.2 Valuation Analysis for HMI (appraisers book)

I believe there is alot of confusion with the actual requirements for FHA and VA loans. The appraiser's inspection has the most in depth checklist for requirements. One of the most subjective issues is the home must not compromise its "marketablility". Here is an example of that: If the hardwood floors are worn down to the exposed wood then they must be sanded and refinished. However, if they are just darkened from age and use but the finish is intact then nothing is needed.

Go to
www.hudclips.org to order these books or call 1-800-767-7468

--


Jeff Remas
REMAS Inspections, Inc.
Northeastern PA & the Poconos
www.NEPAinspector.com

570-362-1598

9

Originally Posted By: pdacey
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.


Jeff,


Thanks, good info.

I actually spoke to HUD this morning and they told me that if you are hired by the buyer of the property to do the inspection, you do not have to be HUD approved. If you are doing the inspection for the lender, you need to be HUD approved. And wouldn't ya know, they are not taking any more applications at this time to become an approved inspector.

As far as I can tell, the same info. as above holds true for VA loan purchases.

--
Slainte!

Patrick Dacey
swi@satx.rr.com
TREC # 6636
www.southwestinspections.com