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FHA Appraisal Guidelines
The appraisal is a critical component of an FHA mortgage. FHA
has always had stringent appraisal requirements in that even minor defects in the property's condition
needed to be remedied prior to closing the loan. However, in December
2005 FHA made a number of changes to their requirements,
allowing for "As Is" appraisals, even if minor defects to the property condition
exist.
Requirements for FHA appraisals may be lightened slightly but there are still a number of
conditions remaining.
- You must use an appraiser from FHA's approved list.
- The broker/lender must provide the appraiser with a case number for inclusion on their report.
- Major deficiencies in the property's condition still require a cost to
cure.
It is always best to let the lender select the appraiser but even more
so if you are getting an FHA appraisal because the appraiser must be well versed in FHA
requirements.
Further Details of FHA appraisal changes:
FHA appraisals occurring on or after January 1, 2006 now only require
repairs for conditions that rise above cosmetic defects, minor defects, or
normal wear and tear. Appraisers must report ALL deficiencies but
lenders can use professional judgment and prudent underwriting practices
to determine when a property's condition is a threat to safety or
jeopardizes structural integrity.
This is a list of examples that no longer require automatic repair to
existing properties, but are not limited to:
- Missing handrails
- Cracked or damaged exit doors that are otherwise operable
- Cracked window glass
- Defective paint surfaces in homes built after 1978
- Minor plumbing leaks such as faucets
- Worn or soiled floor coverings or finish
- Rotten or worn out counter tops
- Damaged plaster or sheet rock or other wall and ceiling material on
homes constructed after 1978
- Poor workmanship
- Trip hazards such as sidewalks or badly installed carpet
- Lack of all weather driveway surface
Examples of conditions that may be of risk to health and safety of
occupants or soundness of property that continue to require automatic
repair, but are not limited to:
- Inadequate access/egress from bedrooms to exterior of home
- Leaking or worn out roofs
- Structural problems such as foundation damage caused by settlement
- Defective paint surfaces in homes built before 1978
- Defective exterior paint on homes built after 1978 where finish is
unprotected
FHA Inspection Requirements
FHA no longer mandates automatic inspections for the following items
and or conditions in existing properties:
- Wood Destroying insects: only required if there is evidence of
active infestation or appraiser states a need for one, mandated by state or local jurisdiction, or at
lenders discretion
- Well (individual water system): It is required if mandated by
state/local jurisdiction, if suspect of contamination or requires
purification system, or when there is evidence of: pipe corrosion,
intensive agriculture, coal mining/gas drilling, dump, junk yard, land
fill, gas station or dry cleaning operation with in 1/4 mile, or
if there is a bad smell, taste, or appearance
- Septic: only required if evidence of failure, mandate, or
lenders discretion
- Flat or unobservable roof
Examples of conditions that still require automatic inspection, but not
limited to:
- Standing water against foundation, or excessively wet basement
- Hazardous materials on site
- Faulty mechanical systems: electrical, plumbing, or heating
- Structural failure: settlement or bulging foundation walls
The link below is to the Mortgagee letter 2005-ml-48 that gives greater
detail regarding these issues.
http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/letters/mortgagee/05-48ml.doc |
