MECHANICAL SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR A VA HOME LOAN
Mechanical systems must be:
• safe to operate, and
• protected from destructive elements
Heating must be permanently installed and maintain a temperature of at least
50 degrees Fahrenheit in areas with plumbing.
In areas with a mild climate, heating may not be required. Air conditioning is not required, but if installed, must be operational. If any
needed repairs to the air conditioning equipment are apparent, the appraiser
must prepare the appraisal subject to the repair of the air conditioning system
by a licensed heating/air conditioning contractor.
ROOF REQUIREMENTS FOR A VA HOME LOAN
The roof covering must:
• prevent entrance of moisture, and
• provide reasonable future utility, durability, and economy of
maintenance.
When a defective roof with three or more layers of shingles must be replaced,
all old shingles must first be removed.
The appraiser is not required to climb onto the roof
When the appraiser is unable to view the roof, the appraiser must explain why
the roof is unobservable and report how the condition of the roof was
determined. For example, a roof may be covered with snow yet the appraiser
observed no evidence of leaks and documentation was provided to the
appraiser verifying the age of the roof. If available, other methods such as
drones could be utilized to show the area.
DOES A MANUFACTURED HOME QUALIFY FOR A VA LOAN.
The manufactured home and site must be considered a real estate entity in
accordance with state law and meet all local zoning requirements for real
estate. The manufactured home must be placed on a permanent foundation,
constructed to withstand both supporting loads and wind-overturning loads,
that meets state and local requirements. The manufactured home must be built to HUD Manufactured Home
Construction and Safety Standards. The manufactured home must have a floor area of not less than 400 square feet
for a singlewide, or 700 square feet for a double wide manufactured home. If the manufactured home is appraised as proposed construction, the following
exhibits are required:
• foundation plan,
• floor plan showing room layout and exterior dimensions,
• elevation plans, and
• specifications for flooring, heating, plumbing, electrical equipment,
appliances and other items included with the manufactured home
DO MODULAR HOMES QUALIFY FOR A VA LOAN
The appraiser will typically treat modular housing and on-frame modular
housing in the same manner as conventionally built housing. The appraiser
must select comparable sales that would be competing properties on the
market which may include modular homes, conventionally built homes, or
manufactured homes.
On-frame modular housing is factory built on a permanent chassis. The appraiser must ensure that: • all running gear is removed, • the crawl space is covered by a vapor barrier with vented permanent masonry skirting, • the skirting has an access hatch, and • the home is secured to a permanent foundation that meets state and local requirements.
