NAR Goes to Capitol Hill on Appraisals for VA Home Loan Program

It’s no secret that a professional appraisal is key to getting a clear understanding of the home purchase. It’s an important part of ensuring that buyers pay a fair price for their new home, and buyers who utilize the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Home Loan Guaranty Program are no exception.

Realtors® took to Capitol Hill today to champion the good work happening at the VA, but also to warn Members of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs of the challenges facing appraisers who serve the Home Loan Guaranty Program.

Michelle Bradley, Immediate Past Chair of the National Association of Realtors® Real Property Valuation Committee, testified before the HVAC’s Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity to offer her expertise as a state-certified general real property appraiser. She told Members of the Committee that despite the good work happening within the program, regulatory burdens remain that need attention.

“America’s veterans have been well-served for years by VA’s appraisal system, and professionals in the business should be proud of their good work,” Bradley said. “Unfortunately, that system is under tremendous pressure today.”

For over 70 years, the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program has served veterans and active duty service members with zero-down payment options and by encouraging private lenders to offer favorable terms on home loans.

Veterans made up 18 percent of homebuyers in a recent NAR survey, with over half of those buyers turning to a VA loan to finance their home purchase. That means getting the program right is important, but Bradley pointed out a number of impediments to continuing the current level of service.

“What we’ve found is that, among appraisers, there’s a real reluctance to work with the VA,” Bradley said. “Generally, appraisers are dissatisfied with the level of compensation they’re receiving for their work. It’s also harder than ever for trainees to enter the field, not just within the VA system but across the industry, which only adds to the perception of an appraiser shortage. This overall regulatory burden is a significant issue, and we have to turn things around.”

Despite these  challenges, Bradley sounded optimistic as she faced the Committee.

“What we have today isn’t perfect, but it’s an important part of ensuring veterans and active-service members are protected when using a VA home loan,” Bradley said. “NAR looks forward to working with the VA and Members of Congress to improve this system in the years to come.”

For more on the subject, NAR recently released fresh survey data from over 2,000 appraisers within the industry. That’s available online here: http://narnewsline.blogs.realtor.org/2017/03/16/appraiser-survey-shows-challenges-remain-for-practitioners/

If you’re a veteran considering purchasing a home give me a call for more information about the VA loan program – J.P. Cook – 602-320-4253.

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12003 W Parkway Lane Avondale, AZ 85323

$572,995

4 Beds

3 Baths

2,480 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6761530

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

The heart of this ranch-style home is an open floor plan with a family room, a breakfast nook and a large gourmet kitchen. The adjacent primary suite offers a walk-in closet and an attached bath. You'll also find two additional bedrooms and a bath, as well as a quiet study and complete with a living area, bedroom, and private bath. Includes covered patio and a 3-car-garage!

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16348 W Avenida Del Sol -- Surprise, AZ 85387

$572,995

4 Beds

3 Baths

2,480 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6727605

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

This home features a lovely Guest Suite as well as dramatic 10' ceilings throughout and a tray ceiling at entry; a gourmet kitchen with quartz countertops, 42'' cabinets, a spacious open great room with a multi-slide door; a beautiful primary suite with a generous walk-in closet. The walk-in shower features a rain shower head. This home offers stylish pavers at driveway/walkway.

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16355 W Avenida Del Sol -- Surprise, AZ 85387

$572,995

4 Beds

3 Baths

2,480 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6718951

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

This home features a lovely Guest Suite as well as dramatic 10' ceilings throughout and a tray ceiling at entry; a gourmet kitchen with quartz countertops, 42'' cabinets, a spacious open great room with a multi-slide door; a beautiful primary suite with a generous walk-in closet. The master bath features a drop-in tub and a shower. This home offers stylish pavers at driveway/walkway.

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16400 W Avenida Del Sol -- Surprise, AZ 85387

$572,995

4 Beds

3 Baths

2,570 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6686225

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

4 bed 3 bath Elev B 2570 SQ FT 2 Car Garage. Has Gourmet Kitchen, Deluxe Master bath with walk in shower. Garage service door, 10ft ceilings at entry. Gas cooktop/range, Gas stub at Patio, 42'' White upper cabinets with 2-1/2'' molding. Wood looing tile through out and carpet in bedrooms.

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3070 E Bellerive Drive Gilbert, AZ 85298

$572,990

3 Beds

2 Baths

1,760 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6774476

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

This charming single-story home offers a thoughtfully designed open floor plan with 9-ft. ceilings, a large great room, and beautiful vinyl plank flooring throughout the common areas. The modern kitchen is a standout, featuring sleek quartz countertops, a center island prewired for pendant lighting, a walk-in pantry, and extended 42-in. upper cabinets. The spacious primary suite, located at the back of the home for added privacy, includes an en-suite bath with a walk-in shower, dual-sink vanity with WaterSense® labeled faucets, and a linen closet with ample storage space. Additional highlights include a soft water loop, ceiling fans in the great room, bedrooms, and covered patio, a convenient side-access door to the garage, and a Wi-Fi-enabled ecobee smart thermostat.

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4320 Sawbuck Way Wickenburg, AZ 85390

$572,671

2 Beds

2 Baths

1,648 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6770325

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

Welcome to the Dream Floor Plan, thoughtfully personalized in the Shea design studio. This 1,648 sq ft residence offers 2 beds & 2 baths, featuring GE built-in stainless steel appliances, including a gas cooktop, & brushed nickel accents throughout. The primary bath boasts a heavy glass shower enclosure & upgraded granite countertops in both the kitchen & baths. Enjoy custom mosaic tile details, 42'' kitchen cabinets with pullouts, soft-close cabinets & drawers, under-cabinet lighting, & a 15ft sliding glass wall in the living room. Additional highlights include prewired fans in the den & patio, upgraded electrical, smart home features, an extended covered patio, & a 250-gallon underground propane tank. Visit the Shea sales office for current incentives.

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1724 S Rockwell Street Gilbert, AZ 85295

$572,400

4 Beds

2 Baths

2,085 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6781274

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

**$5K flooring credit for the new owner from the seller!** Welcome to Lyons Gate! Enjoy the charm of a spacious setting without the upkeep, as you step outside to an HOA-maintained field ideal for kickball, tag, or cozy evenings by the renovated patio for s'mores. Just a short walk from your front door brings you to one of multiple community pools, a basketball court, and a playground. Inside, you'll find an extra-deep garage with fantastic storage solutions, and in the backyard, an included spa awaits your relaxation. You get all of this PLUS great access to the freeway, Mesa Gateway Airport, schools, AND amazing restaurants! Come experience this home and neighborhood for yourself!

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16380 W Avenida Del Sol -- Surprise, AZ 85387

$570,995

3 Beds

2.5 Baths

2,500 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6701706

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

The gorgeous Cassandra floor plan offers 10-foot ceilings with a tray at entry, gourmet kitchen with quartz countertops and 42 inch cabinets, a huge walk-in pantry, a multi-slide door at great room and a slider at Nook, walk-in Shower with rain shower, and pavers at driveway/walkway, the lot is nearly 8000 square feet and it is North/South exposure.

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11937 W Parkway Lane Avondale, AZ 85323

$570,995

3 Beds

2.5 Baths

2,400 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6760074

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

Explore this eye-catching Celeste home, ready for quick move-in on a homesite boasting driveway pavers and front yard landscaping. Included features: an inviting covered entry; a gourmet kitchen offering 42'' cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless-steel appliances, a double oven, a walk-in pantry and a center island; an open dining area; a large great room boasting center-meet doors leading onto a tranquil covered patio; an elegant primary suite showcasing an expansive walk-in closet and a private bath with cultured marble countertops; a convenient laundry; a mudroom and a 3-car tandem garage. This home also offers additional windows and ceiling fan prewiring in select rooms as well as airy 10' ceilings throughout.

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19026 W Stella Avenue Waddell, AZ 85355

$570,990

4 Beds

2.5 Baths

2,399 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6745705

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

The beautiful Irwin floorplan has a 3 car tandem garage, 4 bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. 9' ceilings, wood plank style tile floorings throughout the home, 8' interior doors, gourmet kitchen package, kitchen tile backsplash and huge island makes this home the perfect spot to entertain! This home is built zero energy ready with spray foam insulation, 2 x 6 construction and 85% offset solar system included giving you a HERS rating in the single digits! This home gives you almost no energy bill and is ready now!

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23055 E Watford Drive Queen Creek, AZ 85142

$570,990

4 Beds

3.5 Baths

2,688 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6770743

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

To Be Built of our very popular Pebble single story plan. This plan boasts a 3 car garage, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and an office. Build time is approximately 7 months. We offer a full design center experience where you can colorize the home to your liking. Options and upgrades may increase the price of the home. Please ask about our special financing promotions.

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15922 W Electra Lane Surprise, AZ 85387

$570,699

4 Beds

3 Baths

2,229 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6719014

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

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