A VA appraisal takes anywhere from 7-21 business days to complete. Most buyers in 2026 are seeing their final appraisal report about 10 business days after the appraiser is assigned to their file.
Depending on your state, the condition of your property, or process management, it can be longer or shorter. A difficult seller or missed required repair will add an extra week to your schedule without notice.
The silver lining? Many delays are completely avoidable if you know where to look. You’ll get the complete picture here, from state-specific timeframes to a process breakdown. Moreover, the blog will shed light on the common delays and actions you can take today to preserve your closing date.
How Long Does a VA Appraisal Take?
The number one question that most buyers want is: How long does a VA appraisal take?
In 2026, VA appraisals will take between 7 and 10 business days from the date of assignment to the date of delivery. Areas of high demand or low appraiser availability typically take between 15 and 21 business days.
The VA also establishes official timeliness standards on a per-state and per-county basis. They serve as a benchmark, but delays still occur.
VA Appraisal Timeline by State (2026)
This is what you might expect for each state, under VA’s current timeliness standards:
|
State |
General Timeline (Business Days) |
Counties With Extended Timelines |
|
Alabama |
8 days |
Cullman, Dale, Houston, Jackson, Lauderdale, Marion: 12 days |
|
Alaska |
21 days |
Anchorage, Juneau, Mat-Su, Kodiak Island, Valdez-Cordova: 12 days; Fairbanks North Star, Kenai Peninsula, SE Fairbanks: 20 days |
|
Arizona |
7 days |
Coconino, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Mohave, Yavapai, Yuma: 10 days |
|
Arkansas |
10 days |
— |
|
California |
7 days |
Several inland and northern counties: 10–15 days |
|
Colorado |
7 days |
Rural southern/mountain counties: 12–15 days |
|
Connecticut |
10 days |
— |
|
Delaware |
10 days |
— |
|
District of Columbia |
10 days |
— |
|
Florida |
7 days |
Franklin, Indian River, Jefferson, Suwannee, Walton: 10 days |
|
Georgia |
7 days |
— |
|
Guam |
20 days |
— |
|
Hawaii |
10 days |
— |
|
Idaho |
8 days |
Several rural counties: 10–15 days |
|
Illinois |
10 days |
— |
|
Indiana |
8 days |
— |
|
Iowa |
10 days |
— |
|
Kansas |
10 days |
— |
|
Kentucky |
10 days |
— |
|
Louisiana |
10 days |
— |
|
Maine |
10 days |
Several counties: 15 days |
|
Maryland |
10 days |
— |
|
Massachusetts |
10 days |
Dukes, Nantucket: 15 days |
|
Michigan |
8 days |
Clare, Gladwin: 12 days |
|
Minnesota |
10 days |
— |
|
Mississippi |
8 days |
— |
|
Missouri |
10 days |
— |
|
Montana |
21 days |
— |
|
Nebraska |
10 days |
— |
|
Nevada |
7 days |
Several rural counties: 10 days |
|
New Hampshire |
10 days |
— |
|
New Jersey |
10 days |
— |
|
New Mexico |
7 days |
Several rural counties: 10–15 days |
|
New York |
10 days |
— |
|
North Carolina |
7 days |
Several metro/rural counties: 10 days |
|
North Dakota |
15 days |
— |
|
Ohio |
8 days |
— |
|
Oklahoma |
10 days |
— |
|
Oregon |
15 days |
— |
|
Pennsylvania |
7 days |
Carbon, Clearfield, Clinton, Susquehanna, Warren: 15 days |
|
Rhode Island |
10 days |
— |
|
South Carolina |
7 days |
Several counties: 10 days |
|
South Dakota |
15 days |
— |
|
Tennessee |
7 days |
Several rural/Appalachian counties: 10 days |
|
Texas |
10 days |
— |
|
Utah |
7 days |
— |
|
Vermont |
10 days |
— |
|
Virginia |
10 days |
— |
|
Washington |
14 days |
— |
|
West Virginia |
12 days |
— |
|
Wisconsin |
10 days |
— |
|
Wyoming |
12 days |
— |
|
Puerto Rico / USVI |
7 days |
— |
|
Northern Mariana Islands |
15 days |
— |
Important: The deadline begins the day after the assignment, not the day you ordered. Weekends and Federal holidays are not taken into consideration.
VA Appraisal Process Timeline: Step by Step
The VA appraisal process isn’t a single step; it involves multiple handoffs among your lender, the VA, and the appraiser. Here’s what each one entails-and how long it takes.
Step 1: Appraisal Ordered
Time: 1-2 business days
After you sign a purchase agreement, your lender submits an appraisal request to the VA’s WebLGY portal. The VA will then assign a certified appraiser from the approved panel in your area.
This step is where many buyers don’t realize they are wasting time. If the lender isn’t prompt in submitting the appraisal request, the VA appraisal process time doesn’t even start. It only starts after an appraiser has been assigned to your appraisal request.
Pro tip: Ask your lender on day one of going under contract-“When are you placing the appraisal order?”
Step 2: Scheduling the Visit
Time: 2–5 business days
Once the order is placed and assigned to an appraiser, the latter will call the listing agent or seller to schedule the site visit. Seller or tenant access issues are the most frequent cause of delays in a VA appraisal.
An unanswered phone call can cost you two business days.
Pro Tip: Ensure there is a lockbox and that the seller is available to respond immediately to scheduling requests.
Step 3: Property Inspection
Time: 1–3 hours on-site
The appraiser visits your home, inspects the property, and assesses its overall condition. They flag safety deficiencies that violate VA rules to support the property’s value.
This part of the VA appraisal is the quickest. However, if the appraiser cannot access all of your property-the attic, the crawlspace, the garage- they may have to come back for a second visit. That would be days tacked onto your VA appraisal.
Pro Tip: Turn your utilities on and make sure the entire property is accessible for inspection day.
Step 4: Report Preparation
Time: 3–7 business days
Once on site, the appraiser composes the full appraisal report. It consists of a comparable sales analysis, photographs of the property, the home’s physical condition, and a final opinion of value. Since fewer similar sales are available for unique/rural properties, this stage may be more time-consuming.
This is when the appraiser may trigger the Tidewater Initiative if they believe the home’s value will not reach the contract price. This temporarily halts the appraisal process until more comparable sales are identified.
Insider tip: Prepare a well-developed sales comp list in the event Tidewater is triggered.
Step 5: Review and Final Report
Time: 1–5 business days
After the report is filed in WebLGY, it is reviewed by a VA Staff Appraisal Reviewer (SAR) for accuracy and completeness. Once signed off, VA issues the Notice of Value (NOV) – the official document that states the home’s value.
The NOV is the last step in the VA appraisal timeline. The loan cannot proceed through underwriting until the NOV has been issued.
A tip: Don’t ask your lender, “Has the appraisal been done?” Instead, specifically ask, “Has the Notice of Value been issued?”
Factors That Affect the VA Appraisal Process Timeline
Your VA appraisal could come back faster or slower based on various factors:
- Geography – Rural areas take longer to complete due to fewer appraisers and fewer comparable sales.
- Appraiser Workload – Some high-demand counties have a shortage of appraisers, leading to delays.
- Property Conditions – Complex or unique properties (mixed-use, large acreage) require more time to assess.
- Seasonal Volume – Spring and summer are extremely busy periods. Appraisal orders build up fast!
- Property Complexity – Custom or non-standard homes, large acreage lots, and mixed-use properties will take longer to research and evaluate.
- Communication Rate – Sellers, agents, and buyers who take a long time to respond create a delay at each step.
Why VA Appraisals Sometimes Get Delayed?
Understanding the things that can delay a VA appraisal can help you avoid them.
- Lack of available appraisers in a busy or rural area
- Access issues: locked house, inaccessible seller, or uncooperative tenants
- MPR violations (in the event a property doesn’t meet VA standards for condition) that can necessitate repair and a re-inspection
- Tidewater Initiative (which is initiated when the price of the house is believed to be too high compared to today’s market)
- Lack of sufficient comparable sales in a market that is either thin or unique
- SAR review time when the appraiser’s report is incomplete or has information missing
- Seasonal slowdown (in the months when most houses are bought and sold)
The appraiser informs your lender if the appraisal is anticipated to take longer. Follow up with your lender on a biweekly to tri-daily basis.
VA Appraisal Taking Too Long? How to Speed It Up
While you can’t select or contact your VA appraiser, you can manage many elements around this. Below is how to help the VA appraisal process timeline move:
- Order the appraisal immediately after the purchase contract is signed; literally, do not delay a day.
- Confirm appraiser assignment within 48 hours to verify that the clock has actually started ticking.
- Facilitate property access: fully operational lock box, all utilities on, attic and crawlspace open and clear.
- Address visible MPRs before inspection: peeling paint, missing handrails, exposed wires, roof damage, or insect presence.
- Prepare comps with your agent in advance in the event of a triggered Tidewater.
- Reply to all lender requests the day they are received. Unnecessary time delays in correspondence are a major hurdle in the appraisal process.
- Consult an experienced VA lender who monitors their appraisals and understands how to go over a VA loan specialist’s head effectively.
Does a VA Appraisal Affect the Loan Closing Timeline?
Yes- dramatically. A VA appraisal is often the biggest driver on the schedule from going under contract to closing day.
A clean, timely appraisal that goes well ensures your closing date does not move. But even a tiny overlooked flaw can cause issues. The top three scenarios impact closing like this:
- “Subject To” Appraisal: The home undergoes the required repairs. Then a re-inspection is needed-this typically adds 5-10 extra business days and requires a $150 re-inspection fee.
- Low Appraisal: You will likely have to re-negotiate the purchase price, pay more cash at closing, or file an ROV.
- Tidewater Triggered: This will delay your closing slightly while an update on comparables is run, generally minor if you are speedy with a response.
Always build in an extra 5-7 business days to your closing timeframe at the very least. Never schedule movers or set up utilities until you have received your Notice of Value.
What Comes After the VA Appraisal?
As soon as the VA issues the Notice of Value, your loan is heading into its final days:
- Underwriting Review – Your lender examines the entire loan file, including the appraisal.
- Conditional Approval – The underwriter may need documentation or proof that the repairs are complete.
- Clear To Close – After the conditions are met, you receive final loan approval.
- Closing Day – You sign on the dotted line and receive your keys!
If repairs were indicated in the appraisal, they must be completed, documented, and reinspected before closing. Arrange for contractors in advance so you aren’t struggling after you receive the appraisal.
How Do You Check the Status of Your VA Appraisal?
There are two ways:
- Call your loan officer: A proactive VA lender follows up with the appraisal daily and should tell you where it is in the pipeline every single day. This is always the fastest way.
- VA WebLGY portal: You can track your appraisal online using the LIN, which your lender can provide.
Use these five stages as a way of monitoring the progress:
- Appraisal ordered
- Appraiser assigned (the real clock starts now)
- Inspection done
- Report uploaded in WebLGY
- Notice of Value issued
Don’t be passive. Contact your lender every 2-3 business days after your order is placed.
How Long Does a VA Appraisal Stay Valid?
A VA appraisal can only be used for 180 days from the date the NOV was issued. If your loan does not close by this time, you must obtain an entirely new appraisal.
The reason this is important is that if your deal does not close, you re-negotiate the contract, or the delay on the closing pushes it beyond 180 days. Note your NOV issue date and mark it on your calendar so you know exactly when the appraisal expires.
What Is the Difference Between a VA Appraisal and a Home Inspection?
It’s easy to confuse the two. Their purposes are completely separate.
- A VA appraisal is required for all VA-backed home loans. There are two purposes of the appraisal: to establish market value and to meet VA requirements. This appraisal is requested by your lender from the VA and paid for by you. Appraisal findings can delay or stop your closing if issues arise.
- A home inspector will review it all, the roof and foundation up to the heating, plumbing, and wiring. It does not determine the home’s value and will not delay your closing.
Simply put, the VA appraisal is there to protect the lender; the home inspection is there to protect you. Do both.
VA Loans Texas – Serving Those Who Served. From Application to Keys, We’ve got You Covered.
As of 2026, a VA appraisal takes between 7 and 21 business days – typically 10 days for a normal market. This varies depending on your state, the condition of your home, and your overall ability to manage the process.
Order sooner rather than later. Address any obvious problems before the inspector arrives. Reply promptly and consider a lender who handles everything for you, not just a company that’ll leave you out in the dark.
This is what Shirley Mueller does. Shirley is a VA loan specialist here in Texas, helping many veterans and service members to get their loans. She’s familiar with the Texas market, understands VA timelines, and has the means to keep your schedule on target from start to finish.
Ready to move with confidence?
Get in touch with Shirley at VA Loans Texas to get all your questions answered about your VA loan eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Long Does A VA Appraisal Take In Texas?
In Texas, the typical time for the VA appraisal is ten (10) business days from assignment to appraiser. Average VA reports in major TX cities are sometimes 7-8 days in slow markets.
2. Who Assigns The VA Appraiser?
The US Dept. of Veterans Affairs selects the appraiser using its WebLGY program. There is no input from the buyer, seller, or lender on this selection, so that no conflict of interest exists.
3. Who Pays For The VA Appraisal?
The buyer pays for this. It is based on fees from the regional VA offices, typically between $400- $900 for an average single-family home in 2026. The re-inspection is $150.
4. How Long Does It Take To Receive The VA Appraisal Report?
On average, it will take 4 to 12 business days from inspection to the Notice of Value. The appraiser will take 3 to 7 business days to complete the appraisal, and the VA review will take another 1 to 5 business days to issue the NOV.
5. What Happens If A Home Fails VA Appraisal Requirements?
All necessary repairs would need to be finished before the loan could close. A second inspection would then be scheduled. If the seller denies repair requests, the buyer may cancel without penalty using the VA escape clause.
6. What Is The VA Tidewater Initiative?
This is triggered when the appraiser believes the house may come in under contract price, and it suspends the appraisal for a short time so the buyer’s agent can provide more comparables to support the price. The more quickly they do it, the only delay is generally a couple of days.
7. What Is A Reconsideration Of Value (ROV)?
A ROV is simply asking the VA to review the low appraisal. You submit sales that you believe the appraiser didn’t know about. The review adds about 5-10 days to your schedule.
8. How Long Does A VA Appraisal Appeal Take?
A full appeal after the ROV process could take 10 to 20 business days or more. The vast majority of value disputes are resolved at ROV without going to a full appeal process.
9. How Often Do VA Appraisals Come In Low?
No fixed rate is set, but most low appraisals occur in rapidly rising markets when values are climbing ahead of recently sold comparables. A smart VA buyer’s agent familiar with active comps can minimize this risk.
10. What Does A VA Appraiser Look For During The Inspection?
An appraiser examines the market value and MPR. It applies to the roof, foundation, utilities, water/mold, lead paint (pre-1978), and safety hazards. They are not testing every outlet or appliance in the home; that is the home inspector’s job.
11. Is It Hard To Pass A VA Appraisal?
Not the case for a well-maintained home, though! The MPR bar is for safety, sanitation, and structural stability; not for looks! A very old or run-down home with some serious neglect is where you will see the most problems arise.
12. What Are The Typical Costs Associated With A VA Appraisal?
Standard single-family appraisals typically range from $400 to $900, depending on the state. Re-inspections are $150. An “on-construction” or proposed property is subject to a small fee increase. Remote locations can add a mileage surcharge.
13. How Long Does A VA Appraisal Reconsideration Take?
ROV’s typically take approximately 5-10 business days to complete. Complicated files may need a second appraiser and will take 2-3 additional business days.
