One of the most misunderstood parts of the VA loan: the VA does not require a home inspection. It requires an appraisal that checks Minimum Property Requirements — and that is not the same thing. Here is what is actually required and what is optional but smart.
What the VA requires: the appraisal
Every VA loan requires a VA appraisal, performed by a VA-assigned appraiser. The appraisal does two jobs: establishes the home's value and checks it against the VA's Minimum Property Requirements — the health, safety, and structural standards a home must meet to secure a VA loan.
MPRs cover the basics: safe mechanical systems, sound roof, adequate heating, clean water, proper drainage, no lead-based paint hazards, no active termite infestation, and safe access. The home must be residential, safe, and sanitary — not perfect.
What the VA does not require: a home inspection
A home inspection is optional on a VA loan. The appraiser is not an inspector: they spend limited time in the home, do not test every outlet or appliance, and do not climb into every attic or crawlspace. They flag visible deficiencies, not hidden ones.
An inspection is a deep dive you hire for your own protection: three to four hours, every system tested, a written report with photos. Skipping it to save $400 is one of the most expensive mistakes a buyer can make.
State and local required inspections
Some inspections are required by state or local rules rather than the VA itself. Termite inspections are required in many states with heavy infestation risk, and the VA requires a wood-destroying insect inspection in those areas. Well water testing and septic inspections are required where those systems serve the property.
Your lender and agent will know which apply in your area. Budget for them early — required inspections that surface late are a common source of closing delays.
What happens when the appraisal flags problems
If the appraiser notes an MPR deficiency — a broken handrail, peeling paint on a pre-1978 home, a roof near end of life — the repair must be completed and re-inspected before the loan can close. The seller usually pays, but that is negotiable.
This is where VA deals get their reputation for pickiness. In practice, most flagged items are minor and fixed quickly. The deals that die are usually the ones where the seller refuses any repair on a home with real problems.
The bottom line
Required: the VA appraisal with MPR checks, plus state-mandated items like termite, well, and septic where applicable. Optional but strongly recommended: a full home inspection, because the appraisal protects the lender's collateral — the inspection protects you. Get both, and know which is which.
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Jonathan Mullins
Mortgage Loan Officer · Army Veteran
Jonathan Mullins is an Army Veteran and Mortgage Loan Officer at Military Mortgage, specializing in VA home loans for Veterans, active-duty service members, and military families. He writes this learning center to make VA loan rules, entitlement, and the home-buying process easier to understand.
Learn more about Jonathan →Keep reading
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