On being on the VA panel as a fee appraiser.

[Tru Red]

It's not what is used to be.

For the longest time I thought being an appraiser for the VA was the best thing since sliced bread. I no longer feel that way....at all.

There are some reasons I can put on here and some I cannot. An instance recently from a new reviewer at the VA prompted this thinking. He/she is NOT an appraiser, never was. But I will not comment on that.

Watching my peers getting paid $850 to $1,500 or more while I'm getting $600 is one reason. Try to get a bump up you say? 0% luck with that in 3 years.

Being able to pick and choose which jobs you take is not a possibilty doing VA appraisals. You do what they assign you. You might get a "mulligan" once in a great while but you'd better be the spouse or brother of the borrower to get out of anything.

You have to take on the ENTIRE county or counties. Nevermind it could be a 2 hour drive each way to the other end of a county. NO......you don't get extra for mileage.

More than half the lenders are taking 60+ days to pay. And the VA (if they feel like it) after 60 days "MIGHT" send them a letter to assist in getting paid. It's better than no help but not by much.

There are some good things, sure. But getting $600 for a $1,500 job is getting real old, real fast.

There will be an opening for a VA panel appraiser soon. You can have it. I have more than enough not to have to bother with the VA anymore.

 

[Alsie35]

OK, I understand the part about covering the whole county and not being able to decline a job.

Caveat: I have no idea what kind of area you are appraising in where your *peers* are getting $1500 a pop - *BUT*.

That doesn't describe the market areas most of us are in. Maybe you are in a complex-million-dollar-homes market area? That would be a pain indeed. Most of us are not. $600 a pop is about $100-$200 better than most other clients are paying in most of our market areas, I would venture to guess.

Maybe your market area is the problem. Moving (though not easy as I know from current and past experience) CAN be done. There are lower cost of living areas with bedroom community work where that $600 would look mighty fine. Just sayin'.

 

[Tru Red]

That doesn't describe the market areas most of us are in. Maybe you are in a complex-million-dollar-homes market area? That would be a pain indeed. Most of us are not. $600 a pop is about $100-$200 better than most other clients are paying in most of our market areas, I would venture to guess.

Exactly. The average price here is well over $1,000,000 with many I do in the $2M to $4M range.

Even a manufactured home in a "Share Owned" park is in the $500,000 to $900,000 range.

 

[Alsie35]

Exactly. The average price here is well over $1,000,000 with many I do in the $2M to $4M range.

Even a manufactured home in a "Share Owned" park is in the $500,000 to $900,000 range.

Yeah I can see how the VA's "one-fee-fits-all" policy might be wanting in that type of situation.

 

[glenn walker]

I cannot comment other than in High Cost States -its not a winner : )

 

[CCAAMO]

VA in this region approves you for one or two counties etc and then YOU THE VA APPRAISER lets them know what zip codes in the that county you will accept assignments for. I have been on the panel since the md 1980's and it has always been that way so i have no idea what you are talking about. as for the $600 fee, who is it you think is paying over $600 for a standard home? Not in Southern California.

 

[Tru Red]

VA in this region approves you for one or two counties etc and then YOU THE VA APPRAISER lets them know what zip codes in the that county you will accept assignments for. I have been on the panel since the md 1980's and it has always been that way so i have no idea what you are talking about. as for the $600 fee, who is it you think is paying over $600 for a standard home? Not in Southern California.

Both your comments about choosing zip codes and who is paying over $600 for a standard home lead me to wonder much.

We cannot choose zip codes in Northern CA. Never have been able to. You get the entire county. No choice.

Who is paying more than $600 for a standard home? Every AMC and direct lender up here. Been getting $750 to $1,000 for every AMC job.

SMH.

 

[glenn walker]

VA in this region approves you for one or two counties etc and then YOU THE VA APPRAISER lets them know what zip codes in the that county you will accept assignments for. I have been on the panel since the md 1980's and it has always been that way so i have no idea what you are talking about. as for the $600 fee, who is it you think is paying over $600 for a standard home? Not in Southern California.

Not bad mouthing it but its a business decision-if you can do $700,000 to $900,000 homes on VA God Bless you-If you are in a lower cost area-then fine

 

[CCAAMO]

That may be the case in terms of fees in Northern California. As far as assignments go, Phoenix has always based them on zip code ( i added some zip codes 3 years ago). I would advise you to take the matter up with them

 

[CCAAMO]

Not bad mouthing it but its a business decision-if you can do $700,000 to $900,000 homes on VA God Bless you-If you are in a lower cost area-then fine

It always is in this business.