Newbie FHA Appraiser

[SierraMV]

What resources have you found most helpful when starting out. The 1800 pages of the 4000.1 is daunting. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Elliott]

1. Garage doors can't crush kids, so they need to be to code with sensors. 2. Head & Shoulder Inspection of attic and crawl (take photos). 3. Handrails. 4. Adequate heat. 5. Window egress from bedrooms. 6. Bars on windows (I've never had that one).

FHA is good work. I miss calculating the fall zone from high voltage lines. : )

 

[sputnam]

FHA is good work. I miss calculating the fall zone from high voltage lines. : )

You can still calculate the fall zone... just for your own amusement.

 

[Zoe]

If you run into a problem you are not sure of, call FHA. Keep the notes in your workfile.

FHA is as much your client as the lender.

 

[Tom D]

peeling, or really worn paint, they are insane about it, the 1st layer may have lead. and hazards like no handrails on stairs. the working r.e. magazine sells a FHA check list.
essentially, they actually want a narrative report. you should read the appraisal section, what we want on it, section. yikes, most haven't.
flat roof, state you couldn't see it to determine the condition, but no leaks noted.

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

4000.1, learn it, live it, worship it. HUD clips too. It is not that daunting. No more than instruction for assembling any kid toys.

 

[Tom D]

the best one is covered porch, uncovered patio, uncovered deck on drawing, wording exact. all dimensions on the lot, or a plat plan. real comp photos, no MLS, or you die. any repairs that look to obvious to ignore. measure everything on drawing that is in report. if you have repairs, or safety issues, describe them clearly with location, plus photos, so you can remember where they were when you go back. and it makes it easier for the owner to do it right as your request. if a refi, go over with owner right there and then.
by the way, FHA recommends this in your report, good for them.
FHA Appraiser Roster Definition:
"Appraiser refers to an FHA Roster Appraiser who observes, analyzes, and reports the physical and economic characteristics of a Property and provides an opinion of value to FHA. An Appraiser’s observation is limited to readily observable conditions and is not as comprehensive an inspection as one performed by a licensed home inspector."

 

[Tom4value]

If you do a good, thorough inspection for conventional, you are about 75% there already. A few things about inspection.
- Exterior photos require sides (front that includes one side, another front that includes the other side, same for rear) and both sides of Street, minimum, six photos. Also, photo of all outbuildings, ,pools and any positive or detrimental things.
- All interior rooms, basement (both finished and unfinished areas), attic. Include photos of needed repairs or new items. For multi-families, need photos of all stairwells.
- For dwellings built before 1978, photograph and condition for peeling paint; this includes interior, exterior and outbuildings/garages. Post 1978, same as conventional, only if extensive and affects functional utility.
- If private well and/or septic, find out if connection to public is feasible. The general rule if cost is less than 3% of loan amount, it is feasible. If not feasible, stale why (I.e., “public water/sewer not available on street). If both water and sewer are private, determine distance of the well from solids tank and leach field and distance of each from property lines and street. 4000.1 states the minimum distances. Though no longer required, I include photos and plot plan (if available) of both.
- Roof requires a visual inspection from ground to determine if it has at least 2 years of effective life left (your judgement).
- All appliances need to turn on and run all fixtures. Take it from me, tell the broker or owner that you will be flushing the toilets!
- If any crawl spaces, there must be minimum clearance of 18 inches. Measure and include photo if possible.

This is not an all inclusive list but the major things I encounter during inspection. Of course, as with conventional, note, photograph and condition for all issues that adversely affect safety and functional utility. Hope this helps for the inspection aspect.

 

[Overimprovement]

Comp pix should show one side of house as well as front. I think that is still a thing. I do it by default anymore.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

. Garage doors can't crush kids,

Can...one of my hunting buddies came home to find his wife dead, hung between the garage door and her car hood. Grim. As admin of my cousin's estate, his estranged wife got it all and he had a brand-new car. I helped her get tags for it, but she put it back in his garage (they lived separately) and left it for weeks before finally going and getting it and pulled it out and the old garage door had to be closed from inside - no remotes. She closed then promptly put it in Drive and smacked the door. Called me all panicked and I said I will handle it. So, looking it over I realize it had no safety switch. So I replaced the door, the drive unit and had safety switches installed as well as remotes. Liability issue.

As for the 4000.1, it is really not that bad...but there are a number of folks who offer a CE course on FHA appraising- take one. You get your CE credit and will refresh your skills for FHA assignments.