Department of Veterans Affairs Chris Searing Assistant Valuation Officer Construction & Valuation
History of VA In 1789, with the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, the first Congress assumed the responsibility of paying veterans benefits By 1808 all veterans programs were administered by the Bureau of Pensions under the Secretary of War
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, the nation had about 80,000 war veterans. By the end of the war in 1865, another 1.9 million veterans had been added Immediately after the Civil War, the number of disabled veterans in need was so great that Congress in 1865 authorized the National Asylum for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The name was changed to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in 1873
In his second inaugural address in 1865, President Lincoln called upon Congress to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan This was later adopted as the VA's motto
Veterans Administration Created In 1929, President Hoover proposed consolidating agencies administering veterans benefits. The following year Congress created the Veterans Administration by uniting three bureaus - the previously independent Veterans' Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions and the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. President Hoover signed the executive order establishing the VA on July 21, 1930
GI Bill During World War II, public sentiment grew to help veterans return to civilian life Congress responded with the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, the GI Bill of Rights. The bill, which dramatically transformed the concept of veterans benefits, was signed into law by President Roosevelt on June 22, 1944.
Three Key Provisions of the GI Bill The first benefit provided up to four years of education The second benefit provided veterans with federally guaranteed home, farm and business loans with no down payment. The third feature was unemployment compensation
Change to Cabinet Level Status President Reagan signed legislation in 1988 to elevate VA to Cabinet status and, on March 15, 1989, the Veterans Administration became the Department of Veterans Affairs
Three Main Elements National Cemetery Administration Veterans Health Administration - VHA Veterans Benefits Administration - VBA
National Cemetery Administration In 1973 most Army administered cemeteries were transferred to VA Supervise more than 125 cemeteries throughout the nation
Veterans Health Administration The most visible of all programs VA Medical Centers Provides broad spectrum of medical, surgical and rehabilitative care Ambulatory Care Community Based Outpatient clinics Nursing Homes Comprehensive home-care programs
VAs Readjustment Counseling Service Operates Vet Centers Provides psychological counseling for war related trauma Community outreach Social services to veterans and family members
Care for increasing numbers of homeless veterans Provides transitional housing Vans and transportation to outreach programs Alcoholism, drug addition and post-traumatic stress disorder
Voluntary Service coordinates volunteers who spend numerous hours of donated time to bring companionship and care to hospitalized veterans Funding for research had expanded and VA has become a world leader in many areas such as aging, AIDS, women s health, PTSD and other mental issues
Veterans Benefits Administration VBA Veterans Service Center Disability compensation Death compensation Pension Vocational Rehabilitation Training veterans to return to the workforce Educational Assistance Loan Guaranty
Loan Guaranty Division Loan Production VA guaranteed loans Loan Administration Servicing of loans in default Construction and Valuation Appraisal issues
Construction and Valuation Greg Shelton Valuation Officer Chris Searing Assistant Valuation Officer Sandra Goudie Assistant Valuation Officer C&V e-mail: vavbaroa/ro/cv@vba.va.gov
Construction and Valuation Staff 6 Staff Appraisers Tom Willard Mark Wickham Jeff Thomas David Ayers Ricardo Holloway Ethel Skibinski 3 SAH Agents Brent Johnson Kevin Diomedi Mack Neeves 9 Outbased SAH Agents
Areas of Service Virginia West Virginia Maryland District of Columbia Kentucky
Types of Appraisal Requests Origination new VA guaranteed loan Refinance IRRL does not require a VA appraisal Liquidation VA loans in default
VIP Veterans Information Portal http://vip.vba.va.gov Lenders Access the VA Portal to Order Appraisals TAS The Appraisal System
Types of Construction Existing Construction Over one year old, occupied New Construction Less than one year old, never occupied Home completed up to buyer preference items Proposed Construction Based on Plans and Specs
Appraiser Panel Appraisers assigned to cases on a rotational basis Lenders are not able to select a specific appraiser Based on the volume of appraisal requests in an area appraisers are added to the panel on an as needed basis
Appraisal Processing Appraiser receives a copy of the 26-1805 Appraisal Assignment Lender is required to provide a copy of the complete and current contract Appraiser will complete the assignment with 14 calendar days
Processing Continued The appraiser uploads his report to the E- Appraisal system thru the VA Portal Lender and VA have immediate access to review the report The appraisal is reviewed and a Notice of Value is issued
Reconsideration of Value If the appraiser believes the value may be below the contract price, he will not complete the report and contact the POC. The lender POC has 2 business days to provide additional data to the appraiser to support the contract price. The appraiser has 5 days to review the data and complete his report.
More on ROVs If the value still comes in low, any party to the transaction can dispute the value. Send a request for a Reconsideration of Value in writing to VA thru the lender. State the value you think it should be and INCLUDE additional CLOSED comps in GRID format for VA to consider.
Builder IDs VA requires a Builder ID Number for all new and proposed construction The NOV cannot be issued without this Complete the Builder ID Request forms and Fax to VA at 540-597-1798 List of the principals in the company Equal Employment Opportunity Affirmative Action Include your company letterhead address and phone number
Condos VA requires all condos to have a VA ID number - the Notice of Value cannot be issue without this Previously, if VA received a request for a VA Condo ID number and HUD had already reviewed and approved the condo, VA would automatically approve the condo and issue an ID number
Condos - New Policy Circular 26-09-19 dated November 30, 2009 Effective December 7, 2009 VA will no longer accept HUD/FHA condominium reviews in lieu of VA reviews. Condos previously accepted by VA, based on HUDs acceptance will continue to be acceptable to VA. The lender will need to submit the list of required condo documents found in the VA Lenders Handbook review can take up to four weeks to complete
Veterans who have a service-connected disability due to military service entitling them to compensation for 100% permanent and total disability due to: Loss or loss of use of both lower extremities Blindness in both eyes, plus loss of use of one lower extremity Loss of use of one lower extremity with loss of use of one upper extremity Loss, or loss of use of both upper extremities
Grant of up to $63,780 to: 1. Construct an adapted home on land to be acquired 2. Build an adapted home on land already owned 3. Make modifications for wheelchair accessibility to existing home 4. If all modification are present, apply the grant funds to the principal balance of their current mortgage 5. $14,000 can also be used to modify the home of a family member where the veteran is residing TRA Grant
At least two level ways to enter and exit the home one must be adjacent to the veterans bedroom Ramps must be permanent and cannot have a slope greater than 8% In new construction, doorways must be 36 inches wide, in an existing home doorways must be at least 32 inches. In new construction, hallways must be a minimum of 48 inches, hallways in existing construction must be at least 42 inches wide
The veteran s bathroom must be convenient to the veteran s bedroom Must provide a 5 foot turn around 4 X 4 roll in shower with no curb Roll under sink Grab bars installed in shower and at commode Non-slip flooring Door must open out or be a pocket door
Veteran has the ability to use the grant up to three times up to the current maximum There is no time limit to using the grant Veteran is also eligible for VMLI Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance
Grant of up to $12, 756 For veterans who have a 100 % service connected- disability due to: Blindness in both eyes The anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands Permanent and total disability due to severe burn injury
1. Adapt a house which he plans to purchase 2. Adapt a house which a family members plans to purchase 3. Adapt a house which the veteran already owns. 4. Adapt a house which is already owned by a family member 5. Purchase a house already adapted
Special lighting Sliding doors Handrails Smoke detectors Security system Intercom system Room addition for sensory aids and exercise equipment Covered porch Fencing
Lever type fixtures in kitchens and bathrooms Rubber door knob covers Lowering of cabinets Toggle light switches Keyless entry Automatic garage door openers Circuit breakers