Duckworth, Sheehy, Banks Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Rural Veterans Become Homeowners

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and Jim Banks (R-IN)—all members of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC)—introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier for rural Veterans to buy homes by modernizing the VA home appraisal program. The Senators’ bipartisan VA Appraisal Modernization Act would improve Veterans’ and servicemembers’ ability to successfully compete on the housing market by cutting red tape that often leaves them at a disadvantage. Specifically, the bill would increase the supply of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home appraisers to streamline and cut down the closing process—enticing sellers and agents to accept VA home loan offers and incentivizing home appraisers in rural areas to join the VA network by enabling them to earn more through participation in the program.

“The VA home loan appraisal process ensures our heroes don’t get stuck with a flawed home or an overpriced sale—but too often, that process can be slow and undermines their ability to compete in the housing market, particularly in rural counties,” said Duckworth. “By increasing the number of VA appraisers, we can ensure this system continues to protect our heroes from bad deals while also expediting their ability to compete for the homes they want. I’m proud to introduce our commonsense, bipartisan legislation that would help us do just that.”

“When our warfighters return home, it’s critical they have the support and resources necessary to live the same American Dream they fought to defend,” said Sheehy. “I’m proud to support this commonsense bill that cuts red tape and ensures our veterans and their families, especially those in rural areas, can achieve homeownership.”

“Our veterans shouldn’t be held back in the housing market by red tape,” said Banks. “This bill cuts delays and makes it easier for those who served to become homeowners.”

Servicemembers and Veterans use the VA home loan program to access homeownership during and after their service. This program provides a guaranty to lenders that requires a home appraisal through a VA-approved appraiser to ensure that the property is of fair value and meets minimum property requirements. However, this appraisal requirement can add time and red tape to the closing process. Due to a shortage of VA appraisers and a lack of knowledge about this program, sellers and their agents oftentimes avoid VA home loan offers, which disproportionately impacts rural Veterans.

The Senators’ VA Appraisal Modernization Act would address this problem by:

• Amending current law to adjust all VA home appraisal fees to keep pace with inflation in the industry;
• Requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase appraisal fees in areas that have an insufficient supply of appraisers, encouraging more of these professionals to join the VA network;
• Subjecting all appraisals made in high-demand counties and remote areas to mileage reimbursements to reduce appraisers’ personal costs in these in-demand regions, and;
• Directing the Secretary of Veterans affairs to study the feasibility and advisability of procuring contracts for home appraisers in areas where supply cannot meet demand and the feasibility of restructuring VA appraisals to more closely mirror the Federal Housing Administration’s process.

The legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Realtors, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and The American Legion.

The full text of the legislation is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

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