For a standard VA appraisal of a typical single‑family home in Anaheim (Orange County), the published VA Phoenix Regional Loan Center fee schedule shows a base fee of about the low‑to‑mid $700s as of December 1, 2021, with higher fees for more complex property types such as manufactured homes or 2–4 unit properties. This schedule is still widely used as the reference for VA appraisal billing in 2025–2026, although individual appraisers and lenders may add minor surcharges for complexity, rush orders, or travel.
Understanding the VA Phoenix Fee Schedule
The linked VA fee schedule is the official document that sets maximum allowable VA appraisal fees for properties in the Phoenix Regional Loan Center jurisdiction, which includes all of California. The schedule lists fees by state and property type (single family, condominium, manufactured home, and 2–4 unit multi‑family), along with expected turn times in business days.
Because Anaheim is in Orange County, the relevant baseline for your blog post is the general California row, which appears as the first California entry (the “plain” California line before any county‑specific variations like Kern, Napa, San Francisco, etc.). This is the row you indicated as “First 4th row California,” and it applies broadly to much of the state, including large Southern California markets that aren’t carved out as special or high‑demand counties.
California baseline fees (first CA row)
From that baseline California row, the VA schedule shows the following typical maximum fees for a standard VA appraisal request:
- Single‑family detached home: around the low‑$700s
- Individual condominium unit: around the low‑$700s
- Manufactured home: around the mid‑$700s
- 2–4 unit residential income property: around the high‑$800s to about $900
- Standard turn time: about 7 business days once the appraiser receives the order
These figures are not quoted prices from an individual appraiser but the VA’s published caps and expectations for work completed under VA loan appraisal assignments in California. In practical terms for a homeowner in Anaheim using a VA loan, this means planning for an appraisal line item in roughly the $700–$900 range depending on property type and complexity.
How this translates for Anaheim (and why Riverside is similar)
Even though your blog will focus on Anaheim, it is useful context that Riverside County, CA, also falls under the same Phoenix Regional Loan Center schedule, and when not specifically carved out as a special or “high demand” county, it aligns with the baseline California fee tier discussed above. For a typical VA‑financed single‑family property in Anaheim or Riverside, most borrowers will see an appraisal fee close to that baseline single‑family amount, while multi‑unit or manufactured properties trend toward the upper end of the published range.
Local factors can still push the actual fee toward the top of the VA‑allowed range, including unusually large properties, unique or luxury homes, rural locations, or a need for a faster‑than‑standard turnaround. However, the VA schedule helps ensure that even in a strong 2025–2026 market, VA borrowers in Anaheim and Riverside are protected from extreme appraisal charges and can budget with a relatively narrow band of expected costs.
Tips for explaining costs to your readers
For a consumer‑focused blog post, it helps to turn these technical numbers into simple, actionable guidance:
- Tell readers to expect a VA appraisal on a standard Anaheim single‑family home to run in roughly the low‑$700s, with condos similar and multi‑unit or manufactured homes closer to the high‑$800s range.
- Emphasize that this is not a “shopping” fee like a home inspection; the VA assigns the appraiser and caps what can be charged within the schedule.
- Note that while the schedule is dated December 1, 2021, it remains the core reference for VA appraisal billing into 2025–2026, and any future updates will be published the same way on the VA Home Loans website.
Framing the cost this way lets Anaheim and Riverside homeowners understand that VA appraisal fees are standardized, predictable, and designed to stay reasonable even when the broader real estate market is volatile.
