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Topic 4. SAR Training and Initial Case Reviews
June 28, 2010, Change 14
This section has been updated to add subsection lettering and to make minor grammatical edits.
a. Training and Case Review Requirements
The Staff Appraisal Reviewer (SAR) may not begin performing appraisal reviews independently after VA’s notification of approval until he or she fulfills VA training requirements and VA initial case review requirements. Generally, VA staff will train the SAR and then conduct the initial case reviews.
b. Exceptions to Training and Case Review Requirements
The following are the three exceptions to the SAR training and initial case review requirements:
SAR Training During or After Case Reviews
The lender may request that the training be conducted during or after the case review requirement.
SAR With Prior LAPP Experience
The lender may request a waiver of the training and case review requirements for a SAR who previously satisfied those requirements while employed by another LAPP lender, and has satisfactorily processed LAPP cases within the last year.
Experienced SAR to Train and Supervise New SAR
The lender may request that one of its experienced SARs train and review the initial cases of a new SAR. The experienced SAR must:
have full LAPP authority and be performing acceptably,
provide adequate training to the new SAR, and
review and ensure the acceptability of the new SAR’s initial LAPP cases.
c. Training and Case Reviews Completed by Experienced SAR
Once the training and case reviews are acceptably completed, the lender’s senior officer must send the VA office a signed and dated notice which includes
the name and SAR ID number of both the trainee and trainer, and
a letter stating that
- the training covered all VA LAPP requirements, and
- the trainer reviewed at least five cases successfully completed by the trainee.
Note: The letter must include the VA case numbers for at least five cases.
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d. Training by VA Staff
If the training and case review requirements are not waived by VA or completed by an experienced SAR upon receipt of VA’s notification that the SAR meets the basic LAPP qualification requirements, the lender must call that VA office to arrange for SAR training. VA will normally provide the training at the VA office (but may provide it in meetings or seminars at other locations in conjunction with scheduled VA field travel) and within 30 days.
At a minimum, the training by VA staff should consist of a 1 day session to discuss LAPP processing procedures and guidelines and any local VA office requirements and conditions.
Note: Due to the need for consistency between VA offices nationwide, each office is expected to limit local requirements and conditions to only those that are essential.
e. Procedure for Case Reviews
Each SAR’s first five cases must be processed as described in the table below
Stage Description
1 SAR fully reviews the fee appraiser’s report.
2 SAR determines the reasonable value of the property.
3 SAR drafts a notice of value (NOV) to the veteran purchaser.
Note: SAR should not send it to the veteran purchaser.
4 VA staff or an experienced SAR with VA permission reviews the following items:
the NOV,
the appraisal request,
the appraisal report, and
any related documents.
5 If the SAR’s work on the case is acceptable
VA staff will issue a NOV to the lender within 5 work days of receipt of the package, or
The experienced SAR reviewer will also update and sign the SAR certification and mail the NOV to the veteran purchaser.
Reference: Chapter 13, Section 3.
f. Case Reviews by VA Staff
Refer to the following table when the initial case reviews are made by VA staff.
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If the SAR’s appraisal review is... ...then
deficient in any respect VA will send a letter to the lender detailing the specific problems within 5 days of receipt of the package.
found to have substantive deficiencies such as failure to
VA’
s letter to the lender
will state that the SAR must continue to submit LAPP cases for VA review and issuance of a VA NOV prior to closing, and
identify significant appraisal errors, or
correctly note minimum property requirements or other conditions or requirements on the NOV
may direct the SAR to visit the VA office for counseling or further training.
fully acceptable VA will not provide feedback on the individual case.
fully acceptable and the last item necessary to satisfy all initial case review (and training) requirements
VA will notify the lender by letter that the SAR has satisfied all requirements and may process cases independently and issue the NOV.