Minimum Property Standards

The Department will purchase for resale to veterans only approved single-family residences (including condominiums, units in planned unit developments, and mobile homes) in California. Properties must comply with the following guidelines. If you select a property that fails to meet one or more of these standards you may still be able to obtain a CalVet Home Loan by negotiating with the seller to correct the problem conditions as part of the sales agreement.

1. The property must conform to all applicable local zoning and building code standards.
2. The unit shall contain at a minimum one bedroom, one bathroom, and a kitchen/living room combination to accommodate suitable living space.
3. There must be independent utilities provided for each living unit, including service shut-offs. These utilities must consist of:
   1. Continuous supply of safe potable water
   2. Sanitary facilities and a safe method of sewage disposal
   3. Full electrical service provided by a public utility to the site. (Actual connection to the electrical service is not required if the dwelling is designed for the use of alternative energy sources.)
4. There must be a domestic hot water system.
5. When an individual water supply and sewage disposal systems is used the following is required:
   1. Water quality and quantity must meet the requirements of the local health authority. If testing is required and the local authority is unable to perform the water quality analysis in a timely manner, a private commercial testing laboratory or a licensed sanitary engineer acceptable to that authority may take and test water samples.
   2. Each living unit must be provided with a sewage disposal system adequate to dispose of all domestic wastes in a manner which will not create a nuisance and which meets the requirements of the local health authority.
   3. Connection to a public or community water and sewage disposal systems could be required when feasible and at a reasonable cost as determined by CalVet.
   4. In those instances where the property shares a well with another property and connection to a public or private community water supply system is not feasible, a recorded well-sharing agreement must be provided which allows for maintenance and repair of the system, includes permanent easements for the facilities, sharing of supply and costs, and is binding upon all parties.
6. The entire living area of the dwelling must be heated by an acceptable mechanical heating system that is either powered by gas, electricity or solar energy. Homes using alternative energy sources (such as wood stoves) for heating must be constructed with necessary plumbing, wiring, and/or ductwork to allow for conversion back to one of the three sources without structural modifications.
7. Each living unit must be able to be used and maintained individually without trespass upon adjoining properties. Any easements required must run with the land.
8. All structural spaces such as attics and crawl spaces must be provided with adequate natural ventilation and be provided with sufficient access. Roof coverings must be adequate to prevent entrance of moisture and provide reasonable future utility, durability and economy of maintenance.
9. The site must be graded to provide positive, rapid drainage away from the perimeter walls of the dwelling and prevent ponding of water on the site. The property must be free of hazards which may adversely affect the health and safety of the occupants, the structural soundness of the improvements or which may impair the customary use and enjoyment of the property.
10. Safe and adequate access to the property must be provided from a public or private street. All streets must provide all-weather access.
11. Private streets must be protected by permanent easements (insured access) and maintained by a homeowners association or joint road maintenance agreement.
12. Access to the living unit must be provided without passing through any other living unit.
13. The dwelling unit cannot be located within the easement of a high voltage electrical or high-pressure gas or liquid petroleum transmission line.
14. Defective construction, poor workmanship, evidence of continuing settlement, excessive dampness, leakage, decay, termites, or other conditions impairing the safety, sanitation or structural soundness of the dwelling shall render the property unacceptable until the defects or conditions have been remedied and the probability of further damage eliminated.
15. CalVet reserves the right to modify these standards at any time, please contact us if you have any concerns over the property you wish to purchase not addressed above.

CalVet Home Loans and the Department of Veterans Affairs of the State of California do not warrant the condition, desirability, suitability, or actual value of the property you are purchasing; such determinations being entirely the responsibility of you the "Purchaser." You are encouraged to inspect the property thoroughly, review the Seller's/Agent's disclosure statements, and obtain any inspection reports that you deem necessary.

The appraisal performed for the purpose of confirming the market value of the property is not a substitute for the purchaser's thorough inspection or an inspection by a commercial home inspection service.