The Florida Appraisal — What It Costs, How Long It Takes, and What Happens If It Comes In Low

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Florida Appraisal Costs, Timelines & Requirements — Direct Answer

Florida appraisals are ordered by your lender once you’re under contract or applying to refinance, and a state-licensed appraiser inspects the property, pulls recent comparable sales, and delivers a report estimating the home’s market value. Cost usually lands between $350 and $650 for a standard single-family home, though government-backed loans, larger properties, condos, and rural parcels can push that higher. Most Florida appraisals take seven to ten business days from the moment your lender places the order to the moment the finished report lands in your file, though busy markets like Miami-Dade, Broward, and Orlando can run a little longer during peak season. The appraisal is not the same as a home inspection: an appraiser is confirming value and, for FHA and VA loans, basic safety and habitability, not searching for every maintenance issue the way an inspector does. Call 888.958.5382 or apply free and we’ll walk you through what to expect for your specific loan type.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Loan Program Comparison Table — Cost, Validity & Turnaround

The loan program you choose changes how much your appraisal costs, how long the report stays valid, and how strict the property-condition standards are.

How the Process Works

How the Florida Appraisal Process Works, Start to Finish

Once you sign a purchase contract or your refinance application is complete, your loan officer submits an appraisal order through an appraisal management company, which assigns the job to a licensed Florida appraiser working in that area. Because assignment is arm’s-length by design, neither you nor your lender picks the specific appraiser, and that separation protects the integrity of the value opinion. The appraiser then reaches out directly, or through the listing agent on a purchase, to schedule a walkthrough.

Ordering the Appraisal and Scheduling the Inspection

Scheduling generally happens within two to five business days of the order going out, faster in most metro areas and a bit slower in rural counties where fewer appraisers cover more territory. At the walkthrough, the appraiser measures the home, photographs the interior and exterior, notes the condition of major systems, and records details like bedroom and bathroom count, lot size, and any additions or renovations. None of this takes more than an hour or two for a typical single-family home, though larger or unusual properties take longer.

Appraisal Validity Periods by Loan Type

After the inspection, the appraiser researches comparable sales from the past several months, adjusts for differences between your home and those comps, and arrives at a final opinion of value. Conventional appraisals stay valid for 120 days from the effective date, so most conventional buyers close well within that window. FHA and VA appraisals run longer, at 180 days, which gives builders and borrowers working through repair conditions more breathing room. USDA appraisals sit at 150 days, combining a 120-day base period with a 30-day extension. If your closing slips past the validity window, your lender can often request an update rather than a brand-new appraisal, which usually costs less and moves faster.

What It Costs

What Does a Florida Appraisal Cost in 2026?

Statewide, a standard single-family appraisal in Florida runs about $350 to $650, with the low end covering smaller, straightforward homes in areas with plenty of recent comparable sales and the high end reflecting larger homes, waterfront or unique properties, and condos with more complex ownership documentation to review. Government-backed loans tend to cost more because of the additional time an appraiser spends confirming the property meets minimum standards; expect $400 to $700 on most FHA and VA files. Multi-unit properties, rural land, and homes over roughly 3,500 square feet also run higher because they simply take longer to measure, photograph, and research.

In Florida, the buyer typically pays the appraisal fee as part of closing costs, though it’s common for lenders to collect it upfront at application to make sure the appraiser gets paid even if the loan doesn’t close. On a refinance, the homeowner covers the cost the same way. Sellers occasionally order and pay for a pre-listing appraisal on their own to price a home with more confidence, though buyers’ lenders will still order their own independent appraisal regardless.