If you searched for this, you may have seen a dollar figure for San Diego County. That is the VA's program fee for appraisals done for VA-guaranteed loans: $750 for a single-family home or individual condominium, with a timeliness standard of 6 business days, effective May 1, 2026. It comes from the VA's published table (PDF).
It is a VA-loan fee. It is not what a divorce appraisal costs, and nobody should hand it to you as one.
What a divorce appraisal fee depends on
A divorce appraisal is quoted for the specific house. The fee follows the work:
- The home and the lot: size, age, condition, outbuildings, and whether it sits on a standard Escondido street or on acreage.
- The valuation date. Some divorces need today's value, some need a value as of a date the two sides agreed on. A date in the past takes more research.
- Who the report is for. When two sides and their attorneys will read it, the report is written to hold up to that.
- How fast you need it, which can depend on a hearing or a settlement conference.
Keeping it out of the argument
Two things cut down on friction. First, agree before the appraiser is engaged on the valuation date and on who is hiring. Second, decide whether one neutral appraiser will serve both sides. An appraiser gives an opinion of value. The appraisal does not decide who keeps the house or what a buyout looks like.
Escondido details that matter
Family law matters for Escondido residents are typically heard in the North County courthouse in Vista, and your attorney will know what that court expects. If your home has an addition or a converted space, bring the plans or permits you have, because they affect what the appraiser can count.
Getting a number for your house
Call and tell us the address, the valuation date your attorney has in mind, and who will receive the report. We quote private fees by phone.