The one price you can look up is the VA's. For appraisals done for a VA-guaranteed loan, the Department of Veterans Affairs publishes a fee table. Its row for San Diego County, effective May 1, 2026, reads:
| Property type | VA fee, San Diego County |
|---|---|
| Single family | $750 |
| Individual condominium | $750 |
| Manufactured home | $800 |
| 2-4 unit multi-family | $950 |
The same row lists a timeliness standard of 6 business days.
That is a program fee for VA-loan appraisals. It is not a price list for estates, divorces, tax filings or any other private assignment, and we do not turn it into one. The full table is on the VA's published fee and timeliness schedule (PDF).
What moves the fee on a private appraisal
Most people reading this are not buying with a VA loan. They need a value for a probate, a trust, a divorce, a buyout between family members or an estate tax filing. Those are quoted by the job, and these are the things that decide the number:
- Size and layout of the home, and how much of the lot comes with it.
- Hillside, view or larger parcels, which are common toward Rancho San Pasqual and the hills around Escondido. Fewer similar sales means more research.
- Guest houses, converted garages, workshops or other buildings that need to be measured and described.
- Age and condition. An older home near downtown with decades of changes takes more careful description than a 1990s stucco tract home.
- The valuation date. A value as of today is one assignment. A value as of a date in the past, such as the date of passing, means looking back at sales from that time.
- The purpose and who will rely on the report, because a court, an attorney or the IRS may expect a particular level of detail.
- Your deadline, and how easy it is to get inside the home.
Why we do not print a private price here
A number on a web page would be a guess about a house we have not seen. We quote private fees by phone, after a few questions, so the figure fits the property and the purpose. Call and you will hear the fee before anything starts.
What to have ready when you call
- The property address and, if you have it, the Assessor's Parcel Number from the San Diego County Assessor.
- What the appraisal is for, and the name of the attorney, trustee or executor involved.
- The valuation date you need. If you are not sure, your attorney or tax adviser can tell you.
- Any records of additions, permits or a second unit.
- Who can open the home, and when.
- Your deadline.
If the property is in the Old Escondido Historic District, mention it. The City publishes research material on older homes, and any renovation records help.