Chief Appraiser Says
Reading the actual guideline text below — never a general AI guess
Here's what the guidelines say: FHA does not require a cracked window to be repaired. A cracked window is specifically listed as a cosmetic or minor repair that results from normal wear and tear, so the appraiser will note it in the report and factor it into the property's overall condition and value, but it won't trigger a repair requirement. However, the lender (not the appraiser) makes the final call on whether any repairs are actually mandatory, and they may decide differently based on the property's marketability or other factors. Fannie Mae has the same approach—cracked window glass is treated as a minor condition that gets reported and commented on for its effect on value, but it's not automatically required to be fixed.
Straight from HUD/FHA Single Family Handbook 4000.1 and Fannie Mae Selling Guide — nothing added.
Straight from HUD/FHA Single Family Handbook 4000.1 and Fannie Mae Selling Guide — nothing added.
Read the actual documents:
→ Handbook 4000.1 - Defective Paint Section (official agency copy)
→ Selling Guide Supplement: UAD 3.6 Policy (official agency copy)
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See the full HUD/FHA Single Family Housing Policy Handbook 4000.1 (full handbook) →
© Copyright Notice: © 2026 Fannie Mae. Excerpts shown for research and reference only. Full document available at selling-guide.fanniemae.com. Reproduction restricted to Fannie Mae-approved lenders.
© Copyright Notice: © Fannie Mae. UAD 3.6 / URAR reference materials shown for research and reference only. Full documents available at fanniemae.com/uad. Reproduction restricted per Fannie Mae copyright policy.
Relevant News
Recent public coverage related to this topic — cited, not reproduced
VA Minimum Property Requirements Change 46 effective May 1, 2026: Defective paint on post-1978 homes no longer a repair condition
Effective May 1, 2026, the VA removed the requirement for appraisers to call for repairs of defective paint on homes built after 1978, treating interior and non-weather-exposed exterior paint as cosmetic issues.
Read full story at Nelson Home Group →
UAD 3.6 adoption and FHA guidance on garage conversions
FHA HB 4000.1 (pages 499–500) provides current guidance on treatment of garage conversions in appraisals, with criteria for counting converted space as GLA that do not explicitly require permits—relevant to understanding when to include or exclude unpermitted conversions.
Read full story at FHA →
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occupants or the security and soundness of the Property. Cosmetic or minor repairs are not required, but the Appraiser must report and consider them in the overall condition when…
HUD/FHA Single Family Handbook 4000.1 · Handbook_4000.1_-_Defective_Paint_Section.pdf · Page 583
· View at official source (HUD.gov — SFH Handbook 4000.1) →
· Last verified: 2026-10-11
occupants or the security and soundness of the Property. Cosmetic or minor repairs are not required, but the Appraiser must report and consider them in the overall condition when rating and valuing the Property. Cosmetic repairs include missing handrails that do not pose a threat to safety, holes in window screens, cracked window glass, defective interior paint surfaces in housing constructed after 1978, minor plumbing leaks that do not cause damage (such as a dripping faucet), and other inoperable or damaged components that in the Appraiser’s professional judgment do not pose a health and safety issue to the occupants of the house. If an element is functioning well but has not reached the end of its useful life, the Appraiser
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II. ORIGINATION THROUGH POST-CLOSING/ENDORSEMENT A. Title II Insured Housing Programs Forward Mortgages 9. 203(k) Consultant Requirements Handbook 4000.1 502 Effective Date:…
HUD/FHA Single Family Handbook 4000.1 · Handbook_4000.1_-_Defective_Paint_Section.pdf · Page 519
· View at official source (HUD.gov — SFH Handbook 4000.1) →
· Last verified: 2026-10-11
II. ORIGINATION THROUGH POST-CLOSING/ENDORSEMENT A. Title II Insured Housing Programs Forward Mortgages 9. 203(k) Consultant Requirements Handbook 4000.1 502 Effective Date: 09/14/2015 | Last Revised: 08/14/2019 *Refer to the online version of SF Handbook 4000.1 for specific sections’ effective dates 13. Windows. Describe window work to be performed, such as: installation of new metal replacement windows; replacement of rotted or defective sash; replacement of rotted sills at exterior; replacement of basement windows; replacement of cracked/broken glass; replacement of missing glazing putty; repair or replacement of screens; etc. If a particular manufactured window is used, then the Work Write-Up should specify to justify the cost of the windows. Most estimates must be based on per window projections. 14. Weather-stripping. Describe weather-stripping
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must be reflected in the appraiser's opinion of value and the appraisal report must be completed "as-is." Items meeting these criteria require the appraiser to report and comment…
Fannie Mae Selling Guide · Selling_Guide_Supplement_UAD_3.6_Policy.pdf · Page 77
· View at official source (selling-guide.fanniemae.com) →
· Last verified: 2026-09-30
must be reflected in the appraiser's opinion of value and the appraisal report must be completed "as-is." Items meeting these criteria require the appraiser to report and comment on the effect these items may have on the subject property's value and marketability. The lender will then evaluate and determine if any additional course of action is required to comply with Fannie Mae’s soundness and structural integrity requirements. Minor conditions and deferred maintenance items include, but are not limited to, worn floor finishes or carpet, minor plumbing leaks, holes in window screens, missing handrails, or cracked window glass and are typically due to normal wear and tear. The lender is not required to ensure that the borrower has had these items