Chief Appraiser Says
Reading the actual guideline text below — never a general AI guess
Here's what we're looking at: when a detached garage doesn't have a wall dividing it from other space inside the structure, we treat it differently on the appraisal form—it gets reported only in the Vehicle Storage section and doesn't need to be listed separately as an outbuilding. The VA guidance and building codes also address wall requirements, though the full details on garage dividing walls from those sources aren't shown in the excerpts provided here.
Straight from UAD 3.6 / URAR (FNMA), VA Lenders Handbook (Pamphlet 26-7), and Garage Conversions & Attic Stairs guidance — nothing added.
Straight from UAD 3.6 / URAR (FNMA), VA Lenders Handbook (Pamphlet 26-7), and Garage Conversions & Attic Stairs guidance — nothing added.
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→ VA Pamphlet 26-7 Chapter 12 MPRs Effective 2026-05-01 (Chief Appraiser Document Library)
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© 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
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 →
Permitted vs. Unpermitted Garage Conversions: ROI Data for 2026
This source discusses that permitted garage conversions typically increase home value by 10-30% with ROI of 60-80%, while unpermitted conversions can decrease value by triggering lender refusals and appraisal exclusions.
Read full story at customhome.us →
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Appendix 4: Detached Garage Examples Appendix F-1: URAR Reference Guide Page 374 of 375 Version 1.3 Example 5: Oversized Detached Garage (No Dividing Wall) In this example, the…
UAD 3.6 / URAR (FNMA) · Appendix F-1 URAR Reference Guide v1.3.pdf · Page 374
· View at official source (fanniemae.com/uad) →
Appendix 4: Detached Garage Examples Appendix F-1: URAR Reference Guide Page 374 of 375 Version 1.3 Example 5: Oversized Detached Garage (No Dividing Wall) In this example, the subject has a 500 sq. ft. detached garage that includes 100 sq. ft. of extra unfinished area with no separation of the area. No Outbuilding Section When the detached garage has no dividing wall, it does not have to be reported as an outbuilding. In this example, no outbuilding was reported, so the Outbuilding section does not display. Vehicle Storage When the detached garage has no dividing wall, it is reported in the Vehicle Storage section only. • In this example, the 500 sq. ft. detached garage is reported. Sales Comparison Approach
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Garage Conversions & Attic Stairs (IRC R302.6 fire separation; FHA/VA guidance) · Garage_Conversions_and_Attic_Stairs.txt · Page 12
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Garage Conversions & Attic Stairs (IRC R302.6 fire separation; FHA/VA guidance) · Garage_Conversions_and_Attic_Stairs.txt · Page 3
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