That is a misconception. VA loans carry the most borrower-friendly appraisal process of any program, so bidding above asking is less risky than people assume. Start with what drives appraised value: comparable sales. The asking price has no bearing on what a home appraises for, so if the comps support a number above list, a VA appraisal can support it too. The VA process then adds protections other loans lack: - Tidewater. When a VA appraiser sees the value trending below the sales price, they must notify the lender's point of contact before finalizing the appraisal and allow two business days for supporting sales data to be submitted through that contact. - Reconsideration of value. If the appraisal still comes in low, the buyer can request a formal reconsideration from the VA. That is more recourse than a typical conventional appraisal offers. The confusion usually traces to the appraisal contingency rather than the appraisal itself. On some loan types a buyer can waive that contingency to strengthen an offer; the appraisal still happens, and the buyer simply agrees to cover any gap between price and value in cash. VA buyers win above asking when the comps justify the price. Make sure your offer and your comps line up, and lean on a good agent to build that case.