VA Home Loans

A VA loan is a mortgage loan guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) that is available to most US service members. It offers some very great benefits to those that have served our country.  There is no down payment required for most VA loans. These loans do require eligibility from the VA which requires the buyer being a Veteran or Active Duty military. The guidelines promote flexibility and remove many of the typical burdens of mortgage qualification for eligible buyers. 

Benefits of VA Loans

  • You can buy a home with no money down.

  • You can refinance your home up to 100% of the value of your home.

  • You never have to pay PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance).

  • Sellers can pay your closing costs.

  • They are usually easier to get because the Government insures the loan so that there is much less risk to the lender.

  • If you already have a VA Loan you might be eligible for a VA Streamline Refinance.

  • Disabled Veterans may qualify for a waiver of the Funding Fee if they receive any disability payments from the VA or if they are considered to be at least 10% disabled.

Who is eligible for a VA Loan?

As a rule of thumb, almost all active duty or honorably discharged service members are eligible for a VA loan.

You may be eligible for a VA loan if any one of these statements describes you:

  • I served 181 days during peacetime. (Active Duty)
  • I served 90 days during wartime. (Active Duty)
  • I served 6 years in the Reserves or National Guard.
  • I am the spouse of service member who was killed in the line of duty.
  • I currently receive disability payments from the VA.

What is the VA Funding Fee and is it required?

Yes, it is required. It is a fee paid directly to the Department of Veteran's Affairs so that they can guarantee your loan and provide you with the opportunity to receive a loan with little to no money out of pocket.

How much is the VA Funding Fee?

It depends on several factors including: Whether you are Active Duty, Retired, Guard or Reserve and whether you this is a first time use, subsequent use, or a cash-out refinance as well as how much of a down payment you are putting down. The fee can range from as little as 1.25% up to 3.3% of the loan. Generally, the more money you put down the lower the VA funding fee. Please contact us and we will help you to determine how what the exact cost of the VA Funding Fee would be for your particular situation.

Do I have to pay the VA Funding Fee out of pocket?

No, you can include the VA Funding Fee in your loan and pay the funding fee over the course of your loan.

Do I still have to pay other normal closing costs like Appraisal, Title and Escrows?

Yes, however with a VA loan if you are purchasing a new home the seller can pay for all or part of your closing costs.

What is a VA Streamline Refinance?

A VA Streamline Refinance is a refinance option that is available if you already have a VA mortgage and you want to lower your interest rate with little or no out-of-pocket closing costs. You don't have provide bank statements, W2s, job verification or paychecks.

The VA Loan provides veterans with a federally guaranteed home loan which requires no down payment. This program was designed to provide housing and assistance for veterans and their families.

The Veterans Administration provides insurance to lenders in the case that you default on a loan. Because the mortgage is guaranteed, lenders will offer a lower interest rate and terms than a conventional home loan. VA home loans are available in all 50 states. A VA loan may also have reduced closing costs and no prepayment penalties.

Additionally there are services that may be offered to veterans in danger of defaulting on their loans. VA home loans are available to military personal that have either served 181 days during peacetime, 90 days during war, or a spouse of serviceman either killed or missing in action.

The Veteran Administration's Loan originated in 1944 through the Servicemen's Readjustment Act; also know as the GI Bill. It was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was designed to provide Veterans with a federally-guaranteed home loan with no down payment. VA loans are made by private lenders like banks, savings & loans, and mortgage companies to eligible Veterans for homes to live in. The lender is protected against loss if the loan defaults. Depending on the program option, the loan may or may not default.

Wartime/Conflict Veterans

  • Veterans who were NOT Dishonorably Discharged, and served at least 90 days
  • World War II – September 16, 1940 to July 25, 1947
  • Korean Conflict – June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955
  • Vietnam Era – August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975
  • Persian Gulf War - Check with the Veterans Administration Office
  • Afghanistan & Iraq – Check with the Veterans Administration Office
  • Veterans Administration website www.va.gov

Peacetime Service

At least 181 days of continuous active duty with no dishonorable discharge. If you were discharged earlier due to a service-related disability you should contact your Regional VA Office for eligibility verification.

  • July 26, 1947 to June 26, 1950
  • February 1, 1955 to August 4, 1964, or May 8, 1975 to September 7, 1980 (Enlisted), or to October 16, 1981 (Officer)
  • Enlisted Veterans whose service began after September 7, 1980, or officers who service began after October 16, 1981, must have completed 24-months of continuous active duty and been honorably discharged

Reserves and National Guard

  • Certain U.S. Citizens who served in the Armed Forces of a government allied with the United States during World War II.
  • Surviving spouse of an eligible Veteran who died resulting from service, and has not remarried.
  • The spouse of an Armed Forces member who served Active Duty, and was listed as a POW or MIA for more than 90-days.

A VA home loan must be used to finance your personal residence within the United States and its territories. You have choices for the type of home you purchase:

  • Existing Single-Family Home
  • Townhouse or Condominium in a VA-Approved Project
  • New Construction Residence
  • Manufactured Home or Lot
  • Home Refinances and Certain Types of Home Improvements

  • 100% Financing & No Down Payment Loans
  • No Private Mortgage (PMI)
  • No Penalties for Prepaying the Loan
  • Competitive Interest Rates
  • Qualification is Easier than a Conventional Loan
  • Sellers Pay Some of the Closing Costs
  • Can be combined with additional down payment assistance to reduce closing costs

You can apply for a VA Loan with any mortgage lender that participates in the program. In addition to the application requirements from your lender, you will need the following at application time:

Yes, your eligibility is reusable depending on the circumstance. If you have paid-off your prior VA Loan, and disposed the property, you can have your eligibility restored again. Also, on a 1-time basis, you may have your eligibility restored if your prior VA Loan has been paid-off, but you still own the property. Either way, the Veteran must send the Veterans Administration a completed VA Form 16-1880 to the VA Eligibility Center. To prevent delays in processing, it's advisable to include evidence that the prior loan has been fully paid, and if applicable, the property was disposed. A paid-in-full statement from the former lender or a copy of the HUD-1 settlement statement must be submitted.

  • VA Loans made prior to March 1, 1988 can be assumed with no qualifying of the new buyer. If the buyer defaults the property the Veteran homeowner may be liable for the funds.
  • Some sellers are hesitant to work with someone obtaining a VA Loan because it takes longer than a conventional loan to process.
  • Sellers are often asked to pay a portion of closing costs and therefore less likely to negotiate the sales price of the home.