Using Your VA Loan - FAQ

What is a VA loan?

• A VA loan is a mortgage loan program designed for eligible veterans, active duty service members, and certain members of the National Guard and Reserves. It's offered by private lenders but backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Almost any lender can do a VA Loan, but not every lender is best equipt to provide the best pricing and service. Visit our "preferred lenders" page to connect with lenders that have given great serives and pricing to our clients. 

Who is eligible for a VA loan?

• Active Duty members that have served at least 90 days consecutively.

• Prior Service
  • Prior Service of 24 continuous months, or a full period (at least 90 days) for which you were called or ordered to active duty, or
  • At least 90 days if discharged for a hardship, a reduction in force, or for convenience of the government, or
  • Less than 90 days (if discharged for a service-connected disability)
    

• Guard & reserve

  • • Served After Aug 2nd 1990 If you’ve served for at least 90 days of active duty, you meet the minimum service requirement.

    • If you served prior to Aug 2nd 1990;
      At least 90 days of non-training active-duty service, or

      • At least 90 days of active-duty service including at least 30 consecutive days (your DD214 must show 32 USC sections 316, 502, 503, 504, or 505 activation), or
      • 6 creditable years in the National Guard and you were discharged honorably or placed on the retired list. 
        
• Military Spouse 

  • The spouse of a Veteran can also apply for home loan eligibility if they 1) are eligible for, or in receipt of, a qualifying Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefit award, and 2) under ONE of the following conditions:

    • Unremarried surviving spouse of a Veteran who died while in service (active, reserve, or national guard) or from a service-connected disability, or
    • Unremarried surviving spouse of certain totally disabled (100% rated) Veteran whose disability may not have been the cause of death, or
    • Surviving spouse who remarries on or after December 16, 2003 after attaining age 57, or
    • Spouse of a living Service member missing in action (MIA) or a prisoner of war (POW) for more
    • than 90 days, for as long as the Service member is in that status (this is one-time use only) 
      
      

Do I need a down payment for a VA loan?

• One of the key benefits of a VA loan is that it often allows for no down payment. However, having a down payment can lower the overall cost of the loan and reduce the VA funding fee.

What is the VA funding fee?

• The VA funding fee is a one-time fee that helps offset the cost of the VA loan program. The fee varies based on factors such as down payment amount, and whether it's a first-time or subsequent use of the VA loan benefit. Members with a disability rating may be exempt from this fee. 

Can I use a VA loan for any type of property?

• VA loans can be used to purchase or refinance primary residences, which generally include single-family homes, condos, townhouses, and some multi-unit properties (up to four units). However, VA loans cannot be used to buy investment properties or vacation homes.

What are the advantages of a VA loan?

• Some advantages of a VA loan include competitive interest rates, no private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirement, flexible credit requirements, and the ability to finance the VA funding fee.

Can I use my VA loan benefit more than once?

• Yes, in many cases you can use your VA loan benefit multiple times. However, certain conditions need to be met, such as paying off the previous VA loan or selling the property that was financed with a VA loan. Often times you may have more than one VA loan out at a time. Connect with Renee to discuss specifics. 

Can I get a VA loan if I have bad credit?

• While VA loans generally have more lenient credit requirements compared to conventional loans, having a higher credit score can improve your chances of getting approved and securing better interest rates. Credit requirements are established by the Mortgage Lender that is processing the loan, not the VA.