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The following are answers to common questions on the VA Loan and homebuying process. Choose from list below to find the answers relevant to your questions. If you don't see your specific question, contact a Home Loan Specialist online, or call our office at 800-405-6682.
Please use the links below to find out more about general VA Loan policies and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
VA Loans have many benefits not offered by conventional loans, especially for first-time homebuyers with little or no money for a down payment. Unlike conventional loans, VA Home Loans do not have private mortgage insurance requirements. Additionally, VA Loans usually have more competitive rates than conventional loans and are not subject to the amount of closing costs associated with conventional loans. Additionally, there are certain fees that VA mortgage borrowers cannot be charged. VA Home Loans also give you the ability to refinance to a lower rate without having to re-qualify for the loan, a process known as a VA Streamline Refinance, or IRRRL. Getting started on your VA Loan is easy; simply contact a Home Loan Specialist now!
This means the VA guarantees the loan to the lender in case of default. The lender is the one who actually loans the money. It does not mean that you are guaranteed a loan; you still have to qualify for it based on credit and income standards set by both the VA and the lender.
Your entitlement is the amount that the VA will guarantee for your loan with the lender. $36,000 is the maximum entitlement and with this entitlement the VA will guarantee a home loan up to the county loan limit, which is $453,100 in most areas, but can be higher in some high cost counties.
No, the VA does not offer any interest only programs at this time. On all VA Loans you pay back to the principal of the loan and gain equity with every payment.
No, the VA does not offer stated or no-document programs. All loans through the VA require full documentation.
No, at this time the VA does not guarantee HELOCS. The VA will allow you to cash out on your existing property with a cash-out refinance.
The VA does not currently offer farm loans or business loans. However, you can buy a home with some acreage without a problem (so long as it’s not considered an income producing property), as long as there are other comparable properties that have recently been sold in the area.
Your VA mortgage will be through a private lender. The VA doesn't give the loan itself; it guarantees the loans that lenders issue. All lenders have to follow the same guidelines of approvals in order to get the loan guaranteed by the VA. The VA guarantee allows them to offer this special program to those that served or are serving. Lenders may then have additional guidelines on top of those established by the VA in order to approve your loan.
No, the VA guarantees the lender on the loan. There is no third-party mortgage insurance required with a VA Loan.
In certain situations this is possible. In a purchase transaction if the improvements make the home more energy efficient you can request an energy efficient mortgage (EEM) which can allow you to finance up to an additional $6,000 on your mortgage. If you want to refinance a current mortgage you can pursue a cash-out refinance which would allow you to take out additional funds for certain allowable reasons such as home improvements. Otherwise, if you are pursuing a purchase and just want to take out additional cash for non-energy efficient improvements, you will not be able to do so with a VA home loan.
Qualification is based on many factors. Assuming your credit is sufficient to qualify, your income will be examined. Normally, with good credit, your debt-to-income ratio (what you earn a month versus what you pay out per month, including your new house payment) cannot exceed 41%. To calculate your debt-to-income ratio, divide your monthly debt obligations by your total monthly earnings and multiply the result by 100. The best way to find out your exact debt-to-income ratio is to call a Home Loan Specialist and have him or her crunch the numbers for you.
This is allowed, but the guidelines are very strict. The second loan has to be equal to or better than what you would get with one large VA Loan. The rates on second loans are nearly always higher and, therefore, would not fit guidelines. Also, many lenders will not allow a second loan behind the VA Loan during a purchase.
If your home will cost more than $453,100 and it’s not in a high cost county, one option is to put enough money down to close the gap between the purchase price and the $453,100 loan limit. If a VA Loan is not right for you, we can assist you in choosing an alternative mortgage solution.
No, you can get pre-approved before you even start looking for a property. By getting pre-approved prior to entering into contract on a home you can ensure that you are contracting on a home that you can afford.
Most of the time, the realtor will want your pre-approval letter to show that you have been pre-approved for a home loan and for how much. This is a better bargaining chip with the seller because it shows you are a serious buyer and have already pursued financing.
Many factors go into the timing of the process. To be safe, you should allow at least 30 days from contract to closing. However, it is possible to close much sooner depending on the circumstances. With the help of our Home Loan Specialists, the process is quick and easy!
You can get pre-qualified at any time for your VA mortgage, even without a property or house in mind. Many times this is the best way to go because it allows you to look for a new home with the knowledge of how much you can afford. Additionally, you will be able to foresee any potential problems before you have a contract.
Many local banks and credit unions are not approved to issue VA Loans or may only close a few each year. This lack of comfort in the familiar can often be what guides this opinion. If your local bank is discouraging you from choosing a VA Loan, make sure it has the ability to issue VA Loans. For a majority of Veteran homebuyers, a VA Loan is the best option due to the fact that no down payment is required.
You should allow at least 10 minutes to get through your Home Loan Specialists questions and then additional time to cover any questions you may have, although it may not take that long. If you have to stop in the middle of the application, just call your Home Loan Specialist back when you have sufficient time, and you can complete it then. To get started on your application now, contact a Home Loan Specialist.
No, you are not obligated to anything until the day of closing when you sign the documents and take the key.
It can take less than an hour for a Home Loan Specialist to get you pre-qualified for your VA Loan. Your Home Loan Specialist will ask you some questions, check your credit, and calculate your debt-to-income ratio (what you pay out per month vs. your monthly income). Once you are pre-qualified you move on to the pre-approval process. During this step your Home Loan Specialist will send you some paperwork to complete and return and also request some supporting documentation such as copies of your paystubs, bank statements, W-2s and identification. Once your Home Loan Specialist receives this information he can review all your documentation, update your information and, assuming everything looks good, he/she can then issue your pre-approval. Often times the process from your first phone call to pre-approval can take less than a week. It will mainly be dependent on how proactive you are in sending back your paperwork.
We recommend getting pre-approved as early as possible once you start looking into buying a home. The pre-approval lets you know you are qualified for a loan and gives you plenty of time to settle any disputes found on your credit report and anything else that could hold up the process. The earlier you complete these tasks, the smoother the process will be once you find a home.
Being pre-qualified means you are qualified based on the information you presented on your application over the phone. Being pre-approved means you are approved based on supporting documentation, such as pay stubs, W2s, and bank statements.
You will need to know both personal and financial information. You will be asked detailed questions and will possibly need to provide employment history for two years, current income including pay, commissions or bonuses, alimony or child support that you would like to be considered, dividends, asset information, and personal information such as your Social Security number, birthday, current address, and address history for the past 2 years.
A statement of service is a letter from your commanding officer stating how long you have been in the service and what your status is. It is often required for underwriting purposes for active duty applicants.
Yes, your information is secure and confidential. It is not shared with any parties that are not involved in your specific loan and the closing process.
No, we are a one-stop VA lender. We approve you and go through the entire process with you, from the application to closing.
Once your loan is in process, you will still be in contact with you Home Loan Specialist up until the day of closing. He or she will be your primary contact through the entire process.
That depends on your income, assets, and credit history. Normally, your Home Loan Specialist will let you know the maximum he can pre-approve you for based on your debt-to-income ratio. If you find a home just out of that pre-approval amount, call your Home Loan Specialist immediately and he or she can tell you on the phone whether or not you will be approved for the higher amount. Generally he will want specifics on the home such as the property taxes and estimates for home owners insurance, to ensure you don’t make an offer on a home for which you can’t actually qualify.
There will be very little effect. You can choose to use your Certificate of Eligibility or your spouse's or a portion of both of them and it will have no impact on the details of the loan. One benefit of having an eligible partner is that you can avoid the increased funding fee for subsequent VA Loans. For your next home purchase you could use your spouse's eligibility and not have to pay the increased fee.
You will still be eligible, but you must have remaining entitlement to take out a new VA Home LoanA Home Loan Specialist can help you run the math to determine if you have any first tier or second tier entitlement remaining and if so how much. From there he can give you a price range to stay within to avoid having to make a down payment.
You can absolutely purchase a foreclosed property. These transactions often take longer as they require lender approval on the seller’s side of the transaction. It will also be important to select a property that appears move-in ready and structurally sound as foreclosure sellers are less willing to make repairs than others.
Equity is the amount of value a homeowner has in their property. You can calculate your equity by subtracting any liens or debts against your home from what your home is worth.
A discount point is a percentage of the loan amount you will pay to buy your interest rate lower. You can buy to a lower rate with discount points, which can sometimes save you money over the life of the loan.
A child care letter is a letter required on a VA Loan if the borrower has children under the age of 13. A VA Loan requires that childcare expenses are counted as liabilities for qualification purposes. The letter just states what if any child care costs you occur on a monthly basis, and if none are incurred the reason.
Title insurance is insurance you obtain through the title company to protect you from any liens that may be found after closing. The title company or title attorney will do a thorough check to make sure that doesn't happen. In the off chance a lien is found, you are covered.
If you have questions, or if you want to determine if a Veteran Home Loan is actually the best financial decision for you, you may get advice from a Home Loan Specialist online or call 800-405-6682.
