VA FINANCING - A GOOD DEAL FOR VETERANS

VA Loans require no down payment and allow you to qualify for a more expensive home.

The VA doesn’t actually make loans. Instead, it insures loans so that if buyers default for some reason, the lenders will get their money. This encourages lenders to give mortgages to people who might not otherwise qualify for a loan.

VA Mortgage Loan Advantages



US FlagWe are sensitive to the needs of our American Veterans. But before you get a VA loan, you will need a Certificate of Eligibility, and your DD-214. If you do not have one, or cannot find it, you must contact the VA to get one. Click HERE for details on how to obtain these forms.


VA Frequently Asked Questions... Click HERE


Eligibility Requirements

ERA DATES LENGTH OF SERVICE
World War II 09/16/40 - 07/25/47 90 Days
Peacetime 07/26/47 - 06/26/50 181 Continuous Days
Korean Conflict 06/27/50 - 01/31/55 90 Days
Post Korean 02/01/55 - 08/04/64 181 Continuous Days
Vietnam 08/05/64 - 09/07/80 90 Days
Post Vietnam 05/08/75 - 09/07/80 181 Continuous Days
Enlisted 09/08/80 - 08/01/90 2 Years
Officers 10/17/81 - 08/01/90 2 Years
Persian Gulf 08/02/90 - (Undetermined) 2 Years of period called to active duty, not less than 90 days.

Income Guidelines for VA Home Loans

VA requires a borrower to have sufficient and adequate income to cover the repayment of the mortgage.  Before a borrower can be approved for a VA home loan, the stability of income and the continuance of the borrower's income must be established through acceptable sources of income, the borrower's past employment record, and the employer's confirmation of continued employment must be established. 

Stability of a person's income is generally derived from their employment history.  VA requires verification for the previous two full years and must be documented through lender verifications of previous employment or W-2's.  This income must be analyzed to determine whether it can be expected to continue through the first 3 years of the mortgage loan (if the borrower intends to retire during this period, the expected retirement income, social security benefits, etc. should be used).  Any gaps in employment must be reasonably explained by the borrower.  Schooling or education for  the borrower's profession (e.g. nursing school) can be counted towards the 2 year requirement.  Allowances for seasonal employment, such as is typical in the building trades for example, may be used.  

VA FUNDING FEE

In order for VA to guarantee the home loan, there is a closing cost assessed by the VA to originate the loan called a funding fee.  This fee will vary, depending upon the type of VA loan, whether this is your first time to use your entitlement, if you are a disabled veteran, the down payment and if you served active duty or in the National Guard/Reserves.

The following table breaks down the funding fee charged by VA:

First time use, purchase of an eligible property
Down Payment Active Duty Reserves/NG
0% to 4.99% 2.00% 2.75%
5% to 9.99% 1.50% 2.25%
10% + 1.25% 2.00%
Second time use, purchase of an eligible property
Down Payment Active Duty Reserves/NG
0% to 4.99% 3.00% 3.00%
5% to 9.99% 1.50% 2.25%
10% + 1.25% 2.00%

Cash-out Refinance: 3.00% Funding Fee

 

VA STREAMLINE REFINANCE

An "Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan" (IRRRL) or Streamline Refinance allows Veterans to refinance their current mortgage interest rate to a lower rate than they are currently paying. This program is only available to veterans who are refinancing their original VA mortgage in which they utilized their original eligibility.

 

VA Cash-Out Refinance

Cash-out refinances on properties owned more than one year prior to the refinance are permitted on owner occupied principal residences only, and are limited to 90% of the appraised value plus the allowable closing costs.

A cash-out refinance is when a borrower refinances their current mortgage for more than they owe in order to pull out the built up equity that has accrued in the home.  The amount a home owner can borrower is limited by the value of the property compared to the loan amount (otherwise known as the loan-to-value or LTV).  

The following are basic requirements of a cash-out VA refinance loan: