Va Home Loan Pre Approval

How Can I Apply For A Va Loan

First, youll need to utilize the eBenefits website to receive your Certificate of Eligibility . You can then take this to the lender you want to use. They will be able to begin processing the paperwork that determines youre eligible for a VA Loan. Note that if you prefer to apply directly through your lender, Home Lending Pal can connect your with one that has access to the programs that determine eligibility. Our lenders are familiar with VA Loans, and can determine your eligibility within minutes from your computer.

What happens next?

Once you have determined your eligibility for the VA Loan and brought your certificate to your lender, its time to get started! Your bank will assist you in filing the paperwork you need in order to apply for the VA Loan. Theyll guide you through the process of determining how much you want to finance and how to get started setting up the loan itself.

If youre a proud service member, veteran, or surviving spouse of a veteran, you may be eligible to utilize the VA Loan to purchase your home. This can be an incredible opportunity to invest in a home you love, so dont waste time. Apply for a loan today.

What If I Dont Meet The Minimum Service Requirements

You may still be able to get a COE if you were discharged for one of the reasons listed here.

You must have been discharged for one of these reasons:

• Hardship, or
• The convenience of the government , or
• Early out , or
• Reduction in force, or
• Certain medical conditions, or
• A service-connected disability

Dont Apply For New Credit After Youve Been Prequalified

In all the excitement of the home buying process, some borrowers forget that the loan is not complete until closing day. Now is NOT the time to get a new car or another credit card. New credit lines and loans will change your debt-to-income ratio and could affect your approval status. Wait until after your VA mortgage has closed to buy that new living room set or big screen TV.

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S To Starting The Process And Finding A Home

Service During Peace Time

Anyone serving from July 26, 1947 June 26, 1950 and February 1, 1955 August 4, 1964, those enlisted from May 8, 1975 September 7, 1980, and Officers from May 8, 1975 October 16, 1981 need to have served at least 181 days of continuous active duty without a dishonorable discharge, or less than the 181 days if due to a service-connected disability.

If you were separated from service after September 7, 1980 :

1. 24 months of continuous active duty with other than dishonorable discharge

2. At least 181 days or completed full term of active duty with other than dishonorable discharge

3. At least 181 days of active duty and discharged for hardship, convenience of the Government, early out, a RIF , or compensable service-connected disability

4. Less than 181 days active duty is allowable if discharged for a service-connected disability

5. If you meet the service minimums, you are entitled to the VA loan benefit.

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Open The Door To Your New Home Literally

These days, itâs a sellerâs market, which means there are often way more homebuyers than there are homes.

Sellers and their real estate agents donât want to spend time showing homes to someone who canât actually afford to buy when they have preapproved buyers literally and figuratively knocking down their doors.

A preapproval letter tells them youâve already been vetted by a lender and encourages them to show you their homes.

Getting preapproved narrows your search only to homes you can afford, so when you fall head over heels for a house, you have a real shot at living out your happily ever after there.

Who Qualifies For A Va Mortgage

Generally, veterans who have served on active duty for at least 90 days and have been honorably discharged are eligible for a VA home loan. Other stipulations apply for those who have served during wartime and those who have served more recently. A complete list of service dates can be foundhere on the Veterans Administration website.

In addition, surviving spouses who have not remarried may be eligible if the veteran died in service or from a service-connected disability. Spouses of a service member whos missing in action or a prisoner of war may qualify, and a surviving spouse who receives DIC, or Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, may be eligible. Those who remarry after age 57 have special caveats that can be found on the above link.

Other government employees such as Public Health Service officers, midshipmen or cadets, merchant seamen from World War II, and others may also qualify for a VA home mortgage.

If youve previously used your VA home loan entitlement, it can be restored if:

• The property has been sold and the loan paid in full.
• A qualified veteran agrees to assume the loan and substitute their entitlement for yours.
• Youve paid the loan in full but still retain the property.

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How Long Does Prequalification Or Preapproval Take

Aside from their distinct roles in homebuying, prequalification and preapproval can take different amounts of time. Prequalifying at Bank of America is a quick process that can be done online, and you may get results within an hour. For mortgage preapproval, youll need to supply more information so the application is likely to take more time. You should receive your preapproval letter within 10 business days after youve provided all requested information.

Best Va Loan Lenders Of August 2022

Fernando García DelgadoClaudia Rodríguez HamiltonFernando García Delgado27 min read

Offering a wide range of VA Loans for active-duty service members, veterans, or their family

Offering a wide range of VA Loans for active-duty service members, veterans, or their family

• Free credit consulting service
• The minimum credit score required is 620
• Loan terms: 15 and 30 years
• Minimum down payment required: 0% for qualifying buyers

• Provides extensive customer service hours
• The minimum credit score required is 620
• Loan terms: 15, 25, and 30 years
• Minimum down payment required: 0%

• Discloses the latest rates online with daily updates
• The minimum credit score required is 580
• Loan terms: 30 years
• Minimum down payment required: 3%

• Waives origination fees on all VA home loans
• The minimum credit score required is 680
• Loan terms: information unavailable
• Minimum down payment required: 0%

• 100+ years serving military members
• $0 down VA loan options
• USAA Bank is an Equal Housing Lender
• Membership not required for a loan inquiry, but is for a preapproval or application

A VA loan is a military benefit that doesnt require a down payment or private mortgage insurance . However, your credit score and credit history may still affect whether a lender is willing to offer you a loan with zero down payment.

See our VA loan guide to learn more about the type of loans available and the Veterans Affairs s service requirements.

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What Is A Va Loan

VA Loans are one way to finance the purchase of a home. These mortgages are backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs , which means less risk for lenders. In turn, lenders can offer added advantages to VA loan borrowers.

VA loan options come with many benefits. Veterans and service members can buy a home with little money down, and in some cases, zero money down. They can also enjoy lower monthly mortgage payments if they use their loan to refinance their current home. Borrowers with this type of financing also do not need to pay mortgage insurance.

Learn More About The Benefits Of Prequalification And Preapproval

As you look for a home, you may be asked to get prequalified or preapproved. Before you start, its important to understand the difference.

When you want to talk to a lender to establish a general range of home prices, you can get prequalified, which is simply a lenders estimate of what you could potentially borrow.

This can be completed easily and conveniently online, in person, or over the phone in just a few minutes with basic information like your income and expected down payment.

When you want to give yourself a competitive edge over other buyers in the market, you can get preapproved. Having a preapproval lets sellers know that you already qualify for the home financing which greatly increases your chance of having your offer selected.

Unlike prequalification, preapproval is a more specific estimate of what you could borrow from your lender and requires documents such as your W2, recent pay stubs, bank statements and tax returns.

The lender will then use these documents to determine exactly how much you can be preapproved to borrow.

Once youre preapproved, youll have 90 days to find a home you love. Then you can lock your rate and complete your application.

Whether you choose to get prequalified or preapproved, you will have a better sense of whats in your price range and can hunt for a house with confidence.

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Meet The Minimum Property Requirements

In most cases, you can use a VA loan to buy only a primary residence – that is a home where you intend to live. The Department of Veterans Affairs also has minimum property requirements for single-family houses that the home needs to meet. A VA-approved appraiser will inspect the home to establish its value and make sure it is safe, sound, and sanitary.

There are also requirements if you want to purchase a condo or a townhouse with a VA loan. Typically, the condominium or townhouse community needs to be on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ list of approved properties.

Confirm Your Va Loan Eligibility

Veterans, active duty military personnel, and some surviving spouses may be eligible for the VA home loan program. Length of service is an important eligibility requirement for VA loans as is character of service. Active duty military personnel may be eligible after 90 days of continuous duty. The length of service requirements for veterans vary depending on whether they served during wartime or peacetime and other factors. There are also requirements for surviving spouses who want to apply for a VA loan.

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Eligibility Requirements For Va Home Loan Programs

Learn about VA home loan eligibility requirements for a VA direct or VA-backed loan. Find out how to request a Certificate of Eligibility to show your lender that you qualify based on your service history and duty status. Keep in mind that for a VA-backed home loan, youll also need to meet your lenders credit and income loan requirements to receive financing.

Va Loan Prequalification Part : Financial Assets

In addition to income, most lenders will require you to report all of your financial assets. These could include savings accounts, brokerage accounts, or retirement accounts. Lenders want to see this information for two main reasons. First, even with VA loans, youll need to pay some money out-of-pocket during the loan closing process. Lenders want to make sure you can access cash to cover these needs.

Second, having access to cash from these accounts makes you a more reliable borrower. For example, if you have $50,000 in savings and get fired from a job, you can still make your mortgage payments for a while. Conversely, without any savings, any loss of income will disrupt your ability to make regular loan payments.

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How Long Does It Take To Get Pre Approved For A Va Loan

Many people assume the VA mortgage process is long and arduous. This is not accurate. Getting a VA loan can be just as quick and easy as getting a conventional loan as long as you are working with an experienced VA lender. An experienced VA lender will properly prepare you so that you do not have any delays.

A VA preapproval can be done same day in many cases. It is all about preparation. Remember, the preapproval is your ticket to home shopping, so it is critical you get one.

In order to get a fast pre-approval, it is a good idea to optimize the loan approval process from your end as much as you can. Gathering the below documents before you speak with a lender can help make the process smoother, faster and more accurate.

Va Table Of Recommended Residual Monthly Incomes By Region

If you have more than five in your household, add $80 per family member up to a family of seven.

Based on the chart, a family of four living in the Northeast would need at least $1,025 available each month after paying the mortgage and other significant expenses. Veterans and service members who fail to meet that residual income standard will have a hard time obtaining a loan.

Prospective borrowers with a DTI ratio above 41 percent must exceed their residual income requirement by 20 percent. To continue the example, that same Northeastern family of four would now need $1,230 in residual income to satisfy the requirement.

Theres a fixation on debt-to-income ratio in the mortgage industry. But residual income may be a more powerful and realistic metric way to look at affordability and a borrowers ability to stay current on their mortgage if emergencies arise. Its also a big reason why VA loans have such a low foreclosure rate, despite the fact that 9 in 10 people purchase without a down payment.

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If Your Credit Scores Fall Short

So what happens if you dont meet a lenders credit score cutoff? Some lenders may simply send you packing if you fail to meet their credit score requirement. Veterans United takes a different approach.

We created an entire department dedicated to helping service members, veterans and military families improve their credit and get on the path to loan prequalification.

If we’re not able to prequalify borrowers, they have the opportunity to work with the credit experts in our Lighthouse Program®.

Our Lighthouse Program® consultants:

• Identify and help you correct errors on your credit report
• Establish a plan to strengthen your overall financial profile
• Develop personalized objectives to reduce debt

This is a free service open only to veterans, service members and military families. The Lighthouse Program® has helped more than 30,000 veterans and service members overcome their credit challenges and go on to close on a home loan.

A VA approved lender Not endorsed or sponsored by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.

Is A Prequalification The Same As A Preapproval

Many new homebuyers often confuse a prequalification with a preapproval. Both preapproval and prequalification are ways lenders verify a borrower’s readiness for a home loan.

The main difference is, a preapproval is a lender telling you how much they’ll lend you based on tangible, proven information such as your financial and credit history. A prequalification is how much a bank will lend you based on unproven information. You’ll answer a series of questions about your income, estimated credit score, employment and cash reserves.

Our LenderVeterans United Home Loans is a VA approved lender Mortgage Research Center, LLC NMLS #1907 . Not affiliated with the Dept. of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. Not available in NV. 1400 Veterans United Dr., Columbia, MO 65203. Equal Housing Lender

Lenders then issue an estimate of how much financing you’ll receive based on that information.

While both of these should be the first steps you take, getting pre-approved can help you better understand your budget and guide you toward appropriately priced properties.

Are you looking to buy a home using your VA loan benefits? Here’s how to get approved for a VA home loan first:

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The Lenders Decision And What Happens After Prequalification

In the past, lenders would go through your submitted information by hand to decide whether you met prequalification requirements. Today, most lenders use an online algorithm to quickly determine whether youve prequalified and for what loan amount.

However, prequalification is only the first step in the loan application process. As stated, prequalification only involves borrower-submitted information. Next, borrowers must seek lender preapproval. To preapprove you for a VA loan, lenders will need to independently verify all the information you submitted during the prequalification process. In addition to running a credit check to confirm your credit score and outstanding debt, youll need to submit documentation verifying all of your reported income. Depending on the type of income, this documentation could include W-2s, tax returns, pension or disability payment verification, and any number of other forms.

Once preapproved, you can move forward with the homebuying process confident in your ability to secure a VA loan.

Maurice Chipp Naylon spent nine years as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps. He is currently a licensed CPA specializing in real estate development and accounting.