What is a VA loan?

 

A VA loan is a mortgage that offers considerable benefits for eligible military veterans, service members and spouses who want to buy a home. VA home loans are issued through private lenders and are guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, so they don’t require private mortgage insurance. These loans, also known as Veterans Affairs mortgages, consistently offer the lowest rates on the market compared with traditional bank financing, according to reports by mortgage software firm Ellie Mae. The main draw of a VA mortgage is that they make it easier to get financing by offering no down-payment loans and more lenient credit and income requirements than conventional mortgages. If you think you may be eligible for a VA loan, here are some things to know about the program.

 

What are the VA loan eligibility requirements?

 

Most members of the regular military, veterans, reservists and National Guard are eligible to apply for a VA loan. Spouses of military members who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability also can apply. Active-duty military personnel generally qualify after about six months of service. Reservists and members of the National Guard must wait six years to apply, but if they are called to active duty before that, they gain eligibility after 181 days of service. You may qualify if you:

 

• Served 90 consecutive days of active service during wartime

• Served 181 days of active service during peacetime

• Have been an active member of the National Guard or Reserves for 6 years or more

• Are married to a service member who died in the line of duty or as a result of a service-related disability

 

Do VA loans require PMI?

 

Unlike other low down-payment mortgage options, a VA loan doesn’t require PMI. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans and conventional loans with less than 20 percent down require PMI, which can end up costing the borrower thousands over the life of the loan. The benefit translates into significant monthly savings for VA borrowers. For instance, a borrower who makes a 3.5 percent down payment on a $200,000 FHA-insured mortgage would pay $100 a month for mortgage insurance alone.

 

What are VA loan funding fees?

 

Although the costs of getting a VA loan are generally lower than other types of low-downpayment mortgages, they still carry a one-time funding fee that varies, depending on the amount of the down payment and military category. This fee helps offset taxpayers’ costs since there’s no PMI or down payment required. A borrower in the armed forces getting a VA loan for the first time, with no money down, would pay a fee of 2.15 percent of the loan amount. The fee is reduced to 1.25 percent of the loan amount if the borrower makes a down payment of 10 percent or more. Reservists and National Guard members normally pay about a quarter of a percentage point more in fees than active-duty members pay. Those using the VA loan program for the second time, without a down payment, would pay 3.3 percent of the total loan amount.

 

Can existing VA borrowers lower their interest rates?

 

The Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRL) gives existing VA loan holders the opportunity to get a lower interest rate. This option requires borrowers to refinance their current VA loan into another VA loan. The advantages of the IRRL is that credit and appraisal underwriting packages are not required. Additionally, you won’t have to pay cash out of pocket for an IRRL. It’s structured so than any fees are rolled into the new loan or the interest is adjusted so that the lender’s costs are covered.

 

Are there VA loan home occupancy requirements?

 

VA loans typically require borrowers to move into their home within 60 days of purchase and to use it as their primary residence. However, exceptions can be made depending on the circumstances, says Chris Birk, director of education at Veterans United. “Lenders will evaluate occupancy scenarios on a case-by-case basis. For active duty service members, a spouse can fulfill the occupancy requirement when the military member cannot. A service member’s minor child can also satisfy occupancy in some cases,” Birk says. Borrowers can’t use VA loans to buy investment properties or second homes.

 

What are VA loan underwriting requirements?

 

The VA doesn’t require a minimum credit score for a VA loan, but lenders generally have their own internal requirements. Most lenders want an applicant with a credit score of 620 or higher. Borrowers must show sufficient income to repay the loan and shouldn’t have a heavy debt load, but the guidelines are usually more flexible than for conventional loans. VA guidelines allow veterans to use their home-loan benefits a year or two after bankruptcy or foreclosure. The limit on VA loans varies by county, but the maximum guaranty amount for 2018 is $453,100 and up to $679,650 in high-cost areas in the continental United States and even higher in parts of Hawaii.

 

How to apply for VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility

 

Before you can apply for a VA loan, you must prove you are eligible. Applicants must get a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Eligible service members, veterans and spouse must meet one of the following criteria:

 

• You’ve served 181 days of service during peacetime.

• You’ve served 90 days of service during wartime.

• You’ve had six years of service in the Reserves or National Guard.

• You are a surviving spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty.

 

There are three ways to apply for the COE:

 

 

1. Request a COE from your lender. Lenders have access to a database which can produce your COE within minutes.

2. Apply for the COE online at VA.Gov. You’ll have to log into your account and navigate to the COE application page.

3. Mail in your application. Print out this form, fill it out and include applicable proof of eligibility.

 

Documents required for COE:

 

 

Veterans and current or former National Guard or Reserve members in Federal active service: 

 

 

• DD Form 214 – This must include a copy showing the type of service and the reason for leaving.

 

Active duty service members, Current National Guard or Reserve members who have never been Federal active service:

 

• An up-to-date statement of service signed by the adjutant, personnel office or commander of the unit or headquarters. It must include your name, Social Security number, date of birth, entry date of active duty, duration of lost time and the name of the command providing the data.

•  

 

Current National Guard or Reserve member who has never been Federal active service:

 

 

• An NGB Form 22, report of separation and record of service for each period of National Guard service.

• An NGB Form 23, Retirement Points Accounting and proof of the character of service.

 

Discharged member of the Selected Reserve who has never been activated for Federal active service:

 

 

• A copy of your latest annual retirement points statement and evidence of honorable service.

 

Surviving Spouse receiving DIC (Dependency & Indemnity Compensation) benefits: 

 

• Submit VA form 26-1817 and veteran’s DD214 ( if available)

• You must include the veteran’s and surviving spouse’s social security number on the 26-1817 form.

 

Surviving Spouse not receiving DIC (Dependency & Indemnity Compensation) benefits:

 

 

• You must submit VA form 21-534.

• You must submit form DD214 (if available), which proves discharge orders.

• Include a copy of your marriage license.

• Include the death certificate or DD Form 1300 – Report of Casualty.

• Send the VA 21-534 to the mailing address in your state.

 

How to apply for a VA loan

 

Once you have your certificate of eligibility (COE), you can apply for the VA loan. The application process is straightforward, however, keep in mind that not all lenders originate VA loans. Here’s what you’ll need to do to apply:

 

1. Find a VA lender. You can do this by searching on the VA website, getting recommendations from friends or doing your own research online. Be sure to shop around for the best offer, as lender’s terms vary.

2. Apply for the VA loan through the lender.

 

Other uses for VA loan Buying a house is just one way you can use a VA loan. Borrowers can also use VA loans in the following ways:

• Cash-out refinance

• Interest rate reduction refinance loan (IRRL)

• Native American Direct Loan program

• Adapted housing grants

 

 

What is a VA funding fee?

 

A VA funding fee is a charge to help the VA loan program self-sustainable. Because VA loans do not require a down payment or mortgage insurance like other types of mortgages they need money to operate. The funding fee puts money into the program to keep it running.

 

The VA funding fee is 2.15% when you use a zero down payment and is usually rolled into the loan. For example: If you have a $200,000 VA loan and you put zero down the VA funding fee will be 2.15%, or $4,300.

 

VA Funding Fee Chart

 

The following VA funding fee chart has been updated for 2017 and is current as of June 11th, 2017. Regular military members pay slightly lower Funding Fees than Reservists and National Guard members.

 

The amount of the VA funding fee is determined by the type of military personnel, down payment, and how many VA loans have been used. Please consult the chart below.

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Contact us today to learn more about VA loans available in Southern California.