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VA Guaranteed Home Loans for Veterans
REQUIREMENTS FOR VA LOAN APPROVAL
To get a VA loan, the law requires that:
- You must be an eligible veteran who has available home loan entitlement (except in the case of an interest rate reduction refinancing loan);
- The loan must be for an eligible purpose;
- You must occupy or intend to occupy the property as your home within a reasonable period of time after closing the loan;
- You must have enough income to meet the new mortgage payments on the loan, cover the costs of owning a home, take care of other obligations and expenses, and still have enough income left over for family support (a spouse's income is considered in the same manner as the veteran's); and
- You must have a good credit record.
THE GUARANTY
VA guaranteed loans are made by private lenders such as banks, savings and loan associations,
or mortgage companies. To get a loan, you apply to the lender. If the loan is approved,
VA guarantees the loan when it is closed. The guaranty means the lender is protected
against loss if you or a later owner fails to repay the loan.
Questions and Answers
1. How much is the guaranty?
VA will guarantee up to 25 percent of a home loan up to $417,000, subject to the amount of entitlement
a veteran has available. For loans of more than $144,000 made for the purchase or construction of a
home or to purchase a residential unit in a condominium or to refinance an existing VA
guaranteed loan for interest rate reduction, the maximum guaranty is 25 percent up to
$104,250.
2. Is $104,250 the biggest loan a veteran can get?
No. You may generally borrow up to the reasonable value of the property or the purchase
price, whichever is less, plus the funding fee, if required. For certain refinancing loans,
the maximum loan is limited to 90 percent of the value of the property, plus the funding fee,
if required. To determine the reasonable value, VA requires an appraisal of the property.
3. What is the maximum VA loan?
Although there is no maximum VA loan (limited only by the reasonable value or the purchase price),
lenders generally limit the maximum VA loan to $417,000 because most VA loans are sold in the
secondary market, which limits VA loans to that amount.
4. Is a guaranteed loan a gift?
No. It must be repaid, just as you must repay any money you borrow. The VA guaranty, which
protects the lender against loss, encourages the lender to make a loan with terms favorable
to the veteran. But if you fail to make the payments you agreed to make, you may lose
your home through tore closure, and you and your family would probably lose all the
time and money you had invested in it, i the lender does take a loss, VA must pay the
guaranty to the lender, and the amount paid by VA must be repaid by you. If your loan
closed on or after January 1, 1990, you will owe the Government in the event of a default
only if there was fraud, misrepresentation, or bad faith on your part.
5. Does VA make any loan directly to eligible veterans?
Yes, but only to Native Americans on trust land or to supplement a grant to get a specially
adapted home for certain eligible veterans who have a permanent and total service-connected
disability(ies). See VA Pamphlet 26-93-1 for information concerning direct loans to Native
American Veterans. See VA Pamphlet 26-69-1 for information concerning specially adapted
housing grants.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION # 28 [ -more VA Loan questions- ]
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Q: I Can't Find A House - Do I have any alternatives?
A: Those with VA loan eligibility or pre-approval may, depending on the location, have trouble finding new homes for sale. Fortunately, there are alternatives. In many areas, the VA can offer repossessed homes available for purchase to qualified buyers. You may also wish to inquire about state programs. Much the same as your veteran educational benefits, individual states offer veteran programs independently of the your federal benefits. Contact the VA office in your area to learn what may be available. Every state has different options, you may find just what you are looking for! Don't forget that the qualifications and requirements may also differ from federal guidelines.
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Remember, the VA does not make home loans. They insure the loans that we can assist you in getting.
Let us help you get a VA insured mortgage loan at the lowest possible rates.
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