Home ownership has long been part of the American dream. For veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs-guaranteed home loan provides a means to make that dream a reality. Periodically, something will trigger me to revisit this valuable benefit of service. About three years ago, it was my own family weighing whether to use a VA loan for our…
Most veterans say that some of the more confusing aspects of qualifying for a VA home loan are the occupancy requirements. This usually stems from when a service member gets their PCS orders and has to move. Will they be able to rent the house? Will they be able to get a second VA loan…
The VA home loan benefit is one that most consumers would be thrilled to have; a mortgage loan with no down payment, no VA-required mortgage insurance, and the lower interest rates commonly associated with government-backed home loan programs. The VA loan program has weathered many difficult times including the housing crisis of 2008, for much of the…
The VA home loan program has been around for seven decades. This long-cherished benefit has backed more than 24 million military mortgages since 1944. But in many ways, it’s more important today than ever before. Many lenders tightened their lending requirements after the housing market collapse. Access to credit is starting to loosen, but it’s…
