How to Qualify For a VA Loan
What is a VA Loan?
A VA loan is a mortgage provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs program. It is available to active and veteran military service personnel and their surviving spouses. While VA loans are issued by private lenders, they are backed by the federal government.
Do You Qualify?
Qualifying for a VA loan is not as hard as most people think. The criteria include your time in service and the status of your discharge from the military. Below are the basic qualifying requirements:
- Did you serve at least 2 years of regular service?
- Have you served at least 6 years in the National Guard or Reserves?
- Have you ever served 90 days of Active Duty during wartime?
- Did you serve 181 days of Active Duty during peacetime?
- Were you released from the military due to a duty-related disability?
- Are you the surviving spouse of a Veteran?
- Are you a cadet or midshipman of a United States Military Academy?
- Are you a member of certain other Federal service organizations?
Contact a loan specialist
Answering yes to any of these questions means you may qualify for a VA loan. The best way to determine if you do qualify is to contact a loan specialist and have them pull your Certificate of Eligibility from the VA lender website. This document will determine if you are eligible for the VA Home Loan Benefit. Call (888) 232-1428 today to find out if you qualify.