Category : Blog

Admin answers:

Go to the Veterans Affairs website and enter your information it will give you the maximum loan amount. You normally do not need a down payment with a VA home loan. Are you currently working with a VA Rep on this and if so what have they told you about your situation? What does the VA certificate say exactly? Sounds like from what you have said – that VA Certificate would be your eligibility certificate. So when you are ready you bring that with you to the Bank or Mortgage Co. To get started with buying a home. A word of warning – VA can be very picky when they send in their experts to inspect the home you are bidding for. Expect that the older the home is – the longer the entire process is and it can be a big pain for both buyer and seller. Meaning if their inspectors (electrical, plumbing, etc.) see any possible needed repairs expect VA to demand those repairs be fixed before the deal goes through! Good luck!

Admin answers:

Its usually only good for a few months but now any veteran can go get one the same day our request one by mail. Then just find a lender that will take it. If you are getting ready to apply for a mortgage, let us know, and we can refer you to VA lenders who will get your COE for free of charge. Too easy…

Admin answers:

VA guaranteed loans are made by private lenders, such as banks, savings & loans, or mortgage companies to eligible veterans for the purchase of a home which must be for their own personal occupancy. To get a loan, a veteran must apply to a lender. If the loan is approved, VA will guarantee a portion of it to the lender. This guaranty protects the lender against loss up to the amount guaranteed and allows a veteran to obtain favorable financing terms. There is no maximum VA loan but lenders will generally limit VA loans to $417,000. This is because lenders sell VA loans in the secondary market, which currently places a $417,000 limit on the loans. For loans up to this amount, it is usually possible for qualified veterans to obtain no downpayment financing. A veteran’s basic entitlement is $36,000 (or up to $104,250 for certain loans over $144,000). Lenders will generally loan up to 4 times a veteran’s available entitlement without a downpayment, provided the veteran is income and credit qualified and the property appraises for the asking price.

Admin answers:

Sometimes it makes sense to spend a little time up front getting your credit straightened out and then getting a nice easy loan. People don’t always want to hear that becasue they go shopping before they’re ready. We can refer you to profession credit repair specialists who can help you have a squeaky clean credit report in 90 days or so. Then we can refer you to one of our preferred lenders who will be able to get you the best terms available in the marketplace.

Admin answers:

Perfect- No, Solid Yes. See the above answer. It pays to get your credit in order prior to getting a VA loan

Admin answers:

First you’ll need to get your credit scores on the mend. For credit repair, you can do it yourself by reading up on it at www.CreditBoards.com . If you would rather hire a professional credit repair, we can refer you to a reputable firm that can help you clear your credit up in about 90 days. In the meantime, you will also want to start re-building your credit with secured credit cards. One or two should be sufficient to get started, but make sure that the card(s) you get report to the credit bureaus as unsecured revolving credit cards.

Admin answers:

A copy of DD-214 (the one where they say, “sign this and you’re a civilian!”) or whatever it is that certifies eligible active service . Honorable or General discharge are required if you’re out, not undesirable (or worse). If you’ve got 10% or greater disability, VA funding fees are waived. You can have more than one VA loan going, but the aggregate limit is $417,000 or less (current conforming loan limit- which can vary by state or county). The VA loan is unique in its ability to roll up to 3% closing costs into the loan, making things like “$1 down payment” possible.

Admin answers:

VA streamlined mortgage refinance would look at your credit report to see if there are things that would disqualify you for the mortgage loan you would apply for. Even though the VA seldom use the credit scores for evaluation they are indeed looked at.

You might still refinance your current mortgage, you would need to contact a VA mortgage lender, explain to them you would want a mortgage only refinance. This type mortgage would cause the lender to place more weight on the mortgage payments you have payed each month in the past two years. You may even have 1 or 2 30 day late payments.

If you have not missed a payment in 2 years you would have more weight the longer you have gone without missing a mortgage payment.

I hope this has been of some benefit to you, good luck.

“FIGHT ON”

Admin answers:

From: http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/elig2.asp

Gulf War – Service during period 8/2/1990 to date yet to be determined

If you served on active duty during the Gulf War, you must have:

• Completed 24 months of continuous active duty or the full period (at least 90 days) for which you were called or ordered to active duty, and been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or
• Completed at least 90 days of active duty and been discharged under the specific authority of 10 USC 1173 (Hardship), or 10 USC 1173 (Early Out), or have been determined to have a compensable service-connected disability, or
• Been discharged with less than 90 days of service for a service-connected disability. Individuals may also be eligible if they were released from active duty due to an involuntary reduction in force, certain medical conditions, or, in some instances, for the convenience of the Government.

Admin answers:

The sellers do not have to pay your closing costs, however they are permitted to contribute up to 6% if they wish. Just like with any loan however, the seller will have their own closing cost to pay (non-allowables that the veteran cannot pay). These include things like processing fees, loan origination, admin, doc fees, commission, termite inspection, etc. The seller however is not required to pay fees that will exceed 1% of the purchase price. Hope this helps

Admin answers:

Yes, they can. The Veterans Administration does not actually make loans. They act as an insurance company. The money comes from the bank but the loan has an insurance policy in the form of the VA funding fee you pay to obtain the loan. This funding fee covers the insurance for the bank with the VA and insures that in the event of a default by your son, the bank will be able to get most of their money back. This insurance is what makes the loan a VA loan. Without it, the loan is considered a conventional loan and your mortgage company would then obtain the insurance through a private mortgage insurance company (PMI).

Consequently, the rate charged by the institution is at their discretion. However it must be within reason or the VA may not allow them to continue making VA loans. 5.875 is somewhat high right now for a typical VA loan. I would question this with the lender. There may be a reason for this, but without reviewing your file, I have no idea on what that may be.

Admin answers:

I am so sorry to hear this kind of thing happening to our veterans that served our country. It is horrible and I am very sad for you. I reviewed the guidelines and according to the VA regulations regarding entitlements for home loans it does not appear that your family member would be able to get another VA home loan. It would be a good idea to contact the Veterans Administration directly and inquire about obtaining another “certificate of eligibility”, especially if there is no outstanding deficit judgment. Hope this helps!
FYI: if veterans have financial problems they can call the VA for help prior to the act of foreclosure or bankruptcy.

Admin answers:

Rates are always the same and the appraisal is done by either a certified FHA or VA appraiser, but the valuation calculation is done the same way.

If you can get a VA mortgage, get a VA.

VA is better than an FHA b/c you don’t pay PMI with a VA or a down payment.

Admin answers:

It really depends on your wife’s credit score. With FHA if she has over a 620, normally that’s not an issue.

Admin answers:

You can sell your house anytime you want to. VA is just a mortgage financial agency to help veterans buy a home. No strings attached.