Minimum credit score
Qualifying for Veteran Home Loans
The Veteran Loan program is designed for veterans who meet the minimum number of days of completed service. Some of the other eligibility requirement for the VA loan program[5] and some specific home loan benefits include the length of service or service commitment, duty status and character of service. The program does allow for benefits to Surviving Spouses.
The VA does not have a minimum credit score used for pre-qualifying for a mortgage loan, however, most Lenders require a minimum credit score of at least 620.[6]
A Veteran who has used their entitlement to previously purchase a home, may have entitlement left to purchase another one. If you previously purchased a home using your VA Benefits then you might still have some of that “Entitlement” available to you for the purchase a new home. To Calculate Maximum Entitlement available, consider the following:
- If your previous home was purchased using a VA Loan, and that loan was paid off by the new owners, the full entitlement may have been restored.
- If you sold your home to someone, and allowed them to assume your VA Loan, then you might have the full entitlement restored, if one or more of the purchasers were also Veterans.
- If you still own the home, and you are renting it out – you might be able to purchase a new home using your partial entitlement, but there are several restrictions.
Allowable Income Sources used to qualify for a VA Loan include: Retirement Income, Social Security Income, Child Support, Alimony and Separate Maintenance, BAH, BAS and Disability Income. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for a Surviving Spouse can also be included. In addition, stable, documented income from employers remains the best income source for VA loans.
Requirements
VA Loan application
The VA loan application is a standardized loan application form 1003 issued by Fannie Mae also known as Freddie Mac Form 65. It is a Federal crime punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, to knowingly make any false statements on a VA loan application under the provisions of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001, et seq.
You will need the following paperwork to apply:
- Copies of your W2 statements for the past two years, so your gross household income can be confirmed,
- Copies of your previous two pay stubs,
- Documentation of other assets (checking accounts, savings accounts, financial investments, trust funds, etc.),
- If self-employed, two years of consecutive tax returns will be required.
- The Veteran also needs to supply their DD 214 and Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
On June 25, 2019, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 was signed into law temporarily increasing the VA funding fee for active duty service members and veterans starting January 1, 2020. The law removed VA county loan limits for homebuyers with full VA loan entitlement and made Purple Heart recipients exempt from paying the VA funding fee.[3] Several members of Congress were displeased after the passing of the act, writing an open letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy asking that future bills not be paid for by increasing VA loan fees.[4]
Funding fees
A funding fee must be paid to VA unless the veteran is exempt from such a fee because he or she receives a minimum of 10% VA disability compensation. If a veteran is awarded disability compensation after paying a funding fee, he/she can apply for a refund of this funding fee, so long as the beginning date of the disability is prior to the closing date of the home mortgage.
In August 2012, Congress passed a bill that allows a Veteran to receive the benefits of having Veteran Disability while it is still pending. The amount paid for the funding fee can be refunded back to the Veteran when a determination is made and the paperwork is received.
The VA Funding fee may be paid in cash or included in the loan amount. Closing costs such as VA appraisal, credit report, loan processing fee, title search, title insurance, recording fees, transfer taxes, survey charges, or hazard insurance may not be included in the loan. However, the seller may pay these on behalf of the VA borrower.
Purchase and construction loans
Due to the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, the VA funding fee is equalized for all branches of service starting January 1, 2020. For active duty military members and veterans, this means an increase in VA funding fee costs for a period of 2 years. If you have a service-connected disability that you are compensated for by the VA or if you are a surviving spouse of veteran who died in service or from service-connected disabilities, the funding fee is waived.
| Type of Veteran | Down Payment | First Time Use | Subsequent Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Military, Reserves/National Guard | None 5%-9.99% 10% or more | 2.3% 1.65% 1.4% | 3.6%* 1.65% 1.4% |
The VA funding fee can be financed directly into the maximum loan amount for the county in which the home is located. For subsequent use VA loans, if the sales price and the financed VA funding fee total more than maximum loan amount for that county, the borrower or seller must pay for the fee out of pocket. All VA loans require an impound account for property taxes and homeowners insurance which makes the monthly payment of VA loans calculated as a PITI payment.**
Cash-out refinancing loans
| Type of Veterans | Percentage for First Time Use | Percentage for Subsequent Use |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Military, Reserves/National Guard | 2.3% | 3.6%* |
- The higher subsequent use fee does not apply to these types of loans if the veteran’s only
prior use of entitlement was for a manufactured home loan.
Other types of loans
| Type of Loan | Percentage for Either Type of Veteran Whether First Time or Subsequent Use |
|---|---|
| Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loans | .50% |
| Manufactured Home Loans | 1.00% |
| Loan Assumptions | .50% |
- Veterans who previously lived in a home they had to then rent out will typically qualify for a no appraisal Interest Rate Reduction Refinance. The Veteran's Administration also allows Veteran Homeowners to refinance from a Conventional loan to a VA mortgage Loan. This process, however, does require an appraisal.
0% DOWN PAYMENT
580 or Higher Credit Score with most lenders I work with even though VA does not have a minimum credit score.
2.30% Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium (First-Time Use)
Financed into Loan Amount
Will Vary Depending on Down Payment and Subsequent Use
No Mortgage Insurance Required
No Maximum Loan Amount
Higher Loan Amounts Available with Down Payment
Great Option for Veterans or Active Military