Homebuyers who want to get a VA home loans need to meet certain requirements set by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and the lender they work with to get approved for the loan. Apart from the requirements set by the VA, lenders have a separate set of eligibility criteria for potential VA home buyers.
VA Home Loans Eligibility Requirements
Let’s have a look at those requirements in detail.
Minimum Service Requirements to be Eligible for VA home loans
According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, you are eligible for VA home loans.
- Firstly, if you are currently serving and have completed 90 days of continuous active duty
- Secondly, if you have served 90 days or more during world war 2, Vietnam or Korean war
- Thirdly, if you have served 181 days or more during peacetime
- Fourthly, if you have spent 6 years or more in the National Guard or Reserves
- Fifthly, if you have been discharged from service as a result of a service-related disability. There is no minimum service requirement for you and you are eligible to get approved for VA home loans
- Sixthly, if enlisted in the post-Vietnam era and have completed 2 years of service
If you were discharged with dishonor from the service, you are not eligible for VA home loans even if you fulfill the above criteria
Eligibility Criteria for Spouses
The spouses of veterans or service members are eligible to apply and get approved for VA-approved home loans, provided that their spouses
- Have died while in service
- Died from a service-related disability
- Is missing in action
- Is a prisoner of war
- Spouses can still get qualified for VA loans if they get Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits
Getting a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for VA Home Loans
A certificate of eligibility formally declares that you are eligible to apply for a VA-authorized home loan. You may meet the VA service criteria.
While it is not necessary to have your COE (Certificate of Eligibility) in your hand while you are applying for a VA home loans. But it is an important part of your VA loan eligibility. Therefore, Iit provides your lender the guarantee that you are qualified for the VA loan benefits.
Usually, when you go to a lender to apply for a home loan, they obtain your COE through the automated VA system.
Documents required to get COE
The verification of your service to obtain COE is through a DD form 214 for regular military members and the NGB form 22 and NGB form 23 for National Guard and Reserves.
Next, if you are an active military member, you will need a statement of service signed by the adjutant, personnel office, or the unit commander or headquarters.
How to apply for a COE
There are three common ways to apply for a COE for a VA-approved home loan.
- Apply via a VA-approved lender like Affiliated Mortgage
- Must apply through VA online e-benefits portal
- Apply through an email with VA form 26-1880
Additionally, if you want to get your COE immediately to fasten your home loan process, you should contact a verified home loan specialist. They complete the process of your service verification within minutes and make sure that your home buying process moves forward smoothly.
Basic Requirements
Finally, if you fulfill any of the above criteria you may still apply for VA loans. As you might know that the VA doesn’t provide loans to the veterans. But private lenders do. So in order to get approved for veteran-authorized VA home loans, you must also fulfill the basic requirements that are mentioned below
- The veteran must occupy the property as a home or intend to occupy it in a certain period of time after signing the loan contract.
- Loan should be for a legitimate purpose.
Thus, the veteran must be a satisfactory risk to the lender.
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