Thanks to the bravery and sacrifices of our veterans and active military, the rest of our country’s civilians can live the American dream in safety. So how fitting is it that one tangible way our country says “thank you for your service” to current and former members of the military is through the VA home loan benefit? These unique mortgage options allow veterans and those still serving to acquire their own piece of the American dream by potentially qualifying for homes they might have otherwise thought were out of reach. Veterans, active-duty service personnel, and select reservists or National Guard members are among those who can qualify for VA loans. (Find specific eligibility requirements here.) Wondering what some of the benefits of a VA loan might be? Here are five of the most popular features.
1. No down payment
This is one of the most valuable and touted benefits—and for good reason. Saving enough for a down payment can be the biggest obstacle to buying a home. But a VA loan eliminates that roadblock. Qualified VA buyers don’t have a down payment requirement in most cases.
But beware: The “no money down” aspect of a VA loan shouldn’t be confused with “no money out of pocket,” a common misconception.
A VA purchase transaction still requires closing costs and often includes an earnest money deposit (a negotiated amount of money that the buyer puts in escrow to essentially “hold” the house).
However, that money will often come back at the closing, when the title company will write a check back to the veteran on the spot for the total amount that was put into escrow.
2. More lenient loan requirements
The required credit score for a VA loan can be lower than for a conventional loan—around 620 for a VA loan compared with a range of 650 to 700 for most conventional loans.
In addition, the required debt-to-income ratio for VA loans is often more flexible than for conventional mortgages.
“It allows someone with less-than-perfect credit and some debt to still be able to qualify for a loan,” Dinsmore says.
3. No mortgage insurance
Most conventional buyers have to pay private mortgage insurance if they put less than 20% down. FHA loans come with their own forms of mortgage insurance. But a VA loan waives that insurance requirement.
And trust us—this one’s important. This can be a big savings in monthly payments
Even though there’s no mortgage insurance, there is a “funding fee”—an upfront cost applied to every purchase loan or refinance. The proceeds help the VA cover losses on the few loans that go into default. But borrowers can roll it into their monthly payment or pay it all at once. Plus, it’s tax-deductible. And veterans with a service-connected disability and select others don’t have to pay the funding fee at all.
4. Limited closing costs
Legally, veterans may have to pay for certain closing costs, which include the following:
- Credit report
- Origination fee
- Recording fee
- Survey
- Title insurance
But there are some fees that veterans don’t have to pay. And the VA allows lenders to charge no more than 1% to cover the costs of originating and underwriting the loan.
Furthermore, even those costs can be rolled into the loan. So for example, if the purchase price is $280,000, the veteran might offer $300,000 and ask for 3% back to cover the closing costs.
5. Extra assistance with appraisals
When a home that a veteran is considering purchasing is having trouble reaching the purchase price during the appraisal process, buyers and lenders can ask the VA appraiser to consider adjusting the valuation before making a final determination.
Appraisers notify lenders in the event the appraised value is likely to come in low, giving buyers and real estate agents 48 hours to supply additional information that the appraiser might not be aware of to help justify the home’s value.