A VA loan is a mortgage loan available through a program established by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), previously the Veterans Administration. For eligible service members, a VA loan can usually be obtained without a down payment and with a lower interest rate than conventional loans.
What Is a VA Loan
A VA loan is a federally guaranteed mortgage loan available to veterans, military personnel, and certain surviving spouses. The VA loan is a mortgage for purchase (you won’t use it to refinance a loan) and can help eligible military buyers purchase a home with no down payment, or with a down payment of less than $500. You can also use this loan to pay for property taxes, insurance, and other related costs.
How Does a VA Loan Work
The VA loan is one of the most popular loan types available today, and it is the only loan to offer 100 percent financing to eligible military personnel and veterans.
A VA mortgage is a loan for the purchase of a single-family home, condo, townhouse, or mobile home of any value. You can also use a VA loan to buy a smaller lot to build on, making it the only loan that can be used to purchase a home or a property to build on.
How Do I Qualify for a VA Loan
Military members with active duty status, veterans, and surviving spouses are eligible to apply for a VA mortgage. Active duty military members can not have more than four years left on their contract to qualify for a VA loan. The veteran must not be on active duty and any service connected disability must have been rated and received in the VA system to qualify for a VA loan. The surviving spouse of a veteran must wait for specific time periods after the veteran’s death to qualify for a VA mortgage.
How to Apply for a VA Loan
Here are the general steps in applying for a VA loan:
- The first step in applying for a VA mortgage is determining whether you are eligible.
- Find a lender that is approved to accept VA loans.
- Apply for the loan. Because a VA loan is federally guaranteed, your lender will need to fill out an application and submit it to the Department of Veterans Affairs for approval.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs will review your loan application and either approve or deny it in a matter of days.
- Once the loan is approved, your lender will close the loan with your lender and arrange for the closing.
What Are the Benefits of a VA Loan
The benefits of VA mortgages include:
- No down payment or service fee required for most veterans purchasing a home with VA assistance.
- A 100 percent guaranteed loan. This means the lender is backed by the federal government, providing protection in the event that your loan goes into default.
- Competitive interest rates. VA mortgages offer lower interest rates than conventional mortgages.
- Access to mortgage tax deductions. Depending on where you live, you may be able to deduct the mortgage interest payments on your taxes.
- Down payment assistance. If you have a down payment of less than 5 percent of the home purchase price and you have a valid VA loan, you may be eligible for the down payment assistance program.
- VA loans do not require private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI is a recurring monthly payment, which is added to your mortgage balance to protect the lender in case you don’t make your mortgage payments.
Your VA Experts at McGowan Mortgages
Getting a VA loan is one of the smartest ways to purchase a home, and it can save military homebuyers a lot of money in interest payments over the long haul. For the most part, a VA loan is just like any other mortgage, but the fact that it is 100 percent guaranteed by the federal government makes it ideal for military homebuyers.
McGowan Mortgages offers loans pre-approval services to help finance the property you wish to buy. Let us assist you in applying for a VA loan and purchase the property you’ve always wanted. Contact us today at (816) 631-9687.
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