Are you a veteran looking to buy a home? As a veteran, you might be wondering how you can apply for a VA loan to assist in your home buying process, and if you’re eligible for this type of loan. To put it simply, you must meet the requirements that have been set by the Department of Veterans Affairs and you must have a Certificate of Eligibility. In this post, we’ll break down the eligibility requirements.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a VA loan, you only have to meet one of these requirements. These requirements include: having served 90 consecutive days of active service during wartime, having served 181 days of active service during peacetime, having completed six years in the National Guard or Reserves, or if you are a spouse of a service member that died while in the service.
If you don’t meet the time requirements due to medical discharges, you may still be eligible. However, if you were dishonorably discharged, you may not be eligible. Should this be your status, you may apply to upgrade your discharge status through the VA.
Applying
The process for applying for a VA loan is similar to the process of applying for a normal loan. Once you find a bank, credit union, or mortgage company that offers them, you will give the chosen lender your employment, income, and other financial documents. One specific item you’ll need to apply for the VA loan is the valid Certificate of Eligibility. This certificate shows the lender that you meet the requirements needed to qualify for a VA loan. The Certificate of Eligibility can be provided by the VA or you can request that the VA lender gets the certificate for you.
Are you ready to buy a home? At Continental Title Company, we can make that dream come true. Contact us to let us help you with your home buying process. As a title company near you, we are here to thank you for serving for us by serving you.