Better serving our nation’s Veterans and military families purchase a home starts with one simple question.
“With more than 20 million veterans living in the United States today, real estate professionals can have a powerful and profound impact for those who served all while expanding their business in a patriotic way to an underserved market.” -The CE Shop
Real estate professionals who ask “Did You Serve?” to every client can easily identify veterans and service members. You can open the doors of ownership for veterans and service members who may not have been able to purchase a home through other financing and you’ll be able to provide valuable support to military families by providing them with the knowledge and skills around understanding the VA home loan program and application process.
VA home loan program benefits, eligibility, and process
A home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs are designed to help them buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for your their personal occupancy. The VA provides four ways to help; Purchase Loans, IRRRL’s, the NADL Program, and Adapted Housing Grants. Their are eligbility requirements such as their length of service or service commitment and duty status for specific home loan benefits. Eligibility now includes National Guard members with at least 90 days of active service including at least 30 consecutive days.
1. Purchase Loans
Benefits: Helps purchase a home at a competitive interest rate often without requiring a down-payment or private mortgage insurance. Cash Out Refinance loans allow them to take cash out of their home equity to take care of concerns like paying off debt, funding school, or making home improvements.
Eligibility: To be eligible, they must have satisfactory credit, sufficient income to meet the expected monthly obligations, and a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
Process: VA loans are obtained through a lender of choice once you obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). They can obtain a COE through eBenefits, by mail, and often through the lender.
2. Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL)
Benefits: Also called the Streamline Refinance Loan can help them obtain a lower interest rate by refinancing their existing VA loan.
Eligibility: The IRRRL is a “VA to VA” loan, meaning it can only be done if they have an existing VA guaranteed loan on the property.
Process: A new Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is not required. They can take their Certificate of Eligibility to show the prior use of their entitlement or their lender may use the VA e-mail confirmation procedure in lieu of a certificate of eligibility.
3. Native American Direct Loan (NADL) Program
Benefits: Helps eligible Native American Veterans finance the purchase, construction, or improvement of homes on Federal Trust Land, or reduce the interest rate on a VA loan.
Eligibility: Their tribal organization must participate in the VA direct loan program and they must have a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
Process: First, confirm that their tribal organization participates in the VA direct loan program. NADL loans are obtained through a lender of choice once they obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
4. Adapted Housing Grants
Benefits: Help Veterans with a permanent and total service-connected disability purchase or build an adapted home or to modify an existing home to account for their disability.
Eligibility: They’ll need a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) or Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grant. They may be able to get an SAH grant if they’re using the grant money to buy, build, or change their permanent home (a home they plan to live in for a long time). They must own or will own the home, and have a qualifying service-connected disability.
Process: They can apply for an SAH or SHA grant by either downloading and completing VA Form 26-4555 and submitting it to their nearest Regional Loan Center, or completing the online application.
An easy way to say thank-you to a veteran who is looking for a home is your business card with a gift card to a local restaurant on the other side. You can start with just 50 cards for $50 and load them with a value of $10 – $1000 dollars.
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