VA HOME LOANS PROVIDE A GREAT BENEFTIT TO THE VETERAN WHO IS LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME TO PURHCASE WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY DOWN, OR FOR THOSE LOOKING TO REFINANCE AN EXISITING MORTGAGE UTILIZING TODAY'S LOW RATES WITHOUT THE ADDED INCREASE IN PAYMENTS CAUSED BY MONTLY MORTGAGE INSURANCE.  VA RATES ARE AT THEIR HISTORIC LOWS -  ELIGIBLE VETERANS MY ALSO REFINANCE THEIR EXISITING NON-VA MORGAGE LOAN INTO A NEW VA HOME LOAN.  SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY - CALL CAVALIER FOR DETAILS.       757-333-9000

Are you eligible for a VA loan?  Here are some frequently asked questions and answers from the VA site

Q: How do I apply for a VA guaranteed loan?

A: You can apply for a VA loan with any mortgage lender that participates in the VA home loan program. At some point, you will need to get a Certificate of Eligibility from VA to prove to the lender that you are eligible for a VA loan.

Q: How do I get a Certificate of Eligibility?

A: Complete a VA Form 26-1880,  Request for a Certificate of Eligibility: You can apply for a Certificate of Eligibility by submitting a completed VA Form 26-1880, Request For A Certificate of Eligibility For Home Loan Benefits, to the Winston-Salem Eligibility Center, along with proof of military service. In some cases it may be possible for VA to establish eligibility without your proof of service. However, to avoid any possible delays, it's best to provide such evidence.

Q: Can my lender get my Certificate of Eligibility for me?

A: Yes, it's called Web LGY. Most lenders have access to the Web LGY system. This Internet based application can establish eligibility and issue an online Certificate of Eligibility in a matter of seconds. Not all cases can be processed through Web LGY - only those for which VA has sufficient data in our records. However, veterans are encouraged to ask their lenders about this method of obtaining a certificate. 

Q: What is acceptable proof of military service?

A: If you are still serving on regular active duty, you must include an original statement of service signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters which identifies you and your social security number, and provides your date of entry on your current active duty period and the duration of any time lost.

If you were discharged from regular active duty after January 1, 1950, a copy of DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty should be included with your VA Form 26-1880. If you were discharged after October 1, 1979, DD Form 214 copy 4 should be included. A PHOTOCOPY OF DD214 WILL SUFFICE.....DO NOT SUBMIT AN ORIGINAL DOCUMENT.

If you are still serving on regular active duty, you must include an original statement of service signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters which shows your date of entry on your current active duty period and the duration of any time lost.

If you were discharged from the Selected Reserves or the National Guard, you must include copies of adequate documentation of at least 6 years of honorable service. If you were discharged from the Army or Air Force National Guard, you may submit NGB Form 22, Report of Separation and Record of Service, or NGB Form 23, Retirement Points Accounting, or it’s equivalent. If you were discharged from the Selected Reserve, you may submit a copy of your latest annual points statement and evidence of honorable service. Unfortunately, there is no single form used by the Reserves or National Guard similar to the DD Form 214. It is your responsibility to furnish adequate documentation of at least 6 years of honorable service.

If you are still serving in the Selected Reserves or the National Guard, you must include an original statement of service signed by, or by the direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters showing the length of time that you have been a member of the Selected Reserves. Again, at least 6 years of honorable service must be documented.

Q: How can I obtain proof of military service?

A: Standard Form 180, Request Pertaining to Military Records, is used to apply for proof of military service regardless of whether you served on regular active duty or in the selected reserves. This request form is NOT processed by VA. Rather, Standard Form 180 is completed and mailed to the appropriate custodian of military service records. Instructions are provided on the reverse of the form to assist in determining the correct forwarding address.

Q: I have already obtained one VA loan. Can I get another one?

A: Yes, your eligibility is reusable depending on the circumstances. Normally, if you have paid off your prior VA loan and disposed of the property, you can have your used eligibility restored for additional use. Also, on a one-time only basis, you may have your eligibility restored if your prior VA loan has been paid in full but you still own the property. In either case, to obtain restoration of eligibility, the veteran must send a completed VA Form 26-1880 to our Winston-Salem Eligibility Center. To prevent delays in processing, it is also advisable to include evidence that the prior loan has been paid in full and, if applicable, the property disposed of. This evidence can be in the form of a paid-in-full statement from the former lender, or a copy of the HUD-1 settlement statement completed in connection with a sale of the property or refinance of the prior loan.

Q: I sold the property I obtained with my prior VA loan on an assumption. Can I get my eligibility restored to use for a new loan?

A: In this case the veteran’s eligibility can be restored only if the qualified assumer is also an eligible veteran who is willing to substitute his or her available eligibility for that of the original veteran. Otherwise, the original veteran cannot have eligibility restored until the assumer has paid off the VA loan.

Q: My prior VA loan was assumed, the assumer defaulted on the loan, and VA paid a claim to the lender. VA said it wasn’t my fault and waived the debt. Now I need a new VA loan but I am told that my used eligibility can not be restored. Why?

Or,

Q: My prior loan was foreclosed on, or I gave a deed in lieu of foreclosure, or the VA paid a compromise (partial) claim. Although I was released from liability on the loan and/or the debt was waived, I am told that I cannot have my used eligibility restored. Why?

A: In either case, although the veteran’s debt was waived by VA, the Government still suffered a loss on the loan. The law does not permit the used portion of the veteran’s eligibility to be restored until the loss has been repaid in full.

Q: Only a portion of my eligibility is available at this time because my prior loan has not been paid in full even though I don’t own the property anymore. Can I still obtain a VA guaranteed home loan?

A: Yes, depending on the circumstances. If a veteran has already used a portion of his or her eligibility and the used portion cannot yet be restored, any partial remaining eligibility would be available for use. The veteran would have to discuss with a lender whether the remaining balance would be sufficient for the loan amount sought and whether any down payment would be required.

Q: Is the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran eligible for the home loan benefit?

A: The unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died on active duty or as the result of a service-connected disability is eligible for the home loan benefit. If you wish to make application for the home loan benefit as a surviving spouse, contact our Winston-Salem Eligibility Center. In addition, a surviving spouse who obtained a VA home loan with the veteran prior to his or her death (regardless of the cause of death), may obtain a VA guaranteed interest rate reduction refinance loan. For more information, contact our Winston-Salem Eligibility Center.

[NOTE: Also, a surviving spouse who remarries on or after attaining age 57, and on or after December 16, 2003, may be eligible for the home loan benefit. However, a surviving spouse who remarried before December 16, 2003, and on or after attaining age 57, must apply no later than December 15, 2004, to establish home loan eligibility. VA must deny applications from surviving spouses who remarried before December 16, 2003 that are received after December 15, 2004.]

Q: Are the children of a living or deceased veteran eligible for the home loan benefit?

A: No, the children of an eligible veteran are not eligible for the home loan benefit. 

VA Guaranty Calculation Examples

The following examples illustrate some common situations involving VA-guaranteed loans. They are by no means comprehensive. Due to variations in the amount of entitlement available to an individual veteran, loan limits for individual counties, and purchase prices for homes, situations may arise which are not covered here. Lenders are encouraged to contact the appropriate VA Regional Loan Center prior to closing a loan if there are questions about the VA guaranty calculation.

Veteran has full entitlement available and is purchasing a home for $300,000 where the county loan limit is $417,000.

$417,000 X 25% = $104,250 Maximum Guaranty and Available Entitlement

$300,000 X 25% = $75,000 Guaranty and Down Payment Combination Required

Since VA’s guaranty is limited to the lesser of 25% of the county loan limit or 25% of the loan amount, VA will guaranty $75,000 on Veteran’s $300,000 loan in this county. A down payment should not be required.

Veteran has used $48,000 of entitlement on a prior loan, which may not be restored, and is purchasing a home for $320,000 where the county loan limit is $625,000.

$625,000 X 25% = $156,250 Maximum Guaranty

$156,250 - $48,000 = $108,250 Entitlement Available

$108,250 X 4 = $433,000 Maximum Loan Amount with 25% Guaranty

Since the proposed loan amount will be less than $433,000, the lender will receive 25% VA Guaranty on the loan of $320,000. A down payment should not be required.

Veteran has used $104,250 of entitlement on a prior loan, which may not be restored, and is purchasing a home for $380,000 where the county loan limit is $815,000.

$815,000 X 25% = $203,750 Maximum Guaranty

$203,750 - $104,250 = $99,500 Entitlement Available

$99,500 X 4 = $398,000 Maximum Loan Amount with 25% Guaranty

Since the proposed loan amount will be less than $398,000, the lender will receive 25% VA Guaranty on the loan of $380,000. A down payment should not be required.

Example 4

Veteran has full entitlement available and is purchasing a home for $480,000 where the county loan limit is $417,000.

$417,000 X 25% = $104,250 Maximum Guaranty and Entitlement Available

$104,250 / $480,000 = 21.72% Guaranty

Since VA’s Guaranty will be less than 25%, a down payment will likely be required to meet investor requirements.

$480,000 X 25% = $120,000

$120,000 - $104,250 = $15,750 Down Payment

Example 5

Veteran has used $27,500 of entitlement on a prior loan, which may not be restored, and is purchasing a home for $320,000 where the county loan limit is $417,000.

$417,000 X 25% = $104,250 Maximum Guaranty

$104,250 - $27,500 = $76,750 Entitlement Available

$76,750 / $320,000 = 23.98% Guaranty

$76,750 X 4 = $307,000 Maximum Loan Amount with 25% Guaranty

Since VA’s Guaranty will be less than 25%, a down payment will likely be required to meet investor requirements.

$320,000 X 25% = $80,000

$80,000 - $76,750 = $3,250 Down Payment

Example 6

Veteran has used $36,000 of entitlement on a prior loan, which may not be restored, and is purchasing a home for $120,000 where the county loan limit is $417,000.

Since the loan amount will not be over $144,000, the veteran’s additional entitlement cannot be used. Therefore, the guaranty would be 0%: $0 / $120,000

Example 7

Veteran has full entitlement available and is purchasing a home for $800,000 where the county loan limit is $729,750.

$729,750 X 25% = $182,437.50 Maximum Guaranty and Entitlement Available

$182,437.50 / $800,000 = 22.81% Guaranty

$800,000 X 25% = $200,000 Guaranty and Down Payment Combination Required

$200,000 - $182,437.50 = $17,562.50 Down PaymentNOTE

: Veteran's should contact their Cavalier to determine secondary market requirements.

For more information regarding your VA benefit, please visit: http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/

Your local office regarding VA related benefits is located in Roanoke Virginia -   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it    (800) 933-5499