Tips and advice to help Veterans and military families get the most from homebuying
Not all first-time homebuyers will have a robust credit history, and as strange as it sounds, things like your cable bill or P.O. Box can help you land a VA home loan. Using alternative tradelines may convince mortgage lenders that you're a safe bet.
Getting a VA home loan can be more challenging if there’s a civil judgment showing up on your credit report. These typically appear after a creditor takes a consumer to court because of unpaid debts.
While it isn’t a common occurrence, veterans and military members may be able to purchase with a VA home loan through a revocable inter vivos trust.
VA lenders will take a deep dive into your finance to determine if you are eligible for a VA home loan. One of the most important metrics is the Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio.
An incredibly powerful benefit of the VA home loan is military members' ability to use their Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) towards their mortgage payments. BAH rates depend on several different factors, so it's crucial to verify your amount with the DOD.
Learn about the major difference in hard and soft credit inquiries with a VA loan and how these affect your credit score.
Lenders may require a Verification of Rent (VOR) to better assess a borrower's likelihood of making on-time mortgage payments. While VORs aren't always necessary, it's important to understand what they are and how they can impact your mortgage process.
Your cash reserves are important to the homebuying journey as lenders want to make sure you have a stable, reliable income that’s likely to continue.
Keeping an eye on your credit score is a good habit to keep, especially when looking to buy a home. There are a few different types of credit scores your VA mortgage lender will look at when evaluating your finances, and several terms you should be aware of.
Verifying your employment is an important step in establishing eligibility for a VA home loan. However, changing jobs, being placed on temporary leave, or switching careers can all impact the timeline of your VA loan.
The inconsistency that results from self-employment can often lead to applicants running into some hurdles. They will need to verify their income and provide critical business documents to qualify. However, policies will vary depending on the lender.
Common-law marriage is an old concept and an often misunderstood one, but common-law marriages can qualify when it comes to being eligible for a VA home loan.
Here we take a look at discharge scenarios and who is eligible for a VA loan after leaving service.