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What Are VA Loans?
VA loans offer special mortgage terms to qualified veterans, active duty service members, and their spouses. Guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), these loans have flexible qualifying criteria and generally do not require a down payment.
At First Heritage Mortgage, we’re committed to supporting those who have served. Our VA loans help you transition from serving your country to owning a piece of it.
What Are The Benefits of VA Loans?
- No private mortgage insurance requirement
- 100% financing up to the VA lending limit in your area *
- Borrow up to $1.5 million with a VA Jumbo Loan **
- Right to prepay loan without penalties
- Flexible qualifying criteria
- Lenient debt-to-income ratio
- Closing costs comparable — and sometimes lower — than other financing types
- Mortgage can be taken over (or “assumed”) by the buyer when a home is sold
- Counseling and assistance available to veteran borrowers having financial difficulty or facing default on their loan
Who Qualifies for VA Loans?
VA loans are designed for those who’ve dedicated their lives to service: Veterans, active-duty service members, Reserve and National Guard members, and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty or from a service-related disability.
To be eligible, you typically need to have served 90 consecutive days on active duty during wartime, 181 days during peacetime, or 6 years in the Reserves or National Guard. You’ll need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA. Don’t worry — we’ll help you obtain this document and work to make the process smooth and stress-free.
Does My Home Qualify for a VA Loan?
Not all homes qualify. Here’s what to know:
- Primary Residence: The home must be where you’ll live most of the time.
- Property Types: Single-family homes, condos, manufactured homes, and multi-unit properties (if you live in one unit) can qualify.
- Condition: The VA requires homes to be safe, sanitary, and structurally sound. We’ll arrange a VA appraisal to check this.
- No Income-Producing Features: This includes barns or workshops that could be rented out.
Other Considerations and Additional Fees
To qualify for a VA loan, you’ll need to have a stable income source. It doesn’t have to be a traditional job — VA disability benefits, retirement pay, or self-employment income can all qualify.
VA loans are known for low costs, but there are fees to consider. The primary one is the VA Funding Fee, a one-time fee that supports the VA loan program. It ranges from 1.4% to 3.6% of your loan amount, depending on your down payment and service category. Many choose to finance this into their loan.
Your Homeownership Partner
At First Heritage Mortgage, we’re more than just your VA home mortgage lender — we’re your partners in your journey to homeownership. With years of experience in home financing, we’re here to answer your questions, address your concerns, and help you navigate your next chapter.
Connect With A Loan OfficerReady? Let’s get started.
Get in touch with our team of VA mortgage lenders to learn more about the loan option that’s best for you.
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Begin your journey towards home ownership today.