VA Home Loans for Veterans and Service Members
A benefit you earned, explained with care.
A VA loan is one of the most valuable benefits available to veterans and service members. It can make buying a home possible with little or no money up front.
First-Time VA Homebuyers
Your first home, step by step.
Each step is walked through before it happens, from verifying your benefit to the day you get your keys. No question is too basic, and there is never any pressure.
Buying a Home with a VA Loan
Buying your home, made easier.
A VA loan often comes with a lower interest rate and limits on the fees you can be charged when you buy. That means more of your money stays in your pocket.
VA Refinance Options
Refinance on your terms.
Lower your rate or monthly payment through a simpler VA refinance, or turn part of your home's value into cash for what comes next.
VA Loans and Divorce
Clarity when life changes.
When a VA loan is part of a divorce, the path forward depends on who keeps the home. In some cases, a refinance isn't necessary at all.
Explore divorce mortgage planning →
VA Loan Eligibility
Eligibility, simplified.
Veterans, active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and some surviving spouses may qualify. Verifying your benefit is simple, and it's handled as part of the process.
Ready to begin? Start your application →
Frequently Asked Questions About VA Loans
Do I need a down payment for a VA loan?
Most VA buyers do not need a down payment, which is the money paid up front toward the price of a home. Whether you will depends mainly on the home's price and how much of your VA benefit is available.
Do VA loans have mortgage insurance?
VA loans do not require monthly mortgage insurance, a cost many other loans add when buyers put little money down. Most VA buyers pay a one-time VA funding fee instead, which can usually be added to the loan amount. Some veterans, including those receiving VA disability compensation, do not pay the fee at all.
Can I use a VA loan more than once?
VA loan benefits can be used more than once. Your VA home loan benefit, called entitlement, generally resets when a previous VA loan is paid off. In some cases, a second VA loan is possible while the first is still active.
What is a VA streamline refinance?
A VA streamline refinance, officially called an Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan, lets homeowners with an existing VA loan refinance to a lower rate or more stable payment, usually with less paperwork than a standard refinance.
What happens to a VA loan in a divorce?
It depends on who keeps the home and how the settlement is written. When the veteran keeps the home and neither spouse needs to be paid for their share of it, a refinance may not be necessary. The company that manages the loan can often remove the non-veteran spouse through a simpler process. When the non-veteran spouse keeps the home, the veteran's VA home loan benefit may stay tied to that loan until it is refinanced or paid off.
Learn more about divorce mortgage planning →
Who is eligible for a VA loan?
Eligibility depends on how long you served and the type of discharge you received. Veterans, active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and some surviving spouses may qualify. The VA provides a document called a Certificate of Eligibility that shows your benefit, and it can be requested as part of the loan process.
Where does Julie Crittenden offer VA loans?
Julie Crittenden offers VA loans in California, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.
