Common misconceptions about VA home loans

The VA home loan program is one of the most flexible and attractive ways to finance a home today. There’s no set downpayment requirement, no private mortgage insurance and rates are lower compared with some other types of loan programs. It’s also one of the most underutilized types of mortgages due to several common misconceptions.

For starters, many veterans don’t think they have served recently enough or for long enough to qualify for a VA (short for Veterans Affairs) home loan. Eligibility for a VA home loan is based on the length of time served, and the period in which you served. But the time requirement is less than you might think. And it doesn’t matter when you served. For instance, an Army veteran with at least 90 days in service around the time of the Vietnam War is likely eligible. Surviving spouses of those who were killed while serving our country and who haven’t remarried may be eligible as well.

Other people don’t realize that even if you don’t have a VA home loan currently, you may be able to refinance into a VA mortgage, provided you are eligible.

Still others believe the program only applies to the purchase of single-family homes and don’t realize that they can purchase a condominium with a VA home loan. In fact, you can buy many types of properties with a VA home loan. Single-family homes are the most common, but homes with up to four units, condominiums, town homes and manufactured homes that meet certain criteria may be eligible as well.

Questions about VA home loans? At Primary Residential Mortgage, we’d love to help you learn more about this incredible financing option. Haven’t served in the military? We work with a wide variety of other types of loan programs. Let us find a financing solution for you! Just call us at (360) 903-7890 to learn more.