How Do I Apply For A VA Home Loan?

Accuracy is one of the most important things when it comes to the military. This is also true when you apply to get a VA loan. Before you begin the application, be sure to have your two most recent financial statements, pay stubs, and tax returns. Bad credit is ok but you can not have any late payments in the last 12 months.

It's best to start working on your VA Loan application about a year before you want to buy a home. Pull a copy of your credit report and your credit score and those of your spouse if you have one. Check your credit report carefully for accuracy. If you find anything wrong get it corrected. If you have time you can pay down balances, start paying all your bills on time and improve your debt to income ratio before you apply for your VA Loan. Living frugally to improve your credit score is a great way to understand what it feels like to pay for a home before you actually make the commitment.

Start collecting all the papers you will need to fill out your VA Loan Application. These will include your Veterans certificate of eligibility, copies of your discharge or separation papers, two years of tax returns, your last pay-stub, your last bank statement and copies of any retirement and investment accounts. You may want a copy of your spouse's tax returns etc if he/she is to be a co-borrower on the loan. Keep all these documents ready and available in one place along with your credit report. Xerox everything so that you can give the lender anything they want without disrupting your file.

Now it's time to look for a house, once you find one you will enter into a purchase agreement and getting your VA Loan will be one of the contingencies. If you don't get the VA Loan you won't get the house. At the same time contact the nearest VA home loan centers office. They can help connect you to VA approved lenders.

It's time to sit down and apply for a VA Loan. Because you are familiar with your finances and have all your documents in one place this should go fairly smoothly. You MUST fill out your VA Loan Application accurately and completely. It should match the most up to date information on your credit report, bank statements and payment stubs. It's very important you get all the dates and numbers correct because your VA Loan could be denied if you make mistakes. In today's climate lenders are very wary and any mistake could be interpreted as deception. These mistakes could mean that your VA Loan is denied. If your loan is denied it will be harder and/or more expensive for you to get a loan in the future. Proof read your application three times. If you have done your homework and have an accurate application there is a good chance you will get your VA Loan.


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To apply for a VA loan, visit or call VA House Loan Application Desk / VA HLC.
Philip Georgiades is the Chief VA Loans
Steward for San Diego VA Loan Center.