Check Your VA Loan Eligibility

A VA loan is a mortgage made by a private lender and backed in part by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The program is available to eligible service members, Veterans, and certain surviving spouses and can offer benefits that differ from conventional mortgage financing.

VA loan eligibility generally depends on qualifying military service or another eligible status under VA rules. A Certificate of Eligibility is commonly used to confirm entitlement, although borrowers must also meet the mortgage lender's credit, income, underwriting, and property requirements.

Many eligible borrowers can use VA financing without a required down payment, subject to VA entitlement, lender approval, property value, and other program requirements. Closing costs and other expenses can still apply even when the down payment is zero.

VA loans generally do not require monthly private mortgage insurance. Many borrowers instead pay a VA funding fee, unless they qualify for an exemption. The funding fee may often be financed into the loan rather than paid entirely at closing.

A Certificate of Eligibility, often called a COE, is a document used to confirm that a borrower meets the VA's service eligibility requirements for the home loan benefit. Eligibility for the VA benefit does not by itself guarantee mortgage approval.

No. VA eligibility and mortgage approval are separate. A borrower may meet the VA's eligibility requirements but still need to satisfy lender underwriting standards for income, credit, debts, documentation, and the property before receiving final loan approval.