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Financing

VA Loans: Eligibility and Financing

Jan 11th, 2012
by Kathy Rain.
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On average, VA loans are typically easier to qualify for than a conventional lending program. The program still provides significant financial benefits despite the fact that only a fraction of our nation’s veterans and service members have taken advantage of their benefits.

What is even worse, is according to a study by the Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly 20 percent of veterans don’t even know the program exists.

  • Qualifying for a VA loan
    VA loans are fairly easy to qualify for. Prospective buyers must have only:
    Served 181 days on active duty during peacetime or 90 days during wartime
    Served six years in the National Guard or Reserves
    Be the spouse of a fallen service member who died due to a service related injury.

Those who fall into one of those categories must take the next step of filling out a Certificate of Eligibility, or COE. This official VA document proves you are able to participate in the program and have met the service requirements. Applicants can obtain these through the VA directly or through an approved VA lender.

VA officials must look over the Certificate of Eligibility and ultimately determine whether a prospective borrower can participate.

The Department of Veterans Affairs doesn’t give explicit income or credit standards to qualify for the program, since the VA doesn’t issue the loan. Income and credit standards are given by VA-approved lenders, which generally require a minimum score of 620 to qualify.

Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan (IRRRL)
The VA’s IRRRL, or streamline refinance, gives current VA home loan holders the opportunity to take advantage of the market’s low interest rates.
Prospective borrowers should remember that for this to be worth their while, they should make sure the new interest rate is lower than the current rate and that you can’t refinance a FHA or conventional loan through the IRRRL.

This program isn’t for everyone, but for those looking to lower their current interest rate, it is a great option. For more information on the VA home loan program and the VA’s IRRRL, contact a VA-approved lender like Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s leading dedicated provider of VA home loans. Kevin Pearia is a mortgage commentator for Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s leading dedicated provider of VA home loans.

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What is the VA Home Loan Program?

Jan 4th, 2012
by Kathy Rain.
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The VA Loan Guaranty program was created over 65 years ago to honor the service members returning from World War II. Since then, the program has serviced over 20 million active-duty and veterans, providing them with flexible, low-cost lending.

Service members have long had a history of constant moves and deployments, which tends to have a negative effect on one’s finances. That transient lifestyle can take a toll on a service member’s ability to plan for and build toward the future, including providing the high down payment required by most conventional loan programs. This is the main reason why the VA loan program has proved to be so crucial for the last 66 years.

VA loans come with a guarantee from the U.S. government. In short, the VA agrees to repay up to a fourth of a borrower’s mortgage if he or she defaults on their loan. That guarantee gives a greater degree of confidence to lenders, which, in turn can offer qualified borrowers competitive interest rates and flexible loan terms.

In fact, the VA Home Loan program is one of the few remaining zero money down mortgage options available. Veterans and active duty across the nation see not having to place a down payment as one of the greatest benefits, and without it, they would not have been able to acquire proper housing.

Interest in VA loans is surging across the country. Amid a tight credit environment and a rollercoaster of a housing market, service members are turning to the safety of these government-backed loans in record numbers.
 
In the past year, a surge in VA home loan refinance has been responsible for the VA Loan program guaranteeing nearly 360,000 single-family loans for the fiscal year ending September 30.

Kevin Pearia is a mortgage commentator for Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s leading dedicated provider of VA home loans.

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Getting a Loan When You Are Self Employed

Dec 27th, 2011
by Kathy Rain.
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The San Mateo community has a spirit of entrepenuership which helps define our culture. For many, owning their own business and being their own boss sounds like a dream come true. However, if you are self employed you most likely know that owning your own business can be stressful and overwhelming at times.

But while being a business owner is a great deal of work, it is part of the American dream. The downside is that if you are in the market to purchase a new home in San Mateo and are planning on applying for a loan based on your self-employment income, you may be faced with some challenges you weren’t expecting.

Unfortunately the current economic situation has forced many lenders to tighten their requirements and that may make getting a loan more difficult than in past years for self employed home buyers. Here’s the score on what today’s lenders are looking for.

1. Forget about a ‘stated income’ mortgage – you are going to need tax documents, bank records and at least a two year history of business stability for a lender to even consider your application. Even if you are just branching out in the same kind of business that you have done for years, expect tight requirements and nearly perfect credit to move forward with qualifying.

2. Do your homework – research the banks or mortgage lenders you want to approach and find out exactly what paperwork and documentation they require to process a loan for a self-employed borrower. Spend time putting your documents together carefully and thoroughly in advance of your application.

3. Look for lenders who have a track record of accepting self-employed borrowers and try to meet with them in person to review your paperwork and find the right kind of loan package for your needs and situation.

4. Take a break from write-offs for a couple of years – those tax deductions help with your disposable income, but they also take down your gross income level. Lenders want to see a good debt-to-income ratio,not how clever you are about expensing your income away. Direct any questions about how to manage your expenses and write-offs to your CPA.

5. Stay liquid – build your bank account so that lenders can see your ability to make payments even if you have seasonal or other fluctuations in your income levels month to month or year to year. A solid savings plan and liquid assets can be helpful in getting your application approved.

Finally, if you have a strong co-signer, one with great finances and a steady income, you may be able to overcome your lender’s concerns and hesitation when it comes to considering the source and level of your personal income.

Are you self employed and have more questions? Contact me for more information, I would be happy to help!

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