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Guide to VA Home Loans: How They Work, Who Qualifies
VA loans are for current and veteran service members, as well as eligible spouses. VA mortgages have competitive interest rates and usually require no down payment.
Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners.
Barbara Marquand Senior Writer | Homebuying, homeownership, mortgages
Barbara Marquand is a former NerdWallet writer covering mortgages, homebuying and homeownership, insurance and investing. Previously, she covered personal finance for QuinStreet and wrote for national consumer and trade publications on topics including business, careers and parenting. Her work has appeared in MarketWatch, MSN Money, The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Michelle Blackford spent 30 years working in the mortgage and banking industries, starting her career as a part-time bank teller and working her way up to becoming a mortgage loan processor and underwriter. She has worked with conventional and government-backed mortgages. Michelle currently works in quality assurance for Innovation Refunds, a company that provides tax assistance to small businesses.
At NerdWallet, our content goes through a rigorous editorial review process. We have such confidence in our accurate and useful content that we let outside experts inspect our work.
Johanna Arnone Assigning Editor | Mortgage lenders, homebuying, home equity
Johanna Arnone helps lead coverage of homeownership and mortgages at NerdWallet. She has more than 15 years' experience in editorial roles, including six years at the helm of Muse, an award-winning science and tech magazine for young readers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Canada's McGill University and a Master of Fine Arts in writing for children and young adults. Practice making complicated stories easier to understand comes in handy every day as she works to simplify the dizzying steps of buying or selling a home and managing a mortgage. Johanna has also completed coursework in Boston University’s Financial Planning Certificate program. She is based in New Hampshire.
Taylor Getler Writer | Home equity, first-time home buying, home warranties
Taylor Getler is a home and mortgages writer for NerdWallet. Her work has been featured in outlets such as MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, MSN and Nasdaq. Taylor is enthusiastic about financial literacy and helping consumers make smart, informed choices with their money.
If you've served in the military and need a mortgage, then a VA loan might be right for you, whether you're buying a home or refinancing. Here's what to know.
What is a VA home loan?
A VA loan is a mortgage guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and issued by a private lender, such as a bank, credit union or mortgage company. A VA loan can make it easier to buy a home because it typically doesn't require a down payment.
Only qualified U.S. veterans, active-duty military personnel and some surviving spouses are eligible for VA loans. The 1944 GI Bill of Rights established the VA home loan program to help veterans get a foothold in civilian life after World War II.
You might find it helpful to go with a lender and a real estate agent who have experience working with VA borrowers. The home will be subject to a VA appraisal, and an experienced agent will help you avoid homes that won’t meet the minimum required standards.
How does a VA home loan work?
The VA’s guarantee means the government will repay the lender a portion of a VA loan if the borrower doesn't make payments. This assurance reduces the risk for lenders, which makes it possible for them to offer favorable terms and require no down payment.
VA loan rates are typically lower than offers you’d find for conventional loans. The rate could be fixed, meaning payments will remain the same, or adjustable, meaning that payments could change over time. Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) come with some risk, as you’ll pay more if rates rise.
If eligible, you can complete the VA mortgage application process through a lender of your choice. Many (but not all) lenders offer VA loans, and some lenders specialize in serving VA loan borrowers. It’s a good idea to apply with multiple lenders in order to compare rate offers.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
500500
Min. down payment
3.5%New American Funding works with down payment assistance programs in 14 states, including California, Texas, Florida and Illinois.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
580580
Min. down payment
3.5%First-time home buyers may qualify for 3% down mortgages at Rocket.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
620620
Min. down payment
0%Veterans United offers VA loans for as little as 0% down.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
620620
Min. down payment
0%On VA loans, NBKC offers down payments as low as 0%.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
4.0
NerdWallet rating
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
500500
Min. down payment
3.5%New American Funding works with down payment assistance programs in 14 states, including California, Texas, Florida and Illinois.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
620620
Min. down payment
3%NBKC offers conventional loans for as little as 3% down.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
580580
Min. down payment
3%Rocket Mortgage offers conventional mortgages with as little as 1% down.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
580580
Min. down payment
3%New American Funding works with down payment assistance programs in 14 states, including California, Texas, Florida and Illinois.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
580580
Min. down payment
N/ANew American Funding works with down payment assistance programs in 14 states, including California, Texas, Florida and Illinois.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
580580
Min. down payment
N/ANew American Funding works with down payment assistance programs in 14 states, including California, Texas, Florida and Illinois.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
500500
Min. down payment
3.5%New American Funding works with down payment assistance programs in 14 states, including California, Texas, Florida and Illinois.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
580580
Min. down payment
3.5%First-time home buyers may qualify for 3% down mortgages at Rocket.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
620620
Min. down payment
0%Veterans United offers VA loans for as little as 0% down.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and more.
Min. credit score
620620
Min. down payment
0%On VA loans, NBKC offers down payments as low as 0%.
