Category:
Housing

Military member holding model of a house.

Earnest Money for VA Loans – Is It a Good Idea?

By Maureen Milliken

If your dream is to buy a home, you want to do everything possible to make sure it becomes yours. An earnest money deposit when you make an offer on…

Military member getting keys to the house after receiving funding fee refund

How To Get a VA Funding Fee Refund

By Phil Sheridan

Closing costs can turn the dream of home ownership into a nightmare on the very day you’re expecting to celebrate. Finding out the largest purchase of your life has a…

Can You Use a VA Loan For An Investment Property?

Can You Use a VA Loan For An Investment Property?

By Craig Richardson

Severino used the program in 2015 on a property in Orlando with an additional dwelling unit, or ADU, in the backyard. He rented that out to cover the bulk of…

VA Loan Inspection Requirements

VA Loan Inspection Requirements

By Craig Richardson

What Are the VA Home Inspection Requirements? There comes a time in every home-buying process when a buyer has the opportunity to take a peek behind the curtains – literally…

House and equity

Home Equity Loan Options for a VA Mortgage

By Tom Jackson

Life brings opportunities and challenges with financial consequences, and sometimes budgets get squeezed. If you’re a VA mortgage-holder, perhaps you’re pondering how to pay for some big-ticket item: a home…

Bag of money labeled VA Loan next to model of a home

Do VA Loans Have Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)?

By Michael Knisley

Before we answer that question, let’s make sure we understand what VA home loans are and why the Department of Veterans Affairs created them. VA loans are offered by banks,…

VA loan document sitting on desk

How to Get a VA Home Loan

By Craig Richardson

As a service member or veteran, your eligibility for a VA home loan unlocks easy access to homeownership. Backed and run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the mortgage…

House keys next to an American Flag

VA Loan Rates

By Maureen Milliken

Current VA Loan Rates Understanding VA Loan Rates A low interest rate is one of the many benefits VA loans provide when purchasing a home. Just a fraction of a…

Set of keys sitting on an American flag

VA Funding Fee: 2024 Charts and Exemptions

By Sarah Brady

VA loans have appealing features that don’t come with regular loans. With a VA-backed mortgage or refinance loan, you don’t have to make a down payment or pay mortgage insurance.…

Mortgage lender explaining the paperwork

VA Loan vs. USDA Loan

By George Morris

For many, a hurdle to buying a home is affordable financing. Two federal loan programs can make a big difference for those who qualify. VA and USDA home loans are…