VA Loan Eligibility for National Guard and Reserve Members

National Guard members and Reservists are often eligible for many of the great benefits enjoyed by active-duty personnel, including a smooth path to homeownership through the VA home loan program.

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Among the long list of benefits available to military personnel, there may be none better than the VA home loan program. The program has helped deliver more than 28 million loans since 1944, and eligibility is typically extended to active-duty service members. But many members of the National Guard and Reserve can also qualify if they meet certain requirements.

In fact, the program is so highly regarded because, for generations, it has been very accommodating and supportive to borrowers. For example, eligible borrowers can qualify for a mortgage with no down payment while still enjoying competitive interest rates. Qualification standards and credit requirements are very forgiving, and VA loans do not require private mortgage insurance, which lowers the monthly payment.

If you’re a member of the National Guard or Reserves who’s in the market for a home and you’re not sure of whether you’ll qualify for the VA home loan program, then it’s worth exploring what you’ll need to get an answer.

Eligibility Requirements for National Guard and Reserve

The VA home loan program was first opened to members of the National Guard and Reserve in 1992, and access was further increased in 2020.

Here’s how the qualification standards work. First, all Guardsmen and Reservists with six years of honorable service are eligible. But, if you were called to active duty under Title 10 and served at least 90 consecutive days, you would also qualify for the program as a Guardsman or Reservist.

An expansion that came as part of the Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act in 2020 widened the qualification to Guardsmen and Reservists activated under Title 32 orders. These personnel would be eligible after serving 90 cumulative days of full-time duty, of which 30 days must have been consecutive. This change is retroactive, meaning Guardsmen and Reservists who served decades ago under Title 32 orders would also be eligible for a VA loan.

As a Guardsmen or Reservist, eligibility also requires that you were discharged honorably or placed on the retired list.

For National Guard Members

VA loan eligibility for National Guard members essentially boils down to a combination of several factors: minimum active-duty service requirements, length of service, discharge status and when you served.

All Guardsmen with six years of honorable service are eligible.

Additionally, if your service took place on Aug. 2, 1990, or later and you served at least 90 days of active duty, you fulfill the minimum service requirement.

For any other time period, you must have at least 90 days of non-training active-duty service, or at least 90 days of active-duty service including at least 30 consecutive days, or six creditable years in the Guard with an honorable discharge or placement on the retired list.

If you think you qualify, the first step to landing a VA loan is to request a VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility. This document confirms to your lender that you are eligible for the benefit. You can request your COE through the Department of Veterans Affairs website.

For Reserve Members

VA loan eligibility for Reservists also includes a combination of several factors: minimum active-duty service requirements, length of service, discharge status and when you served.

Reservists with six years of honorable service are eligible.

If your service took place beginning Aug. 2, 1990, or later, and included at least 90 days of active duty, then you fulfill the minimum service requirement.

For all other time periods, you must have served at least 90 days of non-training active-duty service, or six creditable years in the Selected Reserve to qualify. In addition, you must have been honorably discharged, placed on the retired list, transferred to the Standby Reserve or an element of the Ready Reserve other than the Selected Reserve after service classified as honorable, or continue to serve in the Selected Reserve.

If you think your service qualifies for the VA home loan program, the first step to securing a VA loan is to request a VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility. This document confirms to your lender that you are eligible for the benefit. You can request your COE through the Department of Veterans Affairs website.

New Expanded VA Loan Eligibility for National Guard

Legislation passed in 2020 greatly expanded VA loan eligibility for current and former National Guardsmen. The Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act included rules that bridged the gap between Title 10 and Title 32 service orders. With the changes, those who were activated under Title 32 orders are considered eligible for the VA home loan program after 90 cumulative days of full-time service, of which 30 days must be consecutive. This change, according to the National Guard Association of the United States, means that as many as 50,000 additional Guardsmen would qualify for the program.

The 2020 legislation is also retroactive, meaning that those who served even decades ago would qualify.

What if I Don’t Meet the Minimum Service Requirements?

If you are a Guardsman or Reservist who doesn’t meet the minimum service requirements listed above, you may still qualify for the Certificate of Eligibility under certain circumstances.

For example, you could qualify if you were discharged for any of the following reasons:

  • Hardship
  • Convenience of the government (requires that you must have served at least 20 months of a 2-year enlistment)
  • Early out (with 21 months of service on a 2-year enlistment)
  • Reduction in force
  • Certain medical conditions
  • Service-related disabilities

Those who received an other-than-honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge may also qualify by applying for a discharge upgrade or enrollment in the VA Character of Discharge review.

VA Loan Documents for National Guard & Reserve

Guardsmen and Reservists who are eligible for the VA home loan program will need to gather some documents, starting with a DD-214, an NGB-22 for Guardsmen, or a Points Statement and Copy of Discharge Statement for Reservists. You should also apply for your Certificate of Eligibility, but you can actually start the application process without it.

Here’s a rundown of service-specific documents you will need:

  • National Guard: NGB-22 or NGB-23
  • Army Reserve: DARP Form FM 24902E or ARPC Form 606-E
  • Navy Reserve: NRPC 1070-124
  • Air Force Reserve: AF 526
  • Marine Corps Reserve: NAVMC HQ509 or NAVMC 798
  • Coast Guard Reserve: CG 4174 or 4175

More About VA Loans

With the promise of competitive interest rates and terms, no down payment, flexible credit standards, and the backing of the Department of Veterans Affairs, it’s worthwhile to explore whether you may be eligible for the program. And even if you don’t initially qualify, you may discover a path to eligibility that can unlock homeownership for you and your family.

About The Author

Craig Richardson

Craig Richardson is a military veteran who started his journalism career while serving in the Navy. Following overseas deployments to the Med and Middle East, including service in Operation Desert Storm, he left for the private sector but continued with journalism. He has worked for several publishers and news organizations over nearly 30 years and continued to cover stories with ties to veterans and military affairs throughout his career.

Sources:

  1. N.A. (ND) Let Veterans Affairs Help You Get Into Your Own House. Retrieved from https://nationalguard.com/tools/va-home-loans
  2. N.A. (ND) Eligibility requirements for VA home loan programs. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/eligibility/