Who knows how we’d live if it weren’t for our veterans? They serve and fight so we can live freely.
But, did you know that veterans are the reason why so many of us live where and how we live?
They’re literally the reason why so many people live in “suburbs”. While mass transit made it possible, veterans played a large part in suburbs developing.
Right after World War II, the suburb of Levittown (in Long Island, New York) was built to offer veterans an affordable home.
While it wasn’t the first suburb, it’s seen as a tipping point that led to suburbs becoming more and more common.
So, thank you to all of our El Dorado Hills veterans today, and every day. It’s because of you that we can live freely — where and how we choose to live — in more ways than we even think about.
“Real Heroes Don’t Wear Capes. They Wear Dog Tags”
Sure, it’s a slogan on a t-shirt, and nobody has yet to take credit for it, but it sums up how we feel.
And, since Veteran’s Day – the day we celebrate our heroes in dog tags — is November 11, we’d like to take this opportunity to remind our current and former service members about the amazing VA home loan that is part of their benefits. It’s curious that of 21.8 million veterans in the U.S., only 6 percent use their VA benefits to purchase a home. So, we thought we’d take this time to remind active service members, veterans and qualified widows and widowers about this money-saving, homebuying program.
In fact, we feel that the VA loan might just be the best mortgage today.
Not only will you not be required to make a down payment, there’s also no mortgage insurance requirement, making the loan even less expensive. Then, there is the fact that veterans using this loan guarantee often get lower interest rates than they would with a conventional loan. It does this not by directly lending money but by guaranteeing conventional lenders that a portion of the loan will be repaid should the buyer default. Since lenders are thus assured, they are able to offer our veterans more attractive rates and terms.
The Many Uses Of The VA Home Loan
Although purchasing a home is the most common use of a VA loan, the administration also offers programs for veterans to build homes, to simultaneously purchase and improve a home and to improve a home’s energy efficiency.
To be eligible for a VA-backed loan:
While many of the eligibility requirements for the VA loan are similar to conventional loans, others are less stringent.
- The VA wants you to have “suitable credit.”
- Your income must be enough to cover both your mortgage payment and your monthly bills.
- The VA loan is only for borrowers who intend on occupying the home as their primary residence.
- The borrower must obtain a valid Certificate of Eligibility, or COE for short. Many lenders can use the online ACE system and can provide the certificate almost instantly.
The borrower must also have a certain amount of residual income left after paying monthly credit debt. The amount is determined by region and family size. For instance, in Minnesota, a family of five must have $1,039 left every month after paying their debt payments. If this family’s debt-to-income ratio (DTI), however, is higher than the maximum allowed, they will need more residual income to qualify. Now, these are the VA’s eligibility requirements. Since the loan will be granted by a lender, you may face other requirements.
Here’s How Much You Can Borrow
The VA doesn’t set a maximum on the amount of money an eligible veteran can borrow but it does limit how much of the borrowed amount it will guarantee. “In 2017, a qualified borrower generally can buy a home with a value of up to $424,100 with no down payment, though the actual amount varies by county,” according to Hal M. Bundrick, CFP at nerdwallet.com. Now, this doesn’t mean you’ll automatically qualify for the maximum. The amount you’ll qualify for depends on a number of factors, including your debt ratio. Determine your ratio by adding up your monthly debt payments (exclude items such as phone bills, utility bills and groceries) including your mortgage or rent, and dividing the sum by your gross monthly income. The maximum acceptable debt ratio is 41. There’s a lot more to know and love about the VA-backed loan, so feel free to contact us. We’re happy to point you to a VA loan specialist who will walk you through the process.
If you know a veteran who is thinking of buying a home, let him or her know we’d be happy to be of service. We will make sure they are treated with the respect they have earned and we’ll be sure to make sure they know about the real estate benefits they’re entitled to for having served our country!
