Service beyond
the signature

Start your VA mortgage loan process by familiarizing yourself with VA loan requirements for buyers and ensuring you meet them.

To qualify for a VA home loan, applicants must be active-duty, Reserve or retired military members. There are length-of-service requirements for veterans and service members on active duty and National Guard and Reserve members. You will have to meet these to qualify for a VA loan.

If you don’t meet the length-of-service requirements, some unique circumstances may exempt you. These include discharges for:

• Hardship
• Government convenience
• Early out
• Reduction of force
• Specific medical conditions
• A disability from military service

You may also be eligible for a VA loan if you served as a member in specific organizations aligned with the U.S. military or are a U.S. citizen who served for another government that operated as an ally of the United States in World War II. Other notable cases that may qualify for a VA loan include spouses of MIA or POW veterans or veterans who have passed away.

Credit score may be another determining factor of VA loan eligibility. The VA does not have a minimum credit score requirement. Instead, the VA requires lenders to assess the borrower’s entire loan profile.

Once you have determined that you meet the VA loan eligibility and credit requirements, you can apply for a Certificate of Eligibility.

Next in the VA loan process timeline, apply for your VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility. For this first part of the VA loan approval process, you will need documents corresponding with your relationship with duty.

• Veterans and current or past activated National Guard or Reserve members: You will need DD Form 214, a copy of your discharge papers or separation documents.
• Currently active service member or inactive member of the Reserves or National Guard: You will need a statement of service signed by your commander, adjutant or personal officer that shows your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, date of entry into service, duration of any lost time and the name of the command providing the information.
• Never activated discharged member of the National Guard: You will need NGB Form 22, your Report of Separation and Record of Service, from each period of your National Guard service. You will also need NGB Form 23, your Retirement Points Statement.
• Never activated discharged member of Reserves: You will need evidence of honorable service and a copy of your latest annual retirement points.

Once you have collected all the necessary documentation, you can fill out this request for a Certificate of Eligibility form. Mail it to the Department of Veterans Affairs for approval or apply online.

Alternatively, you can have your loan officer request your Certificate of Eligibility digitally. It can take up to six weeks for your Certificate of Eligibility to process.

When choosing a lender, you’ll want to answer many questions before choosing one to commit to.

Is the lender VA-approved?

You want to start by ensuring the lenders you are comparing are VA-approved, meaning they have permission from the VA to fund loans in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Does the lender have experience in the VA industry?

Look for evidence of expertise such as testimonials and proof that the lender has worked with VA loans for a significant time and has gained appropriate knowledge. The goal here is to identify a reliable lender before you trust them with your investment.

What can this lender offer you?

Next, you will want to look at what perks the lender is offering you. These may include low APR, low interest rates, excellent customer service, the extent of financial coverage and a smooth experience from start to finish.

Does the lender meet your financial needs?

Select a lender that is capable of meeting all of your needs. Set a budget for yourself based on your monthly and disposable income after all other costs so you have a clear idea of what you can afford. Keep this budget in mind as you look for a lender that will meet you where you are. If you have a low credit score, find a lender that is willing to work with you.

Choose a lender that wants to play a role in helping you find the dream home you deserve. 

Once you are confident in your choice, you can move to the next step of the loan approval process and get pre-approved for a VA loan.

The VA loan preapproval step is crucial in this process because it tells sellers you are ready and willing to make an offer to close on their home.

Prequalify for a VA home loan by submitting the documents required by your lender.

How Long Does a VA Loan Take to Process?

Once your lender approves your application, they will write you a letter of loan preapproval.

These letters often come with a list of conditions and do not guarantee financing through the lender’s institution. Still, they show real estate agents and home sellers that you hold validated buying power.

You can expect the VA loan preapproval to take up to a week, but the process is usually quicker than that, and you will have your approval within a few days.

At CIS Home Loans, we make VA loan preapproval easy with our online application.

We offer a transparent loan approval process by providing live updates through our CIS Loan Portal.

How long does the VA home loan process take? The whole process typically takes less than a month, from preapproval to the closing table.

Once you have prequalification for your VA loan, you can start the next step in the VA home loan process — house hunting!

A home appraisal is a legal requirement in the VA home loan process.

The VA has set minimum property requirements to ensure the house you are purchasing is safe and sound with no major internal or external concerns that could pose a threat to your well-being.

The VA will send in a pre-approved appraiser to inspect the home. This process tends to take between 12 and 14 business days.

While the appraisal is a requirement, a home inspection is not. However, a home inspection is a wise decision. If the inspector finds anything of concern, it gives you buying power and prevents you from purchasing a home blindly.

After the appraisal and inspection, the buyer and seller may reenter negotiations.

The appraiser may identify issues the seller needs to take care of before you move in. In this case, you may request that the seller cover these costs.

If the appraisal comes out less than the asking price, you will need to renegotiate or terminate the purchase agreement.

Once you are officially under contract to buy a home, the VA loan process kicks into action. Your purchase agreement goes to loan processors who assess your purchasing situation. 

Underwriters working for your lender will look into your financial capabilities to ensure you can repay the loan.

Once underwriters have fully evaluated your circumstances, you will be “clear to close,” meaning you can schedule your loan closing.

Before closing, you will receive a disclosure that breaks down final costs and loan information. 

Buyers will likely receive some final questions from lenders asking to verify their employment one last time. Next, there will be a final walkthrough of the home you are purchasing to ensure the seller made all necessary repairs. 

Finally, your closing day will arrive, you will sign your final paperwork and congratulations — welcome to your new home!