Barbara Martin, Author at Vetted VA

Press Release: Vetted VA Appoints Gay Veale as Chief Experience Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vetted VA Names Gay Veale as Chief Experience Officer to Elevate Member Engagement and Operational Excellence

Pottsboro, Texas — [June , 2025] — Vetted VA, the leading community of mortgage and real estate professionals dedicated to serving veterans and military families, proudly announces the appointment of Gay Veale as its new Chief Experience Officer (CXO).

Gay Veale, a retired Command Chief Master Sergeant from the United States Air Force, brings decades of leadership experience in operations,

Press Release: Vetted VA Appoints Gay Veale as Chief Experience OfficerBarbara Martin2025-06-04T12:03:37-07:00

How to Calculate Income from an LES

Leave and Earning Statement (LES)

As a borrower or lender, it is important to know how to of calculate qualifiable income shown on the leave and earnings statement, otherwise known as an LES. The ability to understand what income matters and what factors affect qualifiable income occurs once it is known qualifications include more than income. Visually seeing an LES is a good place to start. Start by opening an LES

How to Calculate Income from an LESBarbara Martin2023-12-11T14:49:47-08:00

VA Loan will be ineligible for a Funding Fee Refund if…

Update

On June 23^rd, 2022 a new circular Circular 26-22-12 added to Circular 26-22-02, published on January 6. Circular 26-22-12 is crystal clear, the update pertains to pre-discharge eligibility for VA benefits.

If the service member is active duty and has a pending pre-discharge disability claim with the VA, they may be risking being ineligible for the funding fee exemption. Lenders must submit

VA Loan will be ineligible for a Funding Fee Refund if…Barbara Martin2023-12-11T14:49:48-08:00

Benefits of Saving Money as a Family

Whether your family is just you and your partner, a family with children, or a multigenerational household, all families have short-term and long-term financial goals.

A highly effective way to ensure financial stability within your household is by learning how to save as a family. Learning how to save as a family can establish healthy spending and savings habits that can result in financial stability.

Saving as a family encourages healthy financial habits in children

Learning about finances and making wise financial

Benefits of Saving Money as a FamilyBarbara Martin2023-12-11T14:49:48-08:00

Comparing Snowball Method and Avalanche Method to Pay Off Debt

Paying off all your debt can seem like an impossible task, especially if you can only manage to pay the minimum required amount each month. Fortunately for you, there are multiple strategies to help you pay off that balance. Two of these strategies are the snowball and avalanche methods. Learn about each method to decide which one will work best for you.

Using the snowball method to pay off debt

The larger your debt grows from having multiple loans and credit cards,

Comparing Snowball Method and Avalanche Method to Pay Off DebtBarbara Martin2023-12-11T14:49:48-08:00

How to Start Saving for Retirement

Many people dream about the day they can retire. Whether you’re early in your career, closer to the traditional retirement age, or would like to retire early, you will need to have a substantial amount of money saved to maintain your current standard of living when you officially leave the workforce.

Do you know how much money you’ll need to retire?

If you’re like the majority of Americans, you don’t know the answer. Experts suggest a safe withdrawal amount each year is

How to Start Saving for RetirementBarbara Martin2023-12-11T14:49:48-08:00

How to Start and Build Your Emergency Fund. The Benefits of Being Financially Prepared.

If your car unexpectedly broke down tomorrow, and you were faced with a $1000 repair bill, would you be able to pay the total amount from your savings? If your answer is No, you’re not alone. Sixty-one percent (61%) of Americans would be unable to cover an unexpected $1000 expense with their savings, according to a Bankrate.com survey.

The best way to prepare for these financial bumps in the road is with an emergency fund. Even if you

How to Start and Build Your Emergency Fund. The Benefits of Being Financially Prepared.Barbara Martin2023-12-11T14:49:48-08:00

How to Apply for a VA Home Loan With a Certificate of Eligibility

In recognition of your service, the Department of Veterans Affairs financially backs home loans for Veterans, Active Duty Service Members, National Guard, Reserves and some surviving spouses. VA home loans can be used to buy a single-family home or condo, purchase and renovate a house, or build a new home, often with no down payment required in many circumstances.

One of the stipulations to apply for a VA home loan is that you must show your mortgage lender

How to Apply for a VA Home Loan With a Certificate of EligibilityBarbara Martin2023-12-11T14:49:48-08:00

Tidewater Appraisal

The VA Appraisal

I want to concentrate on the appraisal process when it comes to the tidewater process.

Let’s say the lender has already ordered your appraisal, and the VA has assigned an appraiser. The VA has experienced appraisers in its marketplace. They are required to have a certain level of experience appraising properties before they are permitted to apply for the VA’s appraisal panel. Since they are associated with the VA,

Tidewater AppraisalBarbara Martin2023-12-11T14:49:48-08:00

Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan

IRRRL

All right, let’s get into our first type of refinance loan. And this is the interest rate reduction refinance loan, also known as the IRRRL, Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan. It’s taken me a couple of times to say it. So here we are. And the purpose of the loan is in the name. The purpose is to refinance and reduce the veteran’s interest rate.

Benefits

One of the benefits, of course,

Interest Rate Reduction Refinance LoanBarbara Martin2023-12-11T14:49:48-08:00

About Barbara Martin

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