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 Read a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) for VA Loan Income Qualification

What Is a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)?

A Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) is the military equivalent of a pay stub. It details a service member’s monthly pay, deductions, allowances, and leave information. Both borrowers and lenders use the LES to verify income for a VA loan application.

According to the VA Lender’s Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7, Chapter 4, Section 1), lenders must verify stable and reliable income

How to Read a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) for VA Loan Income QualificationBarbara Martin2025-10-07T10:08:50-07:00

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

Family Savings Strategies: How to Save Money Together for Short- and Long-Term Goals

Meta Description:
Learn how to save as a family, teach kids smart money habits, set financial goals, and build lasting financial stability together.

Why Family Savings Matter

Whether your family is just you and your partner, a household with children, or multigenerational, every family has short-term and long-term

Family Savings Strategies: How to Save Money Together for Short- and Long-Term GoalsBarbara Martin2025-09-19T07:45:44-07:00

Debt Snowball vs. Avalanche: How Veterans Can Reduce Debt and Prepare for a VA Loan

Why Paying Off Debt Matters for VA Loan Readiness

Paying down debt isn’t just about peace of mind—it can also make a difference when preparing to qualify for a VA home loan.

The VA Lender’s Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7, Chapter 4) explains that lenders must review a borrower’s credit, monthly obligations, and residual income—the amount left over after paying debts and expenses. A high amount of revolving debt or late

Debt Snowball vs. Avalanche: How Veterans Can Reduce Debt and Prepare for a VA LoanBarbara Martin2025-10-07T11:58:51-07:00

Retirement Planning and VA Loans: A Guide for Veterans and Military Families

Many Americans dream of the day they can retire, but figuring out “how much is enough” can feel overwhelming. For veterans and military families, retirement planning has an extra layer: housing. The good news is that your VA loan benefits can play a major role in creating a secure and affordable retirement.

This guide blends retirement savings basics with the rules from the VA Lender’s Handbook (VA Pamphlet 26-7) and VA.gov so you

Retirement Planning and VA Loans: A Guide for Veterans and Military FamiliesBarbara Martin2025-10-02T13:27:09-07:00

How to Build an Emergency Fund: A Smart Financial Strategy for Military Families

Why You Need an Emergency Fund

If your car broke down tomorrow and you faced a $1,000 repair bill, could you pay it out of pocket? If not, you’re in good company. A recent Bankrate survey found that 61% of Americans would struggle to cover an unexpected $1,000 expense from savings.

For veterans and active-duty families—where deployments, PCS moves, and variable pay can impact budgets—an

How to Build an Emergency Fund: A Smart Financial Strategy for Military FamiliesBarbara Martin2025-10-07T10:44:53-07:00

How to Get Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and Apply for a VA Home Loan

Understanding the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is one of the first and most important documents in the VA home loan process. It proves to your lender that you meet the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) service and character requirements to use your VA loan benefit.

While you typically don’t need the COE to get pre-qualified, you’ll need it for your

How to Get Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and Apply for a VA Home LoanBarbara Martin2025-10-07T12:04:24-07:00

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

VA IRRRL: How the Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan Helps Veterans Lower Mortgage Payments

What Is the VA IRRRL (Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan)?

The Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL)—often called the VA streamline refinance—is a simple, fast way for Veterans and service members to refinance an existing VA-backed home loan into a new VA loan with a lower interest rate.

Its purpose is right in the name: to reduce the interest rate on your existing VA loan, lowering

VA IRRRL: How the Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan Helps Veterans Lower Mortgage PaymentsBarbara Martin2025-10-07T12:18:30-07:00

About Barbara Martin

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