VA Circular 26-22-18: 2023 Conforming Loan Limits and How They Affect Partial Entitlement

What Is VA Circular 26-22-18?

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regularly releases circulars to announce policy updates for the VA Home Loan program. Circular 26-22-18, published in late 2022, provides the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) 2023 conforming loan limits, which determine how much a Veteran may borrow under certain entitlement conditions.

If you have full entitlement available, this circular won’t affect you—VA

VA Circular 26-22-18: 2023 Conforming Loan Limits and How They Affect Partial EntitlementNathanK2025-10-07T12:13:17-07:00

VA Appraisal vs. Home Inspection: What Veterans Need to Know Before Buying a Home

Vetted VA LIVE – Appraisal or Inspection?

Understanding the Difference Between a VA Appraisal and a Home Inspection

Many new homebuyers assume an appraisal and inspection are the same thing — but they serve very different purposes. In a VA loan, both steps are essential to protecting the veteran and ensuring the home meets VA standards.

What a VA Appraisal Is (and Isn’t)

A VA appraisal determines the property’s fair

VA Appraisal vs. Home Inspection: What Veterans Need to Know Before Buying a HomeNathanK2025-10-13T07:53:15-07:00

5 Tips for Getting Your VA Loan Offer Accepted in a Competitive Market | Vetted VA

Vetted VA LIVE – 5 Tips for Getting Your VA Offer Accepted

Buying a home with a VA loan can feel like an uphill battle in today’s market — especially when sellers see multiple offers on every listing. Many veterans face unnecessary resistance, not because of their qualifications, but because of misinformation about VA loans.

The good news? Knowledge, preparation, and a solid team can help your offer rise to the top. Here are

5 Tips for Getting Your VA Loan Offer Accepted in a Competitive Market | Vetted VANathanK2025-10-13T11:53:39-07:00

Understanding the VA Loan Estimate: How to Read It and Avoid Common Mistakes

Vetted VA Live: Understanding the Loan Estimate

Buying a home with your VA loan benefit is one of the biggest financial moves you’ll make — and it starts with a simple but powerful document: the Loan Estimate (LE).

This three-page form tells you exactly what your loan will cost. But many veterans overlook key details that could save thousands.

In this guide — based on advice from Vetted VA

Understanding the VA Loan Estimate: How to Read It and Avoid Common MistakesNathanK2025-10-13T12:15:35-07:00

Demystifying VA Loan Underwriting: What Happens Behind the Scenes

Understanding Underwriting of the VA Loan – with Gay Veale

The underwriting process can seem to be cloaked in mystery and mystique to the common borrower. But it’s not really that terribly secretive. Gay Veale lays out the process from start to finish and how you can best be prepared to move forward.

Demystifying VA Loan Underwriting: What Happens Behind the ScenesNathanK2025-10-13T12:22:38-07:00

VA Cash-Out Refinance Explained: How to Use Home Equity Wisely

VA Loan Refinance Options – an Overview

The VA cash-out refinance can be a powerful financial tool for veterans — when used wisely. It lets you tap into your home’s equity for things like debt consolidation, education, or major expenses. But as Vetted VA professional Leroy Romero explains, it’s not just about pulling cash out — it’s about making informed, math-based decisions that protect your long-term financial health.

What

VA Cash-Out Refinance Explained: How to Use Home Equity WiselyNathanK2025-10-13T12:27:55-07:00

VA Secondary Use Entitlement Explained: How to Buy Another Home with a VA Loan

So you want to buy another home with the VA Loan – but not sure how to use your entitlement again? Don’t worry there are solutions!

Many veterans are surprised to learn they can have more than one VA loan at the same time.
It’s called secondary use entitlement, and it lets you keep your first VA-backed home while buying another one — as long as you still have entitlement left.

VA Secondary Use Entitlement Explained: How to Buy Another Home with a VA LoanNathanK2025-10-13T12:41:44-07:00

VA First-Time Homebuyers: Trends, Insights, and Opportunities in the 2025 Market

The VA loan remains one of the most powerful benefits available to veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible spouses. For first-time homebuyers (FTHBs), it can make the dream of homeownership achievable with no down payment and no mortgage insurance — a combination that’s hard to beat.

In 2021, one in two VA borrowers was a first-time homebuyer, showing just how essential the VA loan program is for helping veterans purchase their

VA First-Time Homebuyers: Trends, Insights, and Opportunities in the 2025 MarketNathanK2025-10-13T12:56:26-07:00

How to Rate Shop for a VA Loan (Even with an Employment Gap)

A recent post in the Vetted VA Facebook Group outlined a question that many veterans share:

“If I have an employment gap, and I’m shopping for a VA loan, how do I find a lender who will work with my situation without tanking my credit score?”

It’s a fair question — and the answer involves understanding both VA income rules and credit shopping protections.

Let’s unpack what’s

How to Rate Shop for a VA Loan (Even with an Employment Gap)NathanK2025-10-13T13:04:36-07:00

VA Manual Underwriting: Your Second Chance at Home Loan Approval

Sometimes, a VA borrower does everything right — good credit, stable income, strong eligibility — and still hears:

“Sorry, we can’t get you approved.”

But as Vetted VA professional Scott Schang reminds veterans, that denial may say more about the lender’s limitations than your qualifications.

If your lender isn’t experienced with manual underwriting, they might stop at a “Refer” decision from the automated underwriting system (AUS) instead

VA Manual Underwriting: Your Second Chance at Home Loan ApprovalNathanK2025-10-13T13:10:48-07:00

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