VA Loan Education & Insights

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

If you have full entitlement available, this circular won’t affect you—VA loans with full entitlement no longer have a county loan limit (per VA Circular 26-19-17). However, if you…

The Standard Purchase VA Loan

VA Loan Requirements Before we get into the standard purchase, we need to remind ourselves of some of the basic eligibility requirements to participate in the VA home loan program.…

Understanding VA Loan Estimated Cash-to-Close and Prepaid Escrows

Closing costs include the fees and charges required to complete the loan, such as title, appraisal, and lender fees. Prepaids are items paid in advance — like property taxes, homeo…

Understanding VA Loan Discount Points: When Buying Down Your Rate Makes Sense

In VA loans, the choice to use discount points is entirely optional and may depend on how long the borrower plans to stay in the home and their available cash for closing costs.

No Need for Private Road Maintenance Agreement

VA Circular 26-22-17 On November 25th of 2022, a new VA circular pertaining to private roads and shared driveways was released. Now, effective immediately, the VA is no longer requ…

How your credit score may INCREASE significantly

VA Loan FAQs: Closing Costs, Escrow Changes, and Common Veteran Questions

Are $20,000 in Closing Costs Normal on a $415,000 VA Loan? Possibly — but it depends on what’s included in that $20,000.

Do Sellers Really Avoid VA Offers? The Truth Behind the VA Loan Bias Myth

Imagine there are five offers on a home. The highest offer comes from a VA buyer, but another offer is conventional with a 30% down payment. Some listing agents see that and think,…

VA Circular 26-22-13: Understanding the Appraisal Waterfall Process

What Is the VA Appraisal Waterfall? On July 22, 2022, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released Circular 26-22-13, titled “Procedures for Alternative Valuation Methods.”

Understanding VA Appraisals: Myths, Minimum Property Requirements, and Tidewater Explained

Why VA Appraisal Problems Usually Come from Misinformation Most issues that come up during a VA home loan stem from misinformation, not the program itself.

Understanding the VA Loan Estimate: A Page-by-Page Breakdown

Understanding the VA Loan Estimate Why the Loan Estimate Matters The Loan Estimate (LE) is a standardized, three-page document that gives you a clear picture of your VA loan offer…

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

A VA appraisal determines the property’s fair market value and ensures it meets the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs) — meaning the home must be safe, sound, and sanitary (…

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…

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 offe…

Debunking VA Myths

This white paper aims to uncover facts about VA lending through data and, to the extent possible, clarify and dispel some of the myths about the VA loan. The paper is a collaborati…

Demystifying VA Loan Underwriting: What Happens Behind the Scenes

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

A VA cash-out refinance allows eligible veterans and service members to replace their existing mortgage with a new one while taking out equity in cash. Unlike the VA IRRRL (Interes…

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 d…

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

Vetted VA professional Adrian Placinta of True Path Loans explains how the math works and when it makes sense.

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:

Credit Support

The Go Bag allows you to view your credit report, monitor your credit, search for real estate and receive updates on your property.

VA Loans After COVID-19 Forbearance: Updated Guidance for Veterans Buying or Refinancing

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted nearly every household in America. Businesses shut down, millions lost income, and many homeowners faced impossible financial choices.

VA IRRRL After Forbearance: What Veterans Need to Know to Refinance Safely

The COVID-19 pandemic created financial challenges for millions of Americans — and veterans were no exception. As businesses shut down, many homeowners turned to mortgage forbearan…

Mortgage Forbearance Fears: What Veterans Need to Know Before Pausing Payments

When the CARES Act was signed into law in March 2020, it brought welcome relief to millions of homeowners affected by COVID-19 — including veterans and service members with VA-back…

Refinancing or Buying a Home After Forbearance: What Veterans Should Know

In the wake of COVID-19, many homeowners — including veterans — entered mortgage forbearance to manage financial hardship. For months, one major question lingered: When will I be a…

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:

VA and CFPB Warn Veterans: Beware of “Too Good to Be True” Refinance Offers

Everyone knows the age old saying: “if it sounds too good to be true…” Well, consider this your official warning. In an article originally posted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, both entities have released a joint warning order to service memb

Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption

This page is regularly updated as we are made aware of state level changes from our Vetted VA Pros. As a Veteran of the United States Armed Forces you are already in an elite class of Heroes that have selflessly made sacrifices for our Country. Many of our Veterans continue to make these sacrifices

VA Home Loan Basics

Hot off the press is our latest publication – the Ultimate VA Home Loan Resource Guide. In this guide you’ll learn about:

VA Home Loan Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions What About…? I’ve heard that if Veterans have no down payment or “skin in the game,” then they really can’t afford to buy a home.Krista McCallum2020-05-22T14:37:33…