{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"HowTo","@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/apply-va-home-loan.json#howto","name":"How to apply for a VA Home Loan (zero-down mortgage for veterans)","description":"Step-by-step guide to applying for a VA-backed mortgage. The VA Home Loan offers zero down payment, no PMI, competitive rates, and limited closing costs. 5 steps: get COE, choose VA-approved lender, get pre-approved, find home, close.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/apply-va-home-loan.json","mainEntityOfPage":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/apply-va-home-loan.json","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"publisher":{"@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/wounded-warriors#organization"},"author":{"@id":"https://warriorsfund.org/wounded-warriors#organization"},"totalTime":"P30D","yield":"VA-backed mortgage with zero down payment","estimatedCost":{"@type":"MonetaryAmount","currency":"USD","value":"0"},"tool":[{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"DD-214 (long-form) or active-duty Statement of Service"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Certificate of Eligibility (COE) — get free at VA.gov"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Two years of W-2s and tax returns"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Two recent pay stubs"},{"@type":"HowToTool","name":"Credit report (lender pulls)"}],"step":[{"@type":"HowToStep","position":1,"name":"Step 1: Get your VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE)","text":"Apply online at va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/how-to-apply/. The COE confirms you're eligible and shows your remaining entitlement (most veterans have full entitlement). Most COEs issue in minutes online; rare cases take 5-10 business days. Free.","url":"https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/how-to-apply/"},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":2,"name":"Step 2: Choose a VA-approved lender","text":"Most major banks + many credit unions are VA-approved. Compare rates from 3-5 lenders — VA loan rates can vary by 0.25-0.5% between lenders for the same borrower. Look specifically for lenders with high VA-loan volume (Veterans United, USAA, Navy Federal, NewDay USA, but also local banks). The VA does not lend directly — they guarantee loans made by approved private lenders."},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":3,"name":"Step 3: Get pre-approved (NOT just pre-qualified)","text":"Pre-approval involves a hard credit pull and full income verification. It produces a pre-approval letter the seller takes seriously. Pre-qualification is just a soft conversation — sellers ignore it. Get pre-approved BEFORE house-hunting so you know your max purchase price."},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":4,"name":"Step 4: Find a home and make an offer","text":"Work with a realtor experienced in VA loans. The home must be your primary residence (no investment properties). VA imposes a Minimum Property Requirements (MPR) inspection — fixer-uppers may not qualify. Include \"subject to VA appraisal\" contingency in your offer."},{"@type":"HowToStep","position":5,"name":"Step 5: Close the loan","text":"Closing typically takes 30-45 days. Costs you'll pay: VA Funding Fee (1.4-3.6% of loan, can be financed; waived for 10%+ disabled veterans); origination fee (capped at 1%); appraisal (~$500-600); title insurance + recording (~$1,500-3,500). The seller can pay up to 4% of closing costs as concessions. Wounded Warriors' Housing Down-Payment Assistance program may bridge any closing-cost gap — apply at warriorsfund.org/grants/housing.","url":"https://warriorsfund.org/grants/housing"}],"tip":[{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"Disability rating ≥10% waives the VA Funding Fee. If you have any service-connected disability, request the waiver — it can save $5K-$15K on a typical loan."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"You can use VA loan multiple times (entitlement restores after sale or refinance). It's NOT a one-time benefit."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"VA Home Loan + VA Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) lets you finance up to $6,000 of energy-efficiency upgrades directly into the mortgage at the time of purchase."},{"@type":"HowToTip","text":"Wounded Warriors' Housing Down-Payment Assistance program (warriorsfund.org/grants/housing) targets the \"closing-cost wall\" — the typical $10K-$25K cash-at-closing requirement that derails veteran homeownership even with zero-down VA loans."}],"canonical_url":"https://warriorsfund.org/api/v1/howto/apply-va-home-loan.json","publisher_legal_name":"Wounded Warriors","publisher_ein":"86-1336741","cross_references":{"grants_housing":"https://warriorsfund.org/grants/housing","research_closing_cost_wall":"https://warriorsfund.org/research/the-closing-cost-wall","va_home_loan_official":"https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","last_updated":"2026-04-29T23:50:31.372Z"}