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Before you can get a VA loan or a VA-backed loan through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, you'll first apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). You must have served a certain number of days, depending on when you served, and you must have an honorable discharge if you are a veteran. You can find in-depth VA eligibility requirements and complete a COE on the VA’s website.
If you are a Native American veteran, you might be eligible for the Native American Direct Loan Program. The home must be an existing structure or a new build on Native American trust lands. You can use the loan to finance or re-finance. Additionally, your tribal organization has to be a part of the VA direct loan program. This is the only direct VA loan offered.
The Purchase Loans and Cash-Out Refinance Loans are guaranteed by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. You get these loans from a lender who offers VA-backed loans. If you are active duty, your spouse or dependents may also be eligible. As with any other loan, you must meet income and credit standards.
The Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan is only available to those with a current VA-backed loan. If you are eligible for a lower interest rate, you can refinance with this type of loan to lower your interest rate.
Additionally, veterans who have total and permanent disabilities that are service-connected might be entitled to an Adapted Housing Grant. You can get money to add ramps and make other modifications to help you live on your own with a disability, or you can build a house that will allow you to live on your own because it is specially adapted to your disability.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs guarantees part of the loan that you get from a private lender. If you foreclose on the property, the government pays the lender for part of the loan you defaulted on. You can often get a VA-backed loan without a down payment because the VA guarantees the loan. In other cases, you might get a lower interest rate.
If a lender works with the VA to get you a loan, the lender must follow the VA’s standards for closing the loan. Standards might include a limit on how low your credit score can be. As with most loans, you will most likely have to get an appraisal before the loan closes.
Homes must also adhere to standards for inspections. If a home does not pass the VA’s inspection, you can either make the repairs or have the seller make the repairs. You will most likely have to have a second inspection to certify that the home now meets the VA’s standards.
Gary Rudden, Lisa Rudden, and Nick Bobruska
RUDDEN BOBRUSKA TEAM
What sets your team apart from other real estate teams?
There is no team out in the market that offers what we do. All of us are Realtors, but
we each have specialized roles, which make our team so unique!
After decades of living and selling real estate in the DMV, we have established
ourselves as one of the top real estate teams with our market expertise and
cutting-edge technology. Our savvy high-tech marketing is on every website
and social media source. We have a huge network with other top agents, which
helps to premarket homes and discover homes for buyers before they reach the
open market. Our services include professional in-house staging services, broker
expertise in negotiating and navigating contracts, and buyer representation in all
price ranges. Each client has different needs and we create a marketing plan based
on those needs.
Our most distinct feature is our in-house construction and renovation team. We
are literally a full-service, one-stop shop when selling or buying a home!
How does the in-house construction and renovation team work?
All work is managed and completed through our licensed and bonded construction
crew. No need to call outside contractors. We are like “HGTV,” but we just don’t
have a show! Whether it’s a small makeover or a major renovation, we do it all. Our
sellers love this aspect of our team because we make preparing your home for the
market so seamless. Our buyers love the advice and insight we can give for future
renovations and repairs.
Having a licensed Maryland Home Improvement contractor as part of our team
along with the knowledge, experience, commitment and services that we offer, truly
puts our team as a vanguard in the real estate industry.