Best VA mortgage lenders of September 2024
Updated 2:07 p.m. UTC Sep. 4, 2024
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If you鈥檙e a current or former member of the 91影视 armed forces, you might qualify for a mortgage through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). With no down payment, no mortgage insurance and limited closing fees, these loans can help you buy a home with minimal upfront costs.聽
Comparing VA mortgage lenders can be a long process, and you might be tempted to go with the first one that offers you a quote. But finding a lender that fits your needs pays off in the long run.
We鈥檝e rounded up the best VA mortgage lenders of 2024 to help you in your decision.
Veterans United Home Loans
Best VA mortgage lenders
- Bank of America: Best overall.
- Better: Best for end-to-end service.
- Veterans United: Best for loan options.
- Navy Federal Credit Union: Best for loan alternatives.
- Rocket Mortgage: Best online process.
- PNC Bank: Best for homebuyer tools.
Compare the best VA loans
INTEREST RATES | TIME TO CLOSE | |||||
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Bank of America | Below national average | 45 days | ||||
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Better | Above national average | 21 to 30 days | ||||
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Veterans United | Below national average | 30 to 45 days | ||||
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Navy Federal Credit Union | Below national average | 30 days | ||||
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Rocket Mortgage | Below national average | Within 30 days | ||||
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PNC Bank | Below national average | 30 to 60 days | ||||
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Methodology
Our expert writers and editors have reviewed and researched multiple lenders to help you find the best VA loan. Out of all the lenders considered, the 6 that made our list excelled in areas across the following categories (with weightings): loan cost (30%), eligibility and accessibility (20%), customer service (20%), and ease of application (30%).
Within each major category, we considered several characteristics, including minimum APR, maximum allowed debt-to-income (DTI) ratio and minimum credit score requirements. We also evaluated each provider鈥檚 customer support options, borrower perks and features that simplify the borrowing process鈥攍ike time to close and preapproval time.
Why some lenders didn鈥檛 make the cut
Of the mortgage lenders that we reviewed, only a fraction made the cut. The lenders that didn鈥檛 have high enough scores to be included, received lower ratings mostly due to having a lack of transparency around credit score, DTI requirements and preapproval and closing timelines. Some of the excluded lenders also had limited customer service options and bad customer reviews.
How to qualify for a VA loan
VA loans are available to eligible former and current service members of the 91影视 armed forces and surviving spouses. The VA determines your eligibility based on the type of service you completed, the amount of time you served and when you served.
To get a VA loan, you鈥檒l need to request a and find a lender that offers VA loans. Although the VA doesn鈥檛 have an overall minimum credit score needed for a home loan, mortgage lenders do. So, you鈥檒l also have to meet that eligibility criteria to qualify.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
When you鈥檙e shopping for mortgage lenders, first check which VA loans they offer, such as purchase loans, VA streamline refinance loans and VA cash-out refinance loans. Some lenders also offer jumbo VA loans or VA mortgages with special features, such as extra cash to use toward energy-efficient improvements.
Your lender should also have a lot of experience closing VA loans, says Nicole Rueth, the senior vice president of The Rueth Team Powered by OneTrust Home Loans. 鈥淟ook for someone who knows your local areas as well as the Realtor you are working with,鈥 Rueth adds. 鈥淭hat relationship can go a long way in helping you, as a veteran, get not only under contract but negotiate the timelines needed for VA appraisals.鈥
There鈥檚 no limit to the number of times you can use a VA loan. However, you may exhaust your 鈥渆ntitlement,鈥 which is a specific dollar amount the government pays your lender if you default on a VA home loan.
Your full entitlement amount is available if you鈥檙e taking out a VA loan for the first time. But repeat VA loan borrowers will need to restore their entitlement to use the program again. That usually happens when you sell your property and repay the loan in full.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider鈥檚 website for the most current information.