Can a Son of a Veteran Get a VA Loan?

A VA loan is a mortgage loan guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), designed to help eligible service members, veterans, and certain surviving spouses achieve homeownership. This program offers appealing benefits such as no down payment requirements in most cases and no need for private mortgage insurance. The primary purpose of the VA loan program is to provide favorable financing terms to those who have served the nation. A common question arises regarding whether these benefits extend to family members, specifically adult children of veterans. This article will clarify the eligibility criteria for VA loans, addressing who qualifies for this valuable homebuying benefit.

General Eligibility for VA Loans

Eligibility for a VA loan is primarily determined by an individual’s service history or relationship to a service member. Active Duty Service Members generally qualify after 90 consecutive days of service during wartime or 181 days during peacetime. For those serving in the National Guard or Reserves, eligibility typically requires six years of honorable service, or 90 days of active duty service, with at least 30 consecutive days, under Title 32 orders.

Veterans who have met specific service requirements and received a discharge other than dishonorable are also eligible. This includes those discharged for hardship, government convenience, or a service-connected disability. The VA’s guarantee helps lenders offer competitive interest rates and flexible terms, making homeownership more accessible. A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) confirms that an applicant meets these military service requirements and details their available VA loan entitlement.

Certain surviving spouses may also qualify for a VA loan. This typically applies if the veteran died in service or from a service-connected disability, and the spouse has not remarried. While the COE confirms eligibility, borrowers must also meet a lender’s financial requirements, such as credit and income standards, to secure the loan.

Eligibility for Family Members

Adult children of veterans are generally not eligible for a VA loan solely based on their parent’s service. The benefits of the VA home loan program are specifically designated for the veteran themselves, active-duty service members, and certain surviving spouses.

A son of a veteran could qualify for a VA loan only if they meet the independent eligibility criteria as a veteran or service member themselves, having served in the military and met the VA’s service length and discharge requirements. Their own military service would be the basis for their eligibility, not their parent’s status.

Certain family members can qualify under very limited circumstances, primarily eligible surviving spouses. A surviving spouse may be eligible if the veteran died in service or from a service-connected disability and the spouse has not remarried, or if remarriage occurred after age 57 and after December 16, 2003. Eligibility can also extend to spouses of service members missing in action or prisoners of war. These conditions allow the surviving spouse to access the benefit earned by their deceased service member, but this does not extend to adult children.