If My Dad Was a Veteran, Can I Get a VA Loan?

General Eligibility for VA Loans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan program provides a significant benefit designed to help eligible service members, veterans, and certain surviving spouses become homeowners. This program offers unique advantages, such as no down payment requirements for most borrowers and competitive interest rates, making homeownership more attainable. The program’s goal is to honor military service by facilitating access to affordable housing solutions.

Eligibility for a VA home loan primarily stems from a service member’s or veteran’s honorable military service. Active-duty service members generally qualify after 90 consecutive days of service during wartime or 181 days of active service during peacetime.

For those who served in the Reserves or National Guard, eligibility typically requires six years of service, or 90 days of active-duty service during specified wartime periods. All service must be characterized by an honorable discharge.

Service members separated from service due to a service-connected disability may also be eligible regardless of their length of service. The VA reviews each application to confirm that the service criteria are met.

Eligibility for Family Members

While the VA home loan is a direct benefit for those who served, specific family members may also qualify. The most common path for family members to utilize this benefit is through surviving spouse eligibility. An unremarried surviving spouse may be eligible if the veteran died in service or from a service-connected disability.

Eligibility also extends to an unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who was totally disabled and died from non-service-connected causes, provided the veteran was receiving or was entitled to receive VA compensation for the disability for a specific period. This period is typically at least 10 years immediately preceding death, or at least 5 years from the date of discharge or release from active duty. Furthermore, if a veteran who was a prisoner of war died after September 30, 1999, the unremarried surviving spouse may also be eligible.

Adult children of veterans are generally not eligible for a VA home loan based on their parent’s service. The VA loan benefit is specifically tied to the service member, veteran, or their qualifying surviving spouse. While rare, limited exceptions may exist for severely disabled adult children dependent on a veteran who died in service or from a service-connected cause. These cases are assessed individually by the VA.

Obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility

Before applying for a VA loan, an individual must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). This document serves as proof to lenders that they meet the VA’s service or relationship requirements and confirms entitlement to the VA home loan benefit.

The quickest way to obtain a COE is often through the VA’s eBenefits portal if the applicant has an account. Many VA-approved lenders can also help borrowers obtain their COE electronically through a system known as the Web LGY system.

Applicants can also apply by mail by completing VA Form 26-1880, “Request for Certificate of Eligibility,” and submitting it to the appropriate VA regional loan center. The required documentation varies depending on the applicant’s status. Veterans typically need their DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to verify their service.

Surviving spouses will need the veteran’s death certificate, their marriage certificate, and other documentation to prove their relationship and the circumstances of the veteran’s death. The COE outlines the amount of entitlement the applicant has available for a VA loan.

The VA Loan Application Process

Once a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) has been secured, the next step involves navigating the VA loan application process with a lender. The first action is typically to find a VA-approved lender, as not all mortgage lenders participate in the VA loan program. These lenders are familiar with the specific guidelines and requirements of VA financing.

After selecting a lender, obtaining pre-approval is a recommended step. Pre-approval involves the lender reviewing the applicant’s financial information, such as income, credit history, and employment, to determine how much they can likely borrow. This provides a clear understanding of the loan amount an individual qualifies for before they begin house hunting.

With pre-approval in hand, the home search can begin. Once a property is identified and an offer is accepted, the VA loan process moves to the appraisal and underwriting stages. The VA requires an appraisal to ensure the property meets minimum property requirements (MPRs) and to determine its fair market value.

The lender’s underwriting team then reviews all financial documentation, including the COE, credit report, income verification, and the appraisal, to assess the risk and finalize loan approval. Finally, once all conditions are met, the loan proceeds to closing. At closing, all parties sign the necessary documents, and the property’s ownership is transferred, completing the home purchase.