VA loans are often not as hard to get as many eligible borrowers expect. For qualified veterans, active-duty service members, and some surviving spouses, the basic mortgage process is very similar to getting a conventional loan. Where a VA loan can feel harder is when eligibility documentation, property-condition requirements, or lender-specific approval standards create extra steps.
If you are wondering whether a VA loan will be difficult for you personally, the real question is not whether the program is overly bureaucratic. It is whether you meet the lender’s qualification guidelines, can document your eligibility, and are buying a property that will meet VA requirements.
Short answer: No, a VA loan is not automatically harder to get than a conventional loan for eligible borrowers. It can become more difficult when there are delays with the Certificate of Eligibility, issues with income or documentation, or appraisal and Minimum Property Requirements concerns on the home.
You should realize first that the Veterans Administration does not loan the money; the VA just provides a guarantee to the lender so they can make a loan with no down payment. There are a few additional steps for a VA loan, but most of them are quick and straightforward.
Here’s the process:
First, you’ll get certain documents together, just as you would for any other type of mortgage: bank statements, pay stubs, and tax returns. The VA also requires a Certificate Of Eligibility (COE) to show you are entitled to the loan guarantee.
To get this, you’ll provide your loan officer with a copy of your DD-214, the document you received when you were separated or retired from active duty. In most cases, your loan officer will be able to get your COE instantly online.
Sometimes the VA will take a little time to process the request, but this seldom takes more than a week. If you want to do this yourself, you can go to the VA Portal and follow the instructions on the site. It will be much easier (and probably faster) if you let a loan officer do it for you.
Next, you’ll apply for the loan just as you would a conventional loan. You’ll complete and sign your loan application and give your income and asset documentation to your loan officer.
If you are already in escrow to buy a home (or if you are refinancing your existing home loan), several things will happen behind the scenes: an escrow will be opened, and the title company will prepare the preliminary title report. The loan officer will order the property appraisal through the VA loan portal online. With conventional loans, you would pay for the appraisal ahead of time; with a VA loan, you won’t have to pay until escrow closes.
The appraisal will arrive in a week to ten days, but your loan officer’s team will prepare your loan submission package and send it to the underwriter right away. The underwriter will approve the loan in a week or less.
If you’ve ever applied for a conventional mortgage, you may be thinking, “This is just like the loan I got a few years ago!” You’d be right. The different paperwork and procedures for a VA loan all happen behind the scenes—your part of the process is almost identical to that of a conventional loan.
There are some minor differences.
The lender will require a pest control (termite) report with clearance, showing that the property has no termites or dry rot. If there are health and safety issues with the property, like peeling paint or bare wiring, the appraiser will mention them in the report and they’ll have to be corrected.
The VA calls these “Minimum Property Requirements” (MPR). If you’re interested, you can read them on the VA’s website. The purpose of the MPR is to ensure that the veteran is getting a home that is safe and secure. If you have ever bought a home using a conventional loan, you probably paid for a home inspection—and asked the seller to correct any defects that the inspector noted.
If you are eligible for a VA loan, the most useful next step is to find out how the program applies to your situation. That usually means confirming your COE, talking through your income, assets, and property plans with a loan officer, or getting preapproved so you know where you stand before making an offer or starting a refinance.
A VA loan can still be worth a close look even if you have money available for a down payment. Eligible buyers may be able to put ZERO down, and VA loans do not require private mortgage insurance (PMI). Those features can make homeownership more accessible for qualified borrowers.
Sammamish Mortgage can help. We serve clients across Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Oregon, and California. Since 1992, we’ve been providing several mortgage programs and products with flexible qualification criteria to borrowers across the Pacific Northwest. Visit our website to get an instant rate quote or to use our online mortgage calculator. Or, reach out to us if you are ready to get pre-approved for a mortgage.
For eligible borrowers, a VA loan is usually not automatically harder to get than a conventional loan. The process is very similar, but extra steps can come up if there are delays with the Certificate of Eligibility, income or documentation issues, or appraisal and property-condition concerns.
Not necessarily. For qualified veterans, active-duty service members, and some surviving spouses, the basic mortgage process is much like a conventional loan. The main differences are verifying VA eligibility and making sure the property meets VA requirements.
A VA loan is a mortgage backed by a guarantee from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA does not lend the money directly in this process; instead, the guarantee helps lenders offer eligible borrowers features such as no down payment.
VA loans are available to qualified veterans, active-duty service members, and some surviving spouses. A lender will typically confirm eligibility by obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility.
Borrowers generally need the same core mortgage documents required for other home loans, such as bank statements, pay stubs, and tax returns. A VA loan also requires a Certificate of Eligibility, and many borrowers provide a DD-214 so the lender can help obtain it.
In many cases, a lender can get the Certificate of Eligibility instantly online. If the VA needs to process the request manually, it usually does not take more than about a week.
No. Eligible buyers may be able to put zero down with a VA loan. VA loans also do not require private mortgage insurance, which can make the loan more affordable for qualified borrowers.
It can add conditions if the property has health or safety issues. The VA appraisal checks value and can also flag Minimum Property Requirements concerns, such as peeling paint or bare wiring, that may need to be corrected before closing.
Common issues include problems tied to the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements and pest concerns. The lender may also require a termite or pest report with clearance, and any health or safety problems noted in the appraisal may need to be fixed.
The timeline is often very similar to a conventional mortgage. The appraisal may take about a week to ten days, and underwriting approval can happen in about a week or less, although timing can vary if eligibility or property issues need extra attention.
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