Posts Tagged ‘ va loan ’

Just recently, VA Home Purchase is considered the most preferred choice for most veterans and active military service members because of the incredible benefits provided to our patriots. Acquiring a home with your VA loan is simple and as easy as 1, 2, 3 allowing you to become proud home owners in no time.

Purchase A Home With Zero Down Payment

This is an exclusive benefit simply for veterans and military service members. This VA home purchase advantage allows a veteran or active military service member to buy a home with no up front costs involve making room for personal expenses for future home repair. VA loan is definitely the only loan program that promises this kind of benefit.

Save Hundreds Dollars Every month

Interest rates usually are lower than most standard conventional loans. Another excellent advantage is the fact that there is absolutely no PMI involved which happens to be an additional monthly expense in most conventional loan and once added up can amount to bigger monthly savings on your part as a future home buyer.

Purchasing the perfect home can be a very rewarding experience for first time home buyers but before buying that dream house of yours here are a couple things to consider before closing the deal.

1. Shop together

It is essential to talk about your needs together with your partner when looking for a home. Try to go on home tours and constantly look into new listings available in the market.

2. Put your finances in order

Before thinking about buying that dream home of yours keep in mind that VA loan borrowers are normally under credit scrutiny by VA lenders. Credit ratings for VA loan borrowers need to make the cut to 620 minimum. Your monthly income and employment will always be reviewed by a VA lender.

3. Don’t overspend

Always remember that purchasing a home way beyond your means simply means financial suicide. Never ever purchase a home that is more than 2 1/2 times your annual salary.

4. Consider your neighborhood

Try to look for homes that are within your budget but pick a home with the right kind of neighborhood for your family. Pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, low crime rate, park for the little ones, community center, and convenient transportation are some of the facts to consider before you make the prospected home as “the” one.

5. Remember, have fun

Do not rush yourself into buying a new home right away. You will always know when a perfect home for your family comes along. Always wait for the best offer from the agents. In the meantime, enjoy house hunting while it lasts.

This is the perfect time to purchase that dream home you have always wanted. With rock bottom VA Rates in the market today you will have a bigger chance of owning a home. But most of all enjoy your journey to future home ownership.

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Friday, March 9th, 2012

Trying to find the perfect VA Mortgage and asking lenders for their current rate is far more complicated than getting a phone. VA loans are guaranteed via the Veterans Administration and insure the lender from loss. Remember that VA mortgage rates typically are not issued by the VA, but by lenders.

For the individuals who qualify for a VA Mortgage the following are the three core advantages offering money saving opportunities.

1. Big Financial Savings

VA loans are special due to their no down payment, no PMI and low interest rate offers. The no down payment option can ease the burden of saving for home when most conventional loans require people to place 10 to 20% down payment. VA loans are truly no money down loans. You are equipped with the option to put down money to lower your monthly payment, however you will not be required to do so. Low interest rate that are between 0.5 to 1 percent less than other conventional loans. Another possibility is no need for private mortgage insurance, saving you more than $100 monthly.

2. Flexible Loan Type

VA loans offer two kinds of loan. The Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) and the Fixed Rate Mortgage kind. Adjustable rate mortgage are tailored for the low to moderate income families while in fixed rate loan interest rates stay exactly the same for the term of your loan could be 15 or 30 years.

3. Easy Credit Approval

With VA loans there is no set credit score requirement. The approval specialize on the debt to income ratio instead of your previous credit standing.

VA Mortgage is actually applicable to owner occupied type of residences. Try not to use your VA House Loan for vacation type properties. Search to see if the grass is greener with other lenders. Always compare costs and getting the best deal is definitely wise. Knowledge is your best weapon when deciding what VA mortgage is appropriate for your current situation.

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When choosing a path toward home ownership, majority of the veterans wonder why a VA Homeloan is more suitable than other conventional loan. Eligible veterans who qualify are encouraged to utilize the VA homeloan because of the enormous amount of money save, a VA homeloan is much more manageable than most conventional loan.

What most veterans should know is the fact that a VA homeloan is an effective investment tool for them. Given that there is ease in access to mortgage products, there is absolutely no down payment and PMI involved. Not to mention VA Rates are at historic all time lows right now. With those advantages, veterans can omit several years of renting for years of equity. Keep in mind the factors that go with determining your VA mortgage. Your credit score is really important.

A VA homeloan is a good option for veterans who are thinking about buying a new home. It can give you money saving benefits. Let us discuss some great benefits of VA homeloan.

1. No Down Payment. With VA homeloan there is absolutely no up front cash expenses because VA loan does not require a down payment and the seller is also allowed to pay the closing costs for you.

2. No PMI. VA does not have PMI helping you save hard earned money every month.

3. No Out of Pocket Closing Costs. Other conventional loan requires up front fees for processing which run up to 3% of the amount of the loan. With VA homeloan, you do not need to pay any closing cost mainly because it allows the vendor to pay them.

4. No Prepay Penalty. For early loan pay offs there is no need to pay a fee unlike most conventional loans.

5. Low Interest Rate. VA loans offer affordable monthly interest rate.

6. Assumable Mortgage. Mortgage is transferable in VA homeloan. In this way, you can sell your home especially if the interest rate is less than the present interest rate.

7. Licensed Appraiser. VA assigns an authorized appraiser to estimate your overall home value. For some conventional loans, lenders have the freedom to choose an appraiser costing you lots of money.

8. Adjustable Rate & Fixed Rate Mortgage. Adjustable rate loan have lower interest rate from the beginning and gradually increase as time passes. Interest rate changes annually to the current interest rate. Whereas, fixed rate loan stays the same till the loan is completed.

9. Disabled Veterans Benefit. For 100% service connected disability, a veteran may be eligible for a $50,000 grant for adapting a home to support disability.

Should you try a VA Homeloan? Absolutely, a VA loan program helps active duty and retired military personnel to acquire a home without the need of down payment, competitive interest rate without having you to pay any mortgage insurance protecting you from other predatory conventional loans.

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Are you a veteran or are you from the military on active duty? Are you interested in taking advantage of the lowest home interest rates with extremely low home loan payments and having no monthly mortgage insurance? If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, then this VA Refinance is an ideal solution to suit your needs.

Types of VA Refinancing

1. VA Streamline Refinance

With VA streamline refinance current VA homeowners are able to lower their interest rate. Most veteran homeowners opt for this kind of refinance due to the fact that VA Rates are lower plus there are no out of pocket costs involved.

2. Cash Out Refinance

Another popular type of refinance loan that let’s you take cash-out in addition to your existing home loan balance. Therefore, you have your current balance plus your desired cash-out amount.

3. Conventional Loan to VA Refinance

These loans are for veterans who do not have a VA home loan currently and are eligible for one. You can take out 90% of your home value in cash depending on your qualifications and the state you live in. If you refinance through VA your interest rate will probably be much lower than your current conventional loan due to the all time low VA Rates.

Make sure you refinance for the right reasons. It is very important to know your options. Here are the top 4 reasons why you should refinance today.

1. Lower Interest Rate. With today’s low interest rates it can save you money every month which may help you build a home equity more quickly (in case you opt to get a 15yr VA Loan). Low interest rates are making loan refinancing more inviting to most veterans.

2. Lower Monthly Payment. By stretching out your home loan payment to a much longer term you can reduce your monthly payment. The downside of lengthening the term is that you pay more interest over the longer life of your loan.

3. Pay off your home loan faster. By shortening the length of your loan, you can pay off your home loan faster. The downside of shorter term is that your payments are significantly higher.

4. Switch to fixed-rate loan. You may want to take into consideration fixed-rate loan in order to create a steady and manageable monthly payment. A 15-year fixed rate and 30-year fixed loans are definitely more stable long term vs. an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). .

Look at it this way, a VA Refinance loan is exactly what you need to make your financial dreams become reality. Just before making any financial decisions, make sure that you completely understand all the terms and obligations given to you before you sign any loan documents.

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Every American family hopes to just one day own his dream home. However not everybody is able to afford a down payment and closing costs, you ought to rethink your alternatives and consider thinking about a VA House Loan. The good thing is a VA house loan is designed for veterans just like you who may have served the united states. Whenever you obtain a house making use of your VA loan, down payment and closing costs are not necessary.

Many veterans wonder why a VA loan is more preferable than other conventional loan. Listed here are the different functions of a VA house loan.

Building a new house

Refinancing your current VA loan to get a better interest rate.

Buying a VA Condo or normal single family home

Buying or improving a property

If you are still wondering if a VA house loan is the best choice for you. Ask this question to yourself, what does a VA home loan have to offer me?

1. VA home loan can provide you buyer protection. Feel comfortable knowing that every transaction is secured.

2. No closing cost. By using your VA loan you can buy a house without paying for the closing cost associated to purchasing a home.

3. Homes are automatically inspected and certified. With VA house loans you are receiving a good deal for the home’s market price and homes come in habitable condition in comparison to conventional loan in which there is no inspection only appraisal.

4. No prepayment penalties. If you would like to completely pay down your house loan earlier, there is no any additional charge. In this way, VA loans are encouraging early payment devoid of extra charge.

5. Fixed home interest rates. No surprise payment included with your loan interest.

6. No down payment required. This really opens door for the majority of home buyers simply because they need to pay the 20% of your home’s value in cash. No down payment options are hard to obtain along with other conventional loans. With VA loans, there is no need to stress with requiring you to put a down payment.

7. Lastly, VA house loans offer no PMI. A PMI is paid monthly jointly with your house payment. This type of insurance is often very costly. With VA loans, there is no need to pay for this and that is exactly the reason why a VA loan is special.

VA House Loans offer a great opportunity for veterans and active military on duty to purchase or refinance a house. Due to the favorable terms offered by VA loans and the elimination of down payment, closing cost and private mortgage insurance VA loans remains to be a strong option in today’s housing market.

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Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Buying your home you’ve dreamed of? For every first-time home buyer, offers like no advance payment and 100% financing are typically very inviting. But if you are short on cash and would want to purchase a new home. Is it an opportunity get a 100% financing? Absolutely, VA Financing options are definitely the most aggressive home loans in the US today. VA finance enables military veterans to buy a home with no cash out of the pocket. This is certainly the good way for you to take advantage of VA financing when thinking of buying your own house. VA financing offers 100% financing or no advance payment, and lowest possible mortgage rates to eligible veterans.

Today, VA financing can be used to purchase a home, condominiums or build a new house. VA home loan financing are structured specifically for veterans who served a minimum number of active duty days during wartime - World War II, Korean Conflict and Vietnam Era. So, what makes VA financing popular these days?

100% Financing

For VA buyers, no cash needed for down payment. VA financing is probably the only loan program that offers 100% financing since FHA and standard financing requires a 3.5% to 20% down payment.

No Monthly Mortgage Insurance

Mostly, you can avoid paying the PMI insurance. Removing this expense is another big advantage for VA buyers like you. Majority of conventional loans require you to pay monthly mortgage insurance when you deposit less than 20% down payment.

Affordable Monthly Interest Rates

VA financing offers more competitive monthly interest rates compared to most standard conventional loans when you are looking at all your options for Financing A House.

VA Financing is a great solution for veterans who might be striving with their financial commitments essential to purchasing a home. On account of this, it allows eligible veterans to put down less money required in most standard conventional loans. These flexible as well as low cost loans have helped more than 20 million veterans become proud homeowners today.

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Saturday, January 14th, 2012

Many people dream of buying a home and with the low VA Rates today make it a great time to consider taking action. If you are planning on getting a home loan, you might consider getting a VA loan. But the big questions are, why choose a VA loan over a conventional loan? Who are eligible? And last, what are the unique advantages that go with the loan?

Why A Veterans Loan

Today’s low VA Rates offer special loan rates to eligible military veterans and active duty service members. A veterans administration loan permits veterans and active duty personnel to qualify and be eligible to purchase or refinance their home with no down payment, closing costs, and private mortgage insurance. VA mortgages are more forgiving than some conventional loans.

VA Loan Eligibility: Who Are Qualified?

The following are eligible for a VA loan.

1. Veterans who have served on active duty during the World War II or later and who received an honorable discharge.

2. U.S. Veterans who have 90 days of service during the World War II, Korean Conflict or Vietnam era.

3. Current members of the military who served in the armed forces of a government allied with US in World War II who have not been dishonorably discharged.

4. Reservist and National Guard members with at least 6 years and was honorably discharged.

5. Public Health service members

6. Cadets at the United State Military, Coast Guard Academy and Air Force.

7. Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy.

8. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officers.

9. Public Health service members

Veteran Loans Unique Characteristics

Listed below are the top 5 benefits of a VA Purchase or aVA Streamline Refinance.

1. No Down Payment or Zero Financing. VA loans offer a no-down-payment loan option that allows veterans to purchase a home with no upfront cost. Such option shows the lowest home foreclosure rate in the market today. However, if the borrower makes at least 5% down payment the VA will lower its fee.

2. No Closing Costs. No buyer paid closing cost but the seller agrees to pay closing cost thus including the closing cost to your home’s value.

3. No PMI Insurance. A private mortgage insurance is not required and lenders are prohibited from requiring it. One of the many reasons why a veterans loan is preferred over a conventional loan.

4. Competitive and Low VA Rates. Affordable monthly payments and reduced interest rates are regularly lower than most conventional loans.

5. Flexible and Low VA Mortgage Payments. All Time Low VA Rates help veterans by offering lower interest rates and easy to handle payment terms so they can afford homes they otherwise could not.

As good as it gets, a Veteran Home Loan is not for everyone. It is very important that you know this before you go out and start searching for low VA Rates. These loans are limited only to eligible veterans, active duty service men, reservist, National Guard members and etc. So, if you are a veteran or an active duty service member, find the right lender and get a VA Loan that is perfect for you and your family for your financial peace of mind.

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Introduction - VA Home Loans First let’s recognize the fact that many Veterans are unaware of their housing benefit afforded to them from the Veterans Administration (VA). Secondly, there are many Veterans that are aware of their housing benefit but don’t utilize it. Perhaps one of the best benefits provided by the VA, every honorable veteran is entitled to is a VA Home Loan.

Such financing is available to military personnel on active duty as well as to those who have been retired for 20 years or more. Some lenders may be more flexible in their eligibility requirements for such financing, but you will have to check specifically. Spouses of military personnel are also eligible for such financing, but they have to have a power of attorney along with the other necessary papers.

Usually, you will be required to present just an identification card and a leave and earnings statement, when applying for bad credit military loans. Other papers are not required. You can apply to an office of a financial company providing such products and services. However, you should definitely consider making an application at the loan office serving your military base. In this way, you will be able to arrange the financing more quickly and get to manage your debt more conveniently.

VA Home Loan Benefits There are many benefits to a VA Loan in comparison to other programs. Below you will find a few of the highlights of the VA Loan program. It’s strongly recommended that you contact a VA Loan Specialist to learn more about qualification and the benefits you are entitled to: * 100% Financing | Zero Down Payment * Easy to Qualify (looser guidelines) * Lower Interest Rates * Lower Monthly Payments * No Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) * Loan is assumable

That is why shopping around is a must. Similarly, you can expect the repayment conditions to be stricter. That is why you need to go through the terms and conditions of the deal very carefully and calculate how much you will have to pay to the lender every month.

Generally, all types of loans are available to the military. You can get different types of personal financial products from credit cards to cash advances. You may also consider getting secured bad credit military loans.

You will get to borrow money against collateral, but you will be able to secure a lower interest rate and more affordable fees. Similarly, you may want to consider borrowing against the value of your home, if you need considerable financing.

So what are you waiting for? If saving money excites you, cutting down on your mortgage payment is one of the first and smartest places to look for reducing monthly cash expenses.

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The American economy may be in bad shape right now and many people lost their jobs. But there is a silver lining in all this gloom and doom. Home ownership is more affordable than ever. Let’s face it, the prices of homes have dropped, interest rates are at all time lows and the government created new incentives for you to buy your first home.

Benefits have always existed to purchasing a home. Mortgage interest paid is tax deductible, the equity in the home can be built by paying the home of faster, and over time the value of the home usually goes up. Well, the following are some important reasons that purchasing a new home in 2009 is an excellent idea for you.

Reason #1 - Prices Have Dropped - You’ll find that the average price of purchasing a home is down about 20% because of the crisis and in some areas that drop is even higher. When you purchase in 2009, you’ll find this is a great way to invest your money. More than likely the housing market is at the bottom and the value of home is going to start going up. When you purchase now, in the next few years you will probably be able to sell and make a nice profit on the home you purchase now.

2. The government has created a tax credit for first time home buyers. You can get up to $8,000 if you buy your first house this year, but you have to close before December 1, 2009. This is a free gift, you don’t need to pay it back. The government gave this incentive, because they know that the economic recovery will heavily rely on the housing market.

3. As a first time home buyer you can still buy a home with little money out of your pocket. FHA Columbus Loans require only 3.5% down. As a veteran you can get into a home without any down payment at all.

4. The mortgage companies out there really want to lend money, even though you may hear otherwise. The interest rates are quite low, making a nice home very affordable to you. The banks want to lend to buyers that are qualified, but a credit score of 650 and above will be needed. You’ll also need to show you do have the down payment amount available.

Reason #5 - Many Government and Bank Owned Homes Available - There are many of these homes out there and you can get excellent discounts on them. In fact, some of the new homes owned by the government can be purchased for a price that is far below the actual value. Usually there are few repairs that need to be made as well.

We are all in the middle of a grand opportunity when it comes to buying a house this year. We already see homes selling quickly this spring. Take advantage of this chance before the market turns around and booms once again. Some people will not be able to get a bank loan due to credit issues. Don’t despair, you may be able to buy your home with seller financing and still qualify for all these benefits. Buy your first home in 2009 - it will be the best investment you could possibly make in this lifetime.

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Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

The VA home loan is possibly the best loan. It is available to active military and veterans. Some features are:100% financing and no down is payment required. 30 year fixed interest rate, and interest rates with rates the lowest they have almost EVER been. VA loans are not credit score driven and have flexible underwriting guidelines to get active military and veterans qualified.

VA loans do NOT have monthly mortgage insurance, unlike FHA loans, or conventional loans with less than 20% down. There are closing costs involved with buying a house using a VA home loan even though VA loans offer 100% financing. Closing costs are in addition to the down payment and can

range from 2-4% of the purchase price. VA allows the seller to pay up to 4% of the VA buyers closing costs so it is smart to ask the seller to “credit” you at least 3 % of the closing cost to reduce your out of pocket expenditure.

There are 3 major upfront costs required when buying a house with a VA loan; the earnest money deposit, home inspection fee and appraisal fee. When you make an offer to buy a home, it is customary to put up an earnest money deposit ranging from 1-3 % of the purchase price. This offer will show the seller you are serious. These deposit funds will be held with an escrow company after your offer is accepted. If you negotiate for the seller to pay all of your closing costs, you will get this money refunded when you close on the house.

Though it is optional to get an inspection on the house with a VA loan, it is highly recommended. The cost is on the buyer and usually run about $300 paid upfront. The inspector will check all aspects of the house, the structure, electrical, plumbing and more, so that you know you are making a sound investment.

The buyer will have to pay for a home inspection. Though optional for a VA buyer, it is highly recommended to have a home inspection. As an independent 3rd party the inspector will inspect all aspects of the house such as the structure, electrical, plumbing and more. It is so that you know you are making a sound investment. Home inspections generally run about $300. This has to be paid up front by the buyer.

You will have to pay the appraisal. When you purchase a property, the lender will require an appraisal on the property. A VA appraisal currently costs $400.

After these upfront costs of the earnest money deposit, home inspection and appraisal, the rest of your closing costs will be paid when you close on the house. These costs can be broken into 4 categories; lender fees, title/escrow fees, reserves and pre-paids taken by the lender. There are certain fees that the VA borrower/buyer is NOT allowed to pay. These will have to be paid by the seller. The major fees the seller must pay for are:

Title and Escrow Fees When you “close” your house, it will be handled by an escrow company. They will have a variety of fees to handle closing such as an escrow fee, and notary public fee. These fees will have to be included in the credit that you ask for from the seller and can amount to over $1,000 on average. When you buy a house you will be required to obtain title insurance. There are 2 title policies you must have, an owners and lenders policy. The seller will typically pay for the owners policy and the buyer will pay for the lenders policy. The cost of title insurance depends on cost of the property. For a $300,000 house the fee will probably be around $400.

The lender has fees involved with processing, underwriting, credit check and originating your loan. Remember, the buyer is not allowed to pay for the underwriting and processing fee, so these fees will have to be paid for by the seller. The origination fee can vary depending on your interest rate. Generally if you want to lock in the lowest interest rate, a lender can charge up to 1% of the loan amount as an origination fee. Additionally, if you want to buy down the interest rate below market, you can pay discount points to get an even lower than market rate

When you get a VA home loan, you will have to pay the interest on the loan from the day you close until the end of the month. So for example if you closed on your new home May 5th, you would owe interest on the loan from May 5th to May 31st. This is called pre-paid interest and is part of your closing costs. But then your first payment would not be until July 1st. So you essentially get to skip the June payment even though you move in the house May 5th. The reason for this is because mortgage payments are made in arrears or behind . You made your May payment as part of your closing costs, and you wont make your June payment until July 1st. It can be advantageous to time your closing at the end of the month, so you limit the pre-paid interest and reduce your overall closing costs.

Reserves Held by the Lender When you obtain a VA home loan the lender will collect a reserve of property taxes and homeowners insurance. Be prepared to pay as much as 9 months of property taxes paid up front at closing because the VA lender sometimes asks for this much in advance. If your property taxes are $250/mo, this means the lender could potentially take a reserve of $2,750. In addition, the lender will take a few months of your homeowners insurance up front in advance. It is very important for you to plan for this cost at closing or arrange for the seller to credit you this cost. Property tax reserves required by the VA lender are one of the largest costs related to closing. But remember, this is really not a loan cost. These are property taxes that you will have to pay anyway as part of ownership; you are just paying them in advance. If you sell or refinance, you will get a refund of any remaining property taxes or home owners insurance held in reserve by the lender.

Reserves Held by the Lender Another aspect of a VA home loan is that the lender will collect a reserve of property taxes and homeowners insurance. The lender can require up to 9 months of property taxes paid up front at closing. This can be a large expense. If your property taxes are $400/mo, this means the lender could potentially take a reserve of $3,600. Also, the lender will take a few months of your homeowners insurance up front in advance. Be aware of this cost at closing or arrange for the seller to credit you this cost. Property tax reserves are required by the VA lender and one of the largest costs related to closing. Be sure to prepare for them if this is not fully explained up front by the lender. Remember, this is really not a loan cost as these property taxes are what you will have to pay anyway as part of ownership; you are just paying them in advance. If you sell or refinance, you will get a refund of any remaining property taxes or home owners insurance held in reserve by the lender.

A requirement from the VA lender is that you to pay an entire 12 months of homeowners insurance policy in advance. All lenders require that you keep a homeowners policy on a property if there is a mortgage on it. This will insure against fire and other disasters that could damage your house. Paying 12 months in homeowners insurance up front can total anywhere from $400 to $1,000 or more. Call your insurance agent for a quote as the cost will depend on where your property is located and the purchase price.

VA Funding Fee The VA charges a 2.15% funding fee for VA borrowers using their VA eligibility for the 1st time and 3.3% for those using it for the 2nd time or subsequent times. If you have 5% or more down payment, this funding fee is less than the above stated percentages. Also, if you have a 50% or greater VA disability rating the funding fee is completely waived. VA allows this fee to be rolled into your loan. You do NOT have to come out of pocket for this fee.

Thee closing costs associated with buying a home with a VA home loan can total from 2-4% of the purchase price. It is very important to either plan to have money set aside for these costs or work with the real estate agent who will represent you to negotiate with the seller to pay for your closing cost

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