So How Many Times Can You Use A Va Loan
Eligible veterans and military service members are able to use there VA home loan benefits over and over again. There is no limit on how many times you can use your VA loan benefit. This is a benefit you have earned for serving our country, and once you have earned it, it is a life long benefit you can use over and over again. You can restore your entitlement as often as you need as long as you sell the previous property and pay the prior loan in full. In some cases you can even keep your first home and buy a second primary residence if you are required to move for a job or a PCS situation. Everyones circumstances are unique, so give one of our VA home loan specialists a call at 855-956-4040 to find out more. We are here to serve you!
Benefits Of Getting A Second Mortgage With A Va Loan
Quicken Loans VA Product Manager Geno Yoscovits discussed how taking out a second mortgage while refinancing a VA home loan is a real win for clients.
Clients sometimes have legitimate reasons for wanting to keep secondary financing in place during a refinance, he said. They often get favorable terms on a home equity line that they can use for a variety of purposes. VA loans remove the requirement to pay off a secondary lien.
Why Does My Coe Say This Veterans Basic Entitlement Is $0
This line on your COE is information for your lender. It shows that youve used your home loan benefit before and dont have remaining entitlement. If the basic entitlement listed on your COE is more than $0, you may have remaining entitlement and can use your benefit again.
On your COE, in the table called Prior Loans charged to entitlement, we list the amount of your entitlement youve already used under the Entitlement Charged column. Your entitlement can be restored when you sell your property and pay your VA-backed loan in full, or repay in full any claim weve paid.
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Using Va Benefits To Buy A Second Home
Federal law governing VA loans includes specific occupancy requirements on VA borrowers. That is what makes it tricky to purchase a second home with a VA loan. The law states that veterans must certify that they intend to personally occupy the property as their home. While that seems to rule out a purchase of second home, the VA allows for exceptions that may make it possible to use a VA loan for that purpose.
For example, as part of the VA loan application, a borrower must certify that he or she plans to move into the home being purchased within 60 days after the loan closes. However, its possible to get an extension beyond the usual 60-day limit for moving in. One example is when a home will get repairs or improvements that keep the veteran from occupying the property until work is completed. After moving within that 60-day period, the previous home can become the second home and the new home becomes the primary residence, meeting the occupancy requirement.
Since service members may move often, there are no hard and fast standards for how long after moving into the newly purchased home the veteran must live there as a primary residence. So a buyer might be able to live in the new home for a fairly short period, then move back into the first home.
Why Two Va Loans
My original VA loan was for a home near Shaw AFB. That property is financed with a low rate , 15 year mortgage. The rental income almost covers the payment each month, but the loan is paying off fast! I did not want to sell the home but rather wanted to keep paying it off for a while to gain equity.
We did not plan on buying a home when we moved to Robins AFB, but after looking for several months we changed our mind. Rent is fairly high in Warner Robins and many nice, affordable homes were for sale that kept us well under BAH.
We had enough money for a small down payment on a house, but not the 20% that is typically required to avoid Private Mortgage Insurance , which can add over $100 per month to your mortgage. I was also unsure if we would qualify for an almost 100% financed home without VA.
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How To Restore Your Eligibility After You Sell Your Home
Its important to know how to restore your entitlement benefit if you want to use a VA loan for a second home. The restoration process is not automatic and must be initiated by the veteran. To be eligible for restoring your entitlement, you must have either sold the home you bought with a VA loan and paid off the mortgage, repaid your loan in full and still own the home or another qualified veteran assumes your loan and replaces their entitlement with yours. If one of these scenarios applies to you, you can request restoration by submitting Form 26-1880 Request for Certificate of Eligibility to a regional VA processing center
In the example above, your remaining entitlement was enough to cover the second home purchase with no down payment. However, if you wanted to purchase a home with a higher value than $310,400 without a down payment, you would need to restore full entitlement.
What Is A Va Home Loan
A VA home loan is a mortgage issued by private lenders but guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs . It is one of the most valuable financial benefits of military service. VA home loans are available to veterans, current military members and surviving spouses.
VA home loans offer many great features. One of the best is the ability of borrowers to take out a loan with as little as a $0 down payment. This is one reason VA loans can be considered a better mortgage option than traditional mortgages like conventional home loans.
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Can I Have Two Va Loans
The quick answer to the question regarding having two VA Loans is yes, but there are certain conditions that apply and a down payment may be required. It is conceivable to have multiple VA loans at the same time, though this does not happen very often. In most U.S. counties, a VA-eligible borrower with full entitlement has enough VA support for a loan of $548,250. Most veterans have some entitlement left after using their house loan benefits, with the average VA loan being roughly $210,000. Despite the fact that the VA requires the loan to be paid off in full and the home to be sold before restoring entitlement, there is a one-time exception to this regulation.If you are an active duty military member and are required to PCS to a new location, it is possible to purchase a new home using your VA Certificate and rent out your previous address. However, there are several things to consider.
How Is A Va Loan Different From Other Government
A VA loan differs from other government-backed mortgages, such as an FHA loan or USDA loan, in a few different ways. Like VA loans, FHA and USDA loans are guaranteed by the federal government either the Federal Housing Administration or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The main difference between VA loans and FHA loans is that FHA loans usually require a borrower to take out mortgage insurance. The borrower has to pay the mortgage insurance for the life of the loan. FHA loans also have higher down payment requirements than VA loans.
A significant difference between VA loans and USDA loans is the type of home you buy. USDA loans are designed to encourage homeownership in rural or suburban areas. If you apply for a USDA loan, you cant buy a house in the city or a highly developed area.
The source of the loans can also vary. Some USDA loans come directly from the government, while private lenders generally issue VA and FHA loans.
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Can I Take Out Another Va Loan
Yes: VA loan benefits can be used again and again, provided that you meet the qualifications for reuse. Here is a closer look at 3 common scenarios may help some veterans get another VA loan.
Does one of these apply to you regarding your previous VA loan?
- Paid in full and house sold
- Assumed by another veteran
- Balance on mortgage and still own the home
What Is A Va Loan And Who Is Eligible
With the purpose of helping service members finance a home with favorable loan terms, a is a mortgage loan thats guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs . The main perks of a VA loan is that zero down payment is required, and there is noprivate mortgage insurance).To qualify for a VA loan, you must have a valid Certificate of Eligibility , and you must meet certain income and credit requirements. Length of service, conduct, and duty status can also affect your eligibility.
You may be able to obtain a COE if you belong to any of the following categories: veteran, active duty service member, National Guard member, reserve member, or surviving spouse.
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How To Buy A Second Home With A Va Loan
When buying a second property with a VA loan, you’ll need to apply with a VA lender and figure out if you’ll run into limits with your entitlement.
Entitlement tells lenders how much the VA will pay them if you default on your loan. In line with most lender requirements, the VA will pay up to 25% of the amount on your first VA loan, with no maximum loan limit amount. However, on your second VA loan, the backing/entitlement is limited.
The VA will determine 25% of the conforming loan limit in the county where you’re buying, then subtract any entitlement you’ve already used on your first home’s loan. If lower than 25% of the loan amount you want, you’ll often need to pay the difference as a down payment.
Understanding Va Bonus Entitlements: The Facts That Matter
The most important factor in all of this is understanding the VA entitlement. This is the amount the VA will guarantee for lenders and is how lenders can offer loans with no down payment. The VA guarantees 25% of the loan amount given, which means if you defaulted on the mortgage, the VA would pay the lender back 25% of what they lost, which makes up for the lack of down payment.
The basic entitlement is $144,000, but since most homes sell for much more than this, the VA offers a bonus entitlement to help veterans secure a home.
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Second Homes Which Are Eligible For Va Loans:
For second homes to be qualified for VA loan there are certain criteria that need to be fulfilled. These criterias are:
It is very important for the buyer to consult with a recognized VA loan advisor before going for the loan.
There are also certain rules around the occupancy of home and relocation in case of military service. In case of a military person who is currently active in service, there are high chances that he will be moved around more often. With every movement, the primary residence of the serviceman will change. In such case, if a serviceman takes a VA loan, his spouse is allowed to continue staying in that home. However, apart from the spouse, no other family member is allowed to avail this.
If the house is vacated by both the serviceman and the spouse because of any transfer owing to military orders, the loan needs to be paid by either reselling the house or refinancing. More information on this can be obtained by contacting the VA authority.
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What Is A Second Mortgage
A second mortgage is another loan taken against a property that is already mortgaged. Many people consider using their home equity to finance large financial needs, but mortgage industry jargon has confused the meaning of certain terms including second mortgage home equity loan and home equity line of credit . A second loan, or mortgage, against your house will either be a home equity loan, which is a lump-sum loan with a fixed term and rate, or a HELOC, which features variable rates and continuing access to funds.
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What Is A Va Loan Entitlement
Every Veteran and active service member who meets the VA’s service requirements has something called a VA loan entitlement.
Entitlement can be a bit confusing, even for those working in the mortgage industry, but the most common definition is that its a specific amount the Department of Veterans Affairs will repay a mortgage lender if the borrower fails to make their payments . This protection is called the VA loan guaranty.
Eligible Veterans in most parts of the country enjoy the following:
- Primary entitlement: $36,000
- Secondary entitlement: $68,250, available when buying a home for more than $144,000.
In more expensive housing markets, there are usually higher entitlement amounts.
Let VAMortgageCenter connect you with a home loan specialist to guide you through your entitlement questions and calculate your remaining entitlement.
When a qualified borrower purchases a home through the VA loan program, they use some or all of their entitlement. The VA typically guarantees a quarter of the loan amount, so borrowers usually utilize a quarter of their entitlement when purchasing.
Second Va Loan Minimum Amount
When obtaining your second VA Loan, your loan amount must be above $144,000 to obtain 100% financing. This sounds contrary to what you would think, but if you are purchasing another property below the purchase price of $144,001, then a down payment will be required. The VA Funding Fee can count towards this total but if you are planning on having a down payment, the loan amount needs to be greater than $144,000.
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Va Home Loan Eligibility Requirements
Depending on the lender, requirements for certain aspects of a VA home loan may vary. There are general VA home loan requirements you should meet to be eligible for this type of loan. There are also documents you will need to submit to apply.
If you meet all requirements and submit all documents, you can expect the process to move seamlessly.
Can You Foreclose On A Va Loan
A VA loan can go into foreclosure. The VA has programs in place to help borrowers avoid foreclosure, though. A veteran struggling to repay their mortgage can get help from the VA, whether they have a VA loan or not.
If a veteran does have a VA loan, they can request assistance from a VA loan technician if they are concerned about missing payments or falling behind. Once a borrower falls more than 61 days behind on payments, the VA automatically assigns a technician to their case.
A VA loan technician will review a borrowers options with them to help them avoid foreclosure. Options might include:
- Modifying the loan to reduce monthly payments.
- Moving the loan into forbearance so a borrower has additional time to make payments.
- Creating a repayment plan to help the borrower make up any missed payments.
- Delaying foreclosure so a borrower can sell the home.
- Arranging a short sale of the home if the loan amount is more than the homes value.
- Transferring the deed instead of foreclosure.
Generally speaking, borrowers who purchased their home after 1990 will not have to repay the government if they foreclose on the house.
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Va Loan After Va Foreclosure
The last important piece to mention is how foreclosure affects second-tier entitlement. Having a VA loan foreclosed on doesn’t mean you’ve lost the ability to get another VA loan. You may be able to secure a new VA loan after just two years.
Following a foreclosure or short sale, the most significant consideration is often how much house you can buy before needing to factor in a down payment.
How Many Times Can I Use The Va Loan
The VA doesn’t limit how many times you can use a VA loan, as long as you have entitlement available. For example, if you continue to buy primary residences, sell them or pay off your VA loans in full, you will continue to have your full entitlement reinstated. On the other hand, you could reach a wall if you try to keep the homes that still have VA-backed mortgages.
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Restoring Your Va Mortgage Entitlement
Remember: You have an entitlement limit, but you can get your entitlement restored by selling your home and paying off the VA loan in full. If your loan is merely paid off or refinanced and you still own the home, the entitlement amount remains tied up in the home.
Fortunately, theres an exception: You can request a one-time restoration of entitlement benefit, even if youve not met the VAs must-sell rule.
Say the buyer of your home for sale is a veteran who takes over your existing VA mortgage .
You can ask this person to substitute his or her entitlement for the same amount of entitlement you originally used. If they agree, your original entitlement will be restored, says Clermont.
If the buyer doesnt agree, the entitlement you used to buy the home will remain tied up in the property until the new owner fully repays the loan.
