VA loans are reserved for eligible veterans, service members, and surviving spouses. Qualification starts with a Certificate of Eligibility — then credit, income, residual income, and a primary residence that clears lender guidelines.
Service eligibility comes first. Then underwriters review the rest of the file.
You need a Certificate of Eligibility confirming qualifying service and remaining entitlement. Without a COE, the VA guaranty cannot attach to the loan.
VA purchase loans require you to occupy the home as your primary residence. Second homes and pure investment properties are not VA-eligible.
The VA does not set a hard score floor, but lenders do. Recent lates, collections, and major credit events are reviewed with compensating factors.
Stable, documented income plus VA residual-income guidelines by region and household size — not DTI alone.
Full entitlement often supports $0 down. Partial entitlement may require a down payment or county-limit math — we model that early.
If you fall into one of these groups and can document income and credit, VA is often the strongest purchase path available.
Many of these are fixable with timing, documentation, or a different loan program — not automatic dead ends.
Exact day counts depend on when and how you served. Ryan and Steve confirm eligibility against your DD-214 or current orders and the COE — not a generic online checklist.
If you are unsure whether your Guard, Reserve, or wartime service qualifies, pull the COE first. That single document answers the eligibility question before you spend weeks shopping homes.
Ryan and Steve review the real file — entitlement, residual income, and overlays — before you write an offer.
Step 1
Confirm service eligibility and remaining entitlement in one step.
Step 2
VA guidelines vs. what lenders approve on credit and residual income today.
Step 3
Full vs partial entitlement, funding fee, and cash to close.
Step 4
Conditions you can clear before you shop — averaging a 20-day close.
Related guides to help you compare options and move toward pre-approval.
How the VA guaranty, funding fee, and $0-down path work.
Program details, funding fee calculator, and entitlement tools.
Estimate remaining guaranty when entitlement is partially used.
Low- and zero-down options if this is your first purchase.
2MG Daily
Recent articles from our blog on VA eligibility, entitlement, and veteran homebuying.
Sep 1, 2026 • 2MG Daily
Read article →
Sep 2, 2026 • 2MG Daily
Read article →
Eligible veterans, active-duty service members, qualifying National Guard and Reserve members, and certain surviving spouses who meet VA service requirements and can obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). You also need credit, income, and residual-income approval from the lender for a primary residence.
Yes. Your COE confirms VA service eligibility and remaining entitlement. Ryan and Steve pull or request your COE early so we know whether you have full or partial entitlement before you shop.
The VA does not set a hard minimum score, but most lenders look for about a 620+ for automated approvals. Overlays vary — stronger scores help pricing and approval odds. We map your file against current lender overlays before you shop.
Yes — many surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from a service-connected disability can qualify. Eligibility depends on remarriage status and VA rules. We verify COE status before modeling your purchase.
Ryan & Steve will pull your COE, check entitlement, review credit and residual income, and map the cleanest path to pre-approval.