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- What Are Netting Escrows & How Does It Work?: The Best Guide - January 2, 2024
- The Secret About Prescriptive Easement: Top Guide 1 Must Know - December 4, 2023
- About Home Equity Loans In Texas And How Can One Obtain It - November 27, 2023
About VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
If you are an active military service member or a veteran who is looking to buy a new home, a VA loan is just the best bet for you.
Many veterans who are looking to buy a new home are still unaware of the VA loan process. Most of the process will be taken care of by your lender.
However, in order for you to qualify for a VA loan, you need to first have a VA certificate of eligibility (COE). In this post, we will understand what is VA certificate of eligibility is and how it works.
What is the VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility
A VA certificate of eligibility is a document issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs that certifies your eligibility for a VA loan to your lender.
You must fulfill the following conditions to be eligible for a VA loan.
- 90 days of wartime duty
- 181 days in a non-conflict situation
- If you are surviving spouse of the service member who was killed in the line of duty or died as a result of complications from a service-related disability.
- National Guard service or 6 years of creditable reserve.
In such cases, the VA certificate of eligibility verifies that you these criteria and are thus eligible for a VA loan.
Veterans who receive disability payments are exempt from service time restrictions.
Why Certificate of Eligibility is required for VA Loan?
Lenders are unable to qualify you for a VA loan and the perks that come with it unless you have a certificate of eligibility.
Providing an up-to-date certificate of eligibility helps lenders to assess your eligibility and assist you in obtaining the best loan for your needs.
Lenders might use the entitlement codes on your certificate of eligibility to assess your loan eligibility.
This entitlement code tells the lender about your military service and lets them know if you have to pay the VA funding fee, which goes directly to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Where can I get a Certificate of Eligibility for a VA loan?
There are several options for obtaining a certificate of eligibility for a VA loan.
You can apply immediately online or print a certificate of eligibility request form from the VA website. You can also work with your lender to get your certificate of eligibility.
Does the VA Certificate of Eligibility have any expiration?
A certificate of eligibility doesn’t have any expiration. There might be a few cases where another certificate of eligibility is required.
An illustration of this is assuming your unique certificate of eligibility was gotten while you were active servicemen and if you currently are discharged from your duty, you would require e new certificate of eligibility.
Conclusion
Just by getting the certificate of eligibility you just give the lender the entitlement amount that you might qualify for.
Bear in mind that there are going to be other requirements to qualify for the loan like credit score, income, DTI, etc.
The fastest way to get your certificate of eligibility is electronic. You can get it by yourself or the certified VA lender can get one for you as well.
Not all lenders would be able to do so. Always ensure with your lender to see if they can help you with a VA loan.
