Government Loans
VA Manufactured Home Loans: Property and Foundation Requirements
VA financing can be used for eligible manufactured housing, but the home, land, title, foundation, and lender program must fit…
Homeowner Learning Center
Independent, plain-English guidance on mortgage lending, underwriting, appraisals, and the home-financing process.
Government Loans
VA Condo Approval: How to Check a Project Before You Buy
For a VA condo loan, the borrower and unit must qualify, but the condominium project also has to be acceptable…
Government Loans
Low VA Appraisal: Escape Clause, Reconsideration of Value, and Buyer Options
A VA loan is generally based on the lower of the purchase price or VA’s reasonable value. A low appraisal…
Government Loans
VA Minimum Property Requirements Explained Simply
VA minimum property requirements focus on basic safety, sanitation, structural soundness, and marketability. They are not a promise that the…
Government Loans
VA Appraisal vs. Home Inspection: What Each One Actually Does
The VA appraisal protects the lending decision. A home inspection helps the buyer understand the house. Those goals overlap, but…
Government Loans
VA Closing Costs and Seller Concessions Explained
A no-down-payment VA loan can still require cash. Closing costs, prepaid items, discount points, and value shortages must be planned…
Government Loans
VA Loan Credit Requirements After Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, or Late Payments
VA credit underwriting focuses on willingness and ability to repay, but lenders still investigate patterns, recent events, and unresolved obligations.
Government Loans
VA Debt-to-Income Ratio: How High Is Too High?
VA does not treat one ratio as the entire approval decision. Debt-to-income, residual income, credit, and the full risk picture…
Government Loans
VA Residual Income Explained: The Test Beyond Debt-to-Income
Residual income estimates what remains for ordinary living expenses after major monthly obligations are paid.
Government Loans
VA Funding Fee Explained: Exemptions, Financing, and Refunds
The VA funding fee is a one-time program charge on many VA loans. It is separate from interest, lender fees,…