
As for the service requirements for the VA loan, the VA requires prospective borrowers to meet one of the following:
- Serve 90 consecutive days on active duty during wartime, or
- Serve 181 days on active duty during peacetime, or
- Serve 6 years in the Reserves or National Guard, or
- Be the surviving spouse of a service member who died while serving or due to a service-connected disability.
When can I use my VA loan?
When Can I Use My VA Loan? It's possible to use your VA loan benefit as soon as you meet the minimum service requirements of 90 consecutive days on active duty during wartime, or 181 days during peacetime, or six years in the National Guard or Reserves. The primary restriction with a VA loan relating to service is discharge status.
What are the service requirements for a VA loan?
As for the service requirements for the VA loan, the VA requires prospective borrowers to meet one of the following: Be the surviving spouse of a service member who died while serving or due to a service-connected disability. If you served less than the requirement with a discharge other than dishonorable, you still might be eligible.
How long do you have to be in the military for VA?
Most service members are told that they will be eligible for a VA loan if they stay in long enough. Generally, service requirements are as follows: 2 years for regular service members. 6 years for Reservists and National Guard members.
Are you eligible for VA home loan benefits?
Most service members are told that they will be eligible for a VA loan if they stay in long enough. Generally, service requirements are as follows: Are You Eligible for Home Loan Benefits? If you're not sure if you meet these requirements, don't worry! You may still be eligible for a VA loan. 2. All Uniformed Services Have VA Home Loan Benefits

Can you get a VA loan with less than 2 years service?
It's absolutely possible for applicants to earn VA loan approval if they have been employed at their current job for less than two years.
Can I get VA loan after basic training?
To qualify for the VA Home Loan Program for peacetime service, you must have served at least 181 days of continuous active duty during the following periods. Active duty for training doesn't count.
How much of a down payment do you need for a VA loan?
No down payment on VA loans VA loans are famous for not requiring a down payment. Home buyers can get into a house with $0 out of pocket (aside from standard closing costs). That's a huge benefit for first-time home buyers who might have trouble saving cash to buy a house.
Is there a minimum credit score for a VA loan?
VA's residual income guidelines ensureVeteran borrowers can afford the loan and determine how much money a Veteran must have left over after all debts and living expenses are considered. There is no minimum credit score requirement. Instead, VA requires a lender to review the entire loan profile.
How many active duty points do I need for a VA loan?
How many retirement points do I need for a VA loan? Not counting active service or orders covered under the new law, essentially six "good" years' worth of points. A "good" year is a year with at least 50 retirement points.
Does active duty training qualify for VA benefits?
Disability Benefits VA pays monthly compensation benefits for disabilities incurred or aggravated during active duty, or active duty for training for disabilities as a result of injury or disease, or inactive duty training for disabilities due to injury, heart attack, or stroke.
What are the disadvantages of a VA loan?
What are the Disadvantages of a VA Loan?You May Have Less Equity in Your Home. ... VA Loans Cannot be Used for Vacation or Rental Properties. ... Seller Resistance to VA Financing. ... The Funding Fee is Higher for Subsequent Use. ... Not All Lenders Offer – or Understand – VA Loans.
What is the VA 55 year rule?
What is the VA 55-year-old rule? Veterans who receive VA disability benefits for service-connected conditions are exempt from periodic future examinations once they turn 55 years old. This includes veterans who will be 55 by the date of a future examination, according to the VA Adjudication Procedures Manual.
How much service time qualifies you as a veteran?
Served 90 total days of active service during wartime. Served 181 continuous days of active service during peacetime.
How long do you have to serve in the military?
But the services also offer programs with two-, three- and six-year active-duty or reserve enlistments. It depends upon the service and the job you want.
What qualifies you to be a veteran?
A veteran is a former member of the Armed Forces of the United States (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) who served on active duty and was discharged under conditions, which were other than dishonorable. Persons who attended military academies are now considered veterans for financial aid purposes.
Who is considered a military veteran?
The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.
What are the different types of veteran status?
Under VEVRAA, a veteran may be classified as a ”disabled veteran,” ” recently separated veteran,” ”active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran,” or ”Armed Forces service medal veteran.
Can I call myself a veteran?
Yes, just recently signed legislation allows you to call yourself a Veteran. During the December 2016 transition period, President Obama signed H.R. 6416, a bill that says National Guard and Reserve retirees who had zero active duty time are now eligible to be referred to as Veterans.
Does a veteran have to be retired?
All people retired from the military are veterans, but not all veterans are military retirees.
How do I know if I served under an eligible wartime period?
Under current law, we recognize the following wartime periods to decide eligibility for VA pension benefits:
How long did you serve in the military in 1980?
And at least one of these must be true about your service. You: Started on active duty before September 8, 1980, and you served at least 90 days on active duty with at least 1 day during wartime, or. Started on active duty as an enlisted person after September 7, 1980, and served at least 24 months or the full period for which you were called ...