Why You Need to Speak Up About VA Loans

Many service members know little about the benefits of VA mortgages or may even hold negative views about them, according to a Spotlight on VA Loans report commissioned by Navy Federal Credit Union and Operation Homefront. The survey was based on responses from about 1,000 active-duty service members and veterans nationwide.

Nearly half of active-duty respondents believe VA loans have higher interest rates than conventional loans—which they don’t, the survey notes. Seventeen percent of veterans and 45% of active-duty soldiers believe a down payment of more than 20% is necessary for a VA loan. In reality, VA loans offer vets and military service members a chance to buy with 0% down.

Bob Goldberg, CEO of the National Association of REALTORS®, pinned a recent editorial at The American Genius that documents how VA loans are helping vets achieve homeownership quicker than they imagined. He shared the story of how a vet who had been honorably discharged in 2006 after knee and back injuries learned of options that sped up his homeownership timeline after his agent connected him to a lender specializing in helping military home buyers. The vet learned that he qualified for the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program, which offers a 0% down payment, and that it would cover high housing costs in his area of Washington, D.C. He also learned that his VA loan would not require private mortgage insurance because of his service-related disability. He and his wife were able to purchase a home much sooner than they ever thought.

Real estate pros can play a big role in helping military members and veterans achieve homeownership by sharing more information about the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program and helping to dispel common myths. To help with that, NAR and the Department of Veterans Affairs released a joint two-part video series earlier this year that examines misconceptions about the program as well as its advantages. The videos help guide REALTORS® and their clients through the process.

The VA Home Loan Guaranty Program has helped some 25 million veterans purchase and maintain homes since it was launched during World War II.

NAR has served as a strong advocate for VA loans. At the end of 2021, NAR President Leslie Rouda Smith testified before Congress about the importance of strengthening the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program, including citing benefits for borrowers and the program’s role in closing the racial homeownership gap. She noted that VA loan delinquency rates tend to be lower than FHA loans and comparable to conventional loans.

“The National Association of REALTORS® has worked from our position as America’s largest trade association to help ensure the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program remains an accessible resource for veterans looking to purchase a home as a benefit for their service,” Goldberg notes in the article at The American Genius.

REALTORS® wanting to expand their work with military members and vets have pursued a Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification. The program educates NAR members on helping military home buyers, including connecting them to financing resources and learning how vets can take advantage of the benefits available to them.

“As we honor their immense sacrifices, we also look for ways to better recognize and repay the men and women who have survived the horrors of combat and returned home to live out the ideals they risked everything to protect,” Goldberg writes for The American Genius. “Because when they do return, access to a safe, comfortable home should never be in question.”