Home Loans for Veterans

Get your dream home with a VA loan

Buy the house of your dreams with no money down

Veterans Affairs, or VA, home loans are government-backed mortgages with unique benefits for servicemembers, veterans and some spouses—making homeownership more accessible and affordable for eligible borrowers.

Want to learn how a VA loan can benefit you?

Complete the form below, and a VA loan specialist will reach out within 48 hours to discuss your options. No commitment required.

By submitting this form, you're providing express "written" consent for First Citizens Bank to contact you at the telephone number you've provided using automated technologies (including, but not limited to, prerecorded or artificial voice message calls, text messages and calls made by an automatic telephone dialing system) regarding this specific inquiry. These calls and messages may incur access fees from your cellular provider.

If you prefer to speak to a banker, call us at 866-220-9353.

Your hard-earned VA home loan benefits

Get 100% financing

Your VA loanD may cover up to 100% of the home price.

No down payment

As long as you have full entitlement, there's no down payment required.

No PMI requirement

Save money with no PMI requirement.

Terms that work for you

Choose from a variety of VA mortgage term options.

Competitive rates

Great interest rates and limited closing costs are typically offered on VA loans.

VA Loan Eligibility Requirements

Minimum program requirements

  • FICO score of 620 or higher
  • Eligible participants must be veterans or active-duty servicemembers who meet basic time-in-service and character-of-service requirements or must be a surviving spouse to be entitled to the VA home loan benefit

Supporting Veterans
We proudly support military veterans and their families

Homes 4 Families was founded in 2008 to meet the need for affordable housing and effective, no-cost services that equip veteran families to move up the economic ladder. These services include financial education, therapeutic trauma-informed workshops, services for military children and veteran-to-veteran support.

Range Fore Hope was founded by Retired US Army Sergeant Alvin King to support veterans and their families, with an emphasis on the adaptive community. Initiatives include golf instructional therapy clinics, whole-health literacy, networking events and financial literacy.

Loan Process
Financing your VA loan

Ready to apply for a VA loan? This is where your journey begins.

Step 1

Contact us

Get started by submitting the contact form. A VA mortgage loan advisor will be in touch within 24 business hours to assess your readiness and discuss terms, pricing, options and payments. Eager to begin the process? Call us at 866-220-9353.

Step 2

Submit an application

We work closely with you to ensure you submit a fully documented and supported application, allowing for an efficient review and account acceptance process.

Step 3

Get approval

Upon approval, a VA mortgage loan advisor ensures you receive access to the funds you need to buy a home.

FAQ
People often ask us

A VA loan is a special type of mortgage backed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA. It's designed to help service members and veterans purchase a primary residence, offering several unique benefits that make homeownership more attainable and affordable for those who qualify.

VA loans can offer a number of advantages compared to conventional mortgage loans. Depending on the lender, there may be no down payment required. There's also no private mortgage insurance, or PMI, requirement for VA loans. Typically, VA loans offer great interest rates and limited closing costs, saving borrowers thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

To qualify for the VA home loan program, you'll need to work with your lender to get a Certificate of Eligibility, or COE. Typically, this means you or your spouse meet one of the following VA home loan requirements:

  • Active service for 90 consecutive days during a wartime period
  • Active service for 181 consecutive days during a peacetime period
  • 6 years of service in the Army Reserve or National Guard
  • Your spouse was a service member who passed away in the line of duty or due to a service-related disability

You may also need to satisfy a lender's income, debt and credit requirements to qualify for VA home loan eligibility.

No. Although a Veterans Affairs home loan must be used to purchase a primary residence, this doesn't mean you have to be a first-time homebuyer. For example, if you've paid off your VA loan and sold the house, you can apply for another VA loan to purchase your next home.

There's no limit on how many times you can use a VA loan. However, you may only have up to two VA loans at one time.

Yes. With a VA loan refinance, you have two refinance options to choose from: interest rate reduction refinancing or cash-out refinancing.

An interest rate reduction refinance loan, or IRRRL, allows you to refinance your VA home loan to a lower interest rate.

Cash-out refinancing allows you to take out a new mortgage for more than the previous loan, use the funds to repay the old loan and receive a cash payment for the remaining funds.

VA loans—like other government-backed loans such as FHA and USDA loans—can't be recast.

The minimum VA home loan term is 10 years, while the maximum term may last up to 30 years.

VA loans vary by state and county. The VA loan amount cannot exceed the amount designated for each county—the conforming loan limit—as set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA. The minimum dollar amount is fixed at $25,000. Find a mortgage banker for more information on VA loan limits.

Normal credit approval applies.

Not applicable in all states.

VA funding fee applies except as may be exempted by VA guidelines. The fee is higher with a zero down payment, and maximum loan limits vary by county. If a down payment of 5% or more is made, the fee is reduced. The VA funding fee is non-refundable. Ask for details about eligibility, documentation and other requirements.

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