VA Loans —
zero down, no PMI.
You earned it. VA home loans offer veterans and active-duty service members 0% down payment*, no monthly mortgage insurance, and some of the most competitive rates available — a benefit exclusive to those who served.
- ✓Are an eligible veteran, active-duty service member, or surviving spouse
- ✓Want to buy with zero down payment
- ✓Want to eliminate monthly mortgage insurance entirely
- ✓Are purchasing or refinancing a primary residence
- ✓Want access to competitive interest rates available to eligible veterans
- ✓Have used your VA benefit before and have remaining entitlement
- →You do not have VA eligibility — FHA or Conventional are strong options
- →You are purchasing an investment property — VA requires owner-occupancy
- →The seller is unwilling to accept VA offers — worth discussing with your agent
- →You want to close on a property that cannot pass a VA appraisal
Everything you need to
know about VA loans.
VA benefits are earned through military service. You'll need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) — we pull this directly from the VA database in most cases without you needing to do anything extra.
- 90 days active duty during wartime, or 181 days during peacetime
- 6 years National Guard or Reserve service
- Surviving spouses of service members who died in service
- COE obtained directly — no paperwork hassle for the borrower
The VA funding fee replaces mortgage insurance. It's a one-time fee that can be financed into the loan. Veterans with a 10%+ service-connected disability rating are completely exempt.
VA loans are for primary residences only. The property must meet VA Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs) verified through a VA appraisal by a VA-certified appraiser.
- Primary residence only — no vacation or investment properties
- Single-family homes, condos (VA-approved), townhomes, 2–4 units
- Property must be safe, sound, and sanitary
- VA appraiser determines both value and condition compliance
Since 2020, VA borrowers with full entitlement face no formal loan limits — they can finance any amount with 0% down. This makes VA uniquely powerful in high-value coastal and luxury markets.
- No maximum loan amount with full entitlement
- Lender overlays may apply above certain amounts
- Jumbo VA loans available for very high balances
- Partial entitlement rules apply if you have an existing VA loan
Your VA loan journey
with Smart Mortgage.
We pull your Certificate of Eligibility directly from the VA system — usually within minutes. No digging through discharge papers. We confirm your entitlement and get pre-approval started immediately.
Once eligibility is confirmed, we review income, credit, and assets. Most VA borrowers receive a pre-approval letter the same day — giving you a strong competitive position when making offers.
We order the VA appraisal from a VA-certified appraiser immediately after contract. Our underwriting team processes your file concurrently to shorten the overall timeline significantly.
VA loans at Smart Mortgage can close in as little as 14 days.* We handle the coordination with the VA, title company, and agent so your experience is smooth from pre-approval to the day you get your keys.
Common VA loan
questions answered.
Use your VA benefit — you earned it.
Zero down. No PMI. Pre-approval often issued the same day. Let's put your service to work.*