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What do you need to know about VA Mortgages

Didier Malagies • Apr 08, 2024


VA mortgages, also known as VA loans, are home loans offered to veterans, active-duty service members, and, in some cases, eligible surviving spouses. Here's what you need to know about VA mortgages:


Eligibility: VA loans are available to active-duty military personnel, veterans, reservists, National Guard members, and some surviving spouses. Eligibility requirements may vary based on the length and nature of service.


No Down Payment: One of the most significant benefits of VA loans is that they typically do not require a down payment, allowing eligible borrowers to purchase a home with 100% financing.


Funding Fee: While VA loans do not require mortgage insurance, they do require a funding fee. This fee can be rolled into the loan amount and varies depending on factors such as the down payment amount and whether the borrower has used the VA loan benefit before.


No Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI): Unlike conventional loans, VA loans do not require private mortgage insurance, which can save borrowers money on their monthly mortgage payments.


Competitive Interest Rates: VA loans often offer competitive interest rates compared to conventional loans, making them an attractive option for eligible borrowers.


Flexible Credit Requirements: VA loans typically have more flexible credit requirements compared to conventional loans, making them accessible to borrowers with less-than-perfect credit.


Loan Limits: VA loans do have loan limits, which vary by county and are set by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Borrowers can still use a VA loan for a home purchase that exceeds the county loan limit, but they may need to make a down payment for the portion of the purchase price that exceeds the limit.


Assumption: VA loans are assumable, which means that if a borrower sells their home, the buyer can take over the VA loan if they are also eligible for VA loan benefits. This can be an attractive feature when selling a home.


Refinancing Options: VA loans offer various refinancing options, including the Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), also known as the VA streamline refinance, which allows borrowers to refinance their existing VA loan to obtain a lower interest rate with minimal paperwork and no appraisal in most cases.


Property Requirements: VA loans have specific property requirements, including minimum property standards to ensure the home is safe, sanitary, and structurally sound.


Preapproval Process: Borrowers interested in obtaining a VA loan should begin by obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Lenders may also require additional documentation for loan approval.


Overall, VA loans can be an excellent option for eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and their families to achieve homeownership with favorable terms and benefits.

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By Didier Malagies 29 Apr, 2024
Depending on where you live there is an opportunity in certain areas that you can get $2,500 towards the closing costs. You also get a lower rate and monthly PMI. Programs open up to you where there is down payment assistance and also the 1% down program available. The Gov't is printing 1 trillion every 100 days, and the costs of everything are out of control. The time will come when they will be printing a trillion every 30 days. Credit cards, car loans, and student loans are at unprecedented levels is it time to refinance your home to save money and then do another refinance as a rate term when the pivot happens at some point in the future the cost of everything is going up and not stopping and you will see inflation continue to gain ground once again. Time to put the house in order with a refinance to consolidate debt. A phone call or an email away to go over your present situation and see what makes sense with the present home values tune in and learn https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog didier malagies nmls#212566 dda mortgage nmls#324329
By Didier Malagies 22 Apr, 2024
Retirement at 65 has been a longstanding norm for U.S. workers, but older investors believe that not only is such an outcome unfeasible, but they’re likely to face more challenging retirements than their parents or grandparents. This is according to recently released survey results from Nationwide , with a respondent pool that included 518 financial advisers and professionals, as well as 2,346 investors ages 18 and older with investable assets of $10,000 or more. The survey follows other ongoing research into the baby boomer generation as it approaches “ Peak 65 .” The investors included a subset of 391 “pre-retirees“ between the ages of 55 and 65 who are not retired, along with subsets of 346 single women and 726 married women, Nationwide explained of its methodology. Seven in 10 of the pre-retiree investors said that the norm of retirement at age 65 “doesn’t apply to them,” while 67% of this cohort also believe that their own retirement challenges will outweigh those of preceding generations. Stress is changing the perceptions of retired life, especially for those who are closest to retirement, the results suggest. “Four in 10 (41%) pre-retirees said they would continue working in retirement to supplement their income out of necessity, and more than a quarter (27%) plan to live frugally to fund their retirement goals,” the results explained. “What’s more, pre-retirees say their plans to retire have changed over the last 12 months, with 22% expecting to retire later than planned.” Eric Henderson, president of Nationwide Annuity , said that previous generations who observed a “smooth transition” into retired life do not appear to be translating to the current generation making the same move. “Today’s investors are having a tougher time picturing that for themselves as they grapple with inflation and concerns about running out of money in retirement,” Henderson said in a statement. The result is that more pre-retirees are changing their spending habits and aiming to live more inexpensively. Forty-two percent of the surveyed pre-retiree cohort agreed with the idea that managing day-to-day expenses has grown more challenging due to rising costs of living, while 27% attributed inflation as the key reason they are saving less for retirement today. Fifty-seven percent of respondents said that inflation “poses the most immediate challenge to their retirement portfolio over the next 12 months,” while 41% said they were avoiding unnecessary expenses like vacations and leisure shopping. Confidence in the U.S. Social Security program has also fallen, the survey found. “Lack of confidence in the viability of Social Security upon retirement (38%) is a significant factor influencing pre-retirees to rethink or redefine their retirement planning strategies,” the results explained. “Over two-fifths (43%) are not counting on Social Security benefits as much as previously expected, and more than a quarter (27%) expect to receive less in benefits than previously anticipated.”  The survey was conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Nationwide in January 2024.
By Didier Malagies 22 Apr, 2024
Depending on where you live there is an opportunity in certain areas that you can get $2,500 towards the closing costs. You also get a lower rate and monthly PMI. Programs open up to you where there is down payment assistance and also the 1% down program available. I am seeing more and more first-time home buyers coming out now and this is information you need to know. Yes, home prices are higher and rates as well. But if you have these programs available and the payment is affordable then the probability of refinancing down the road is in your favor and if inflation continues to go up so will home prices. Maybe it is the right time to buy a home now? Tune in and learn https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog didier malagies nmls#212566 dda mortgage nmls#324329
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