What is Eligibility for a VA Loan?
Eligibility for a VA Loan means the veteran, service member or spouse meets the basic criteria to apply for the VA home loan benefit. Although obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) allows you to apply for a VA Loa, it doesn’t guarantee approval of a VA mortgage. An eligible veteran must still meet credit and income minimums in order to qualify for a VA-guaranteed loan. If the borrower for instance has too much debt, they may not qualify for a VA home loan.
The VA Lender’s Role
Before beginning the process of providing a pre-qualification letter to a VA borrower, the lender must first ensure the eligibility of the veteran or service member. The good news is that once a COE is received, there is generally no need to have it updated before closing escrow, unless the VA lender believes it is inaccurate.
Veterans may also apply for a COE online at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov.
IRRRL Eligibility Determination
VA systems will not generate a VA case number for an IRRRL if there is no record of an active loan. This means if a lender successfully obtains a case number for an IRRRL, no further documentation of eligibility is required.