Using your VA benefit again
The VA home loan benefit is not one and done. Once you sell a home and pay off the VA loan, your entitlement is generally restored and you can use it again. In some cases you can even have more than one VA loan at the same time if you have remaining entitlement, which is common for service members who buy at one duty station and keep that home as a rental when they move.
The funding fee is higher on a subsequent use with less than 5% down, so it is worth planning around if you are buying again.
Disabled veterans
If you receive VA disability compensation for a service-connected disability, you are generally exempt from the VA funding fee. That alone can save thousands on a purchase or refinance.
Florida also offers property tax exemptions for veterans with service-connected disabilities, up to a full exemption for veterans rated permanently and totally disabled. Those are handled through your county property appraiser after you close, and I am happy to point you in the right direction.
Why work with a VA specialist
VA loans have their own rules, and in Florida a few of them come up all the time:
- VA appraisals check the home’s value and the VA’s minimum property requirements. I will tell you up front what tends to come up on Florida homes, like roofs, water heaters and wood rot.
- Condos have to be VA approved. A lot of Florida buildings are not, so I check before you get attached to a unit.
- Seller concessions. VA rules allow the seller to help with your costs, and knowing how to structure that can keep thousands in your pocket.
- Insurance and CDD fees are part of what you qualify on. I build real Florida numbers for the home you are looking at.
As a broker with access to more than 150 lenders, I can also find a lender whose guidelines fit your situation when a bank says no.
VA articles
VA loan questions
Who is eligible for a VA loan?
Most veterans, active duty service members and National Guard and Reserve members with qualifying service, plus some surviving spouses. Your Certificate of Eligibility confirms it, and in most cases I can pull it for you electronically.
Is there a minimum credit score for a VA loan?
The VA does not set one, but lenders do. Because I work with a large lender network, I can often find options for veterans who were turned down at a bank.
Can I use a VA loan for an investment property?
A VA loan is for a home you will live in as your primary residence. You can keep it and rent it out later after you move, which is common for military families.
Do VA loans take longer to close?
Not in my experience. A well prepared VA loan closes on a normal timeline. Most delays come from appraisal repairs or condo approvals, which is why I look for those early.
All loans subject to credit approval, property eligibility, and underwriting guidelines. Not all borrowers will qualify. Program terms and availability can change without notice. This is not a commitment to lend. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.