VA Loans More Popular Among Washington State Military & Veterans

VA loans are a popular mortgage product in Washington State among military members, and for good reason. Read on to find out all the advantages that VA loans have to offer.

More and more veterans and military members in Washington State are using VA loans to buy a house. And it’s easy to understand why. This program gives eligible borrowers the chance to buy a house with no down payment while avoiding mortgage insurance at the same time.

Additionally, mortgage rates are often lower for VA loans than conventional mortgages (on average). If you are a current military member or veteran in Washington State, and you’re thinking about buying a home, you owe it to yourself to look into the VA loan program.

Big Benefits for Military Members and Veterans

More and more veterans and military members are turning to VA loans as a path to homeownership.

There are several reasons for the growing popularity of VA loans among Washington State’s veterans and military members.

Here are three of the primary benefits:

1. Lower rates, on average. According to data published by Ellie Mae, a mortgage origination software company, VA loans tend to have lower rates than conventional home loans (that are not insured by the government). Granted, rates can vary from one borrower to the next due to a number of factors. But on average, VA loans tend to offer lower borrowing costs.
2. No down payment. Washington State veterans and military members who buy a house with a VA loan can often finance 100% of the purchase price. That eliminates the need for a down payment, which is a major benefit for borrowers. Aside from the USDA home loan program for rural residents, there aren’t many 100% financing options available today. This is one of the things that makes the VA home loan program unique.
3. Avoiding mortgage insurance. With a typical home loan, borrowers who make a down payment below 20% usually have to pay for mortgage insurance. This insurance protects the lender but is paid for by the borrower. But with the VA loan program, home buyers can put down little or nothing at all while also avoiding mortgage insurance in most cases.

Check out our mortgage loan limit tool for conventional, FHA, and VA loans.

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Who Can Qualify for a VA Loan in Washington State?

The basic eligibility requirements for VA loans are fairly broad. The program is open to most military members and veterans in Washington State. The general requirements include at least 90 days of active duty service during wartime or 181 days during peacetime. National Guard and reservists are typically required to serve for six years before they are eligible for the VA loan program, but there are exceptions to this. Please contact us if you have questions about eligibility.

There to how much you can borrow using a VA loan with zero down payment. These loan limits, as they are known, vary by county because they are based on median home prices.

But these limits have been eliminated, giving borrowers a lot more room to take out larger loans without sacrificing their ability to forgo a down payment. As long as they do not currently have more than one VA loan at the time and have not defaulted on one in the past, loan limits will not apply. However, lenders still have the authority to determine how much of a loan each borrower may take out.

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Want to Apply For a VA Loan in Washington?

Are you ready to apply for a VA loan in Washington to finance a home purchase? If so, Sammamish Mortgage can help! We offer many different mortgage programs to borrowers in Washington State, as well as all of the Pacific Northwest region, including Colorado, Idaho, and Oregon since 1992. We are a family-run business that strives to help borrowers realize their dreams of owning a home. Contact us today if you have questions about applying for a mortgage.