Loan Options
VA Home Loan
Unlock your earned benefits with 0% down payment, no monthly PMI, and competitive interest rates. Secured Lending Group makes buying or refinancing in California fast and hassle-free, from pulling your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to closing day.
What is a VA Loan and How Does It Work?
A VA loan is a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and issued by private lenders, like Secured Lending Group. Because the federal government guarantees a portion of the loan, lenders can eliminate standard requirements like down payments and PMI. This government backing lowers the risk for the lender, which allows us to offer significantly lower interest rates than conventional mortgages.
Why Choose a VA Loan?
VA home loans offer unique advantages that are hard to find with any other type of mortgage. Whether you’re buying your first home or looking to refinance, VA loans provide a path to affordable homeownership with the benefits you deserve.
Key Benefits
$0 Down Payment:
Finance 100% of the home’s purchase price without putting any money down.
No Monthly PMI:
Save hundreds of dollars every month compared to standard conventional or FHA loans.
Lower Closing Costs:
The VA limits the closing costs lenders can charge military buyers.
No Prepayment Penalty:
Pay off your mortgage early or make extra payments anytime without fees.
Assumable Mortgage:
If you sell your home in a rising-rate environment, another buyer can assume your low VA interest rate.
Who Qualifies for a VA Loan?
Veterans: Served at least 90 continuous days on active duty during wartime, or 181 continuous days during peacetime
Active-Duty Service Members: Currently serving with at least 90 continuous days of active duty.
National Guard & Reserve Members: Completed at least 6 creditable years of service, or 90 days of active-duty service under federal orders (including Title 10 or Title 32)
Surviving Spouses: Unremarried spouses of service members who died in the line of duty or as a result of a service-connected disability.
Requirements at a glance
Requirement
What it means
No Down Payment:
Most VA loans don’t require a down payment, although one can be made to reduce monthly payments or build equity faster.
Credit Requirements:
While there’s no set minimum credit score for VA loans, most lenders typically look for a credit score of 620 or higher.
Primary Residence:
The home must be used as your primary residence.
Funding Fee:
VA loans require a one-time funding fee, which can be rolled into the loan. This fee helps keep the VA loan program running, but it can be waived for veterans with service-related disabilities.
Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Required: To use your VA home loan benefit, you will need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) proving your entitlement to lenders. You do not need to locate this document on your own—Secured Lending Group can pull your official COE electronically in just a few minutes.
Types of VA Loans:
- VA Purchase Loan: Buy a home with no down payment and lower closing costs.
- VA Refinance Loan: Take advantage of lower interest rates or tap into your home’s equity with a VA cash-out refinance.
- Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL): Also known as a VA streamline refinance, this loan helps veterans lower their interest rates and monthly payments quickly and easily.
Common Questions
No. Unlike FHA and conventional mortgages with less than 20% down, VA loans never require monthly Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). This feature alone saves California home buyers hundreds of dollars each month on their mortgage payments.
If you have full entitlement (meaning you don’t have an active VA loan), there is no maximum VA loan limit. You can borrow as much as you qualify for with $0 down payment. County conforming limits (which range from $832,750 up to $1,249,125 in high-cost California counties like San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles) only apply to buyers with partial or remaining entitlement.
While the VA itself does not set a strict minimum credit score, most lenders—including Secured Lending Group—typically look for a credit score of 620 or higher. However, because VA guidelines are flexible, we can often work with borrowers who have lower credit scores or past credit setbacks.
The VA Funding Fee is a one-time government fee that helps lower the cost of the program for taxpayers. For purchase loans with zero down, the fee is 2.15% for first-time users and 3.3% for subsequent uses. This fee can be rolled directly into your total loan amount so you don’t have to pay it out of pocket.
💡 Disability Exemption: Veterans receiving VA disability compensation for a service-connected disability are 100% exempt from paying the VA funding fee.
At a glance
Down Payment
$0 / 0% Down (100% financing available)
Credit score
Flexible credit standards (no strict VA minimum, typically 620+)
Loan Type
Loan Type
Occupancy
Primary Residence only
Assumable
Yes
Belinda Biedebach
NMLS #1556597
Not sure whether VA Home Loan is the right route? A short call usually settles it faster than a form.
See what you qualify for
Pre-approval takes about ten minutes online and comes back within a day. No cost, no obligation, no effect on your credit score to find out.