Review
Updated
Fact Checked
Ashley Maready
If you're looking for a VA loan, Veterans United Home Loans is one stop you should make. Veterans United only makes VA loans, and it's one of the biggest VA loan lenders in the United States. Veterans United has the knowledge and experience to help VA-eligible borrowers take full advantage of their benefit.
Take a look at our Veterans United Home Loans review to see if this might be the best mortgage lender for your next home loan.
Best for: VA loans
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Best
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Excellent
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Good
![]()
![]()
= Fair
![]()
= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorBottom Line
The fact that it is one of the largest VA home lenders speaks volumes. Veterans United specializes in VA loans for military members, and offers 24/7 customer service over the phone as well as free credit counseling service. But Veterans United also offers an array of terms and loan products, in addition to competitive rates.
Min. Credit Score
- 600
Min. Down Payment
- 0%-5%
Key Features
- Online approval process
- No required down payment
Loan Types
- VA
Fixed Rate Terms
- 30y, 15y
Adjustable Rate Terms
- N/A
Top Mortgage Lenders
It's important to compare mortgage lenders so you understand all your options. Here are a few of our favorite lenders, listed side by side so you can see how they each stack up against their competition:
| Lender | Min. Down Payment | Credit Score | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
|
|
|
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
5.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
|
|
Full Veterans United Home Loans review
This mortgage lender is a good fit for: Borrowers eligible for a VA loan. VA lending is what Veterans United does, with a massive toolbox of resources for eligible borrowers.
Pros
- VA loan experts
- Online mortgage application
- Customer advocates from every branch of the military
Cons
- Doesn't offer home equity loans or HELOCs
- Hard to find info about non-VA loans
Top perks
Online approval process
Veterans United Home Loans has a user-friendly online approval process. Borrowers can request a quote for a VA purchase or refinancing mortgage quickly and easily on the company's website. The company's myVeteransUnited online portal allows buyers to check application status, review and submit documents, and more.
No down payment required
Unlike with most other mortgage products, VA borrowers aren't required to come up with a down payment. At Veterans United Home Loans, borrowers can even roll the VA funding fee into the loan (2.15% for most new borrowers with no down payment, or 3.3% for those who have obtained a VA loan previously). Also, there's a cap on lender fees (at 1% of the loan amount) that can be charged for a VA mortgage.
Mortgage with no PMI
VA mortgages don't require borrowers to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI) premiums, even with no down payment. Instead, you'll pay a modest upfront funding fee, as noted above.
Besides not having to pay ongoing mortgage insurance premiums, you can lower your funding fee to bring your costs down even further:
- With a 5% down payment: Pay a 1.5% funding fee
- With a 10% down payment: The fee is 1.25%
- For an interest rate reduction refinance loan (IRRRL): The funding fee is 0.5%
- Qualified disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, and qualified surviving spouses pay no funding fee at all
Helpful resources
The Veterans United Home Loans website is a treasure chest of valuable information for those who qualify for a VA mortgage loan. There are extensive resources that spell out eligibility requirements and details of VA mortgages in easy-to-understand terms. The company employs advisors from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to help ensure its processes and products serve the target customer base as well as possible.
Branch network
Veterans United Home Loans has 25 physical branches across the United States. This is convenient for many buyers who want in-person guidance.
Customer service
Veterans United Home Loans gets extremely high marks for customer satisfaction. It is one of few lenders laser-focused on providing service to veterans. Home loan specialists are available 24/7 by phone. The round-the-clock availability is designed to help facilitate the mortgage process for military personnel stationed overseas.
Credit counseling
Veterans United Home Loans requires a 600 minimum credit score for its VA loans, and provides credit counseling to help borrowers get their scores up to par. The company's Lighthouse Program has helped tens of thousands of people build up their credit and become homeowners.
What could be improved
Access to home equity loans or HELOCs
If you're looking to borrow money against the equity you have in your current home, Veterans United Home Loans can't help you. It does not offer home equity loans or HELOCs. You would need to pursue a cash-out refinance instead.
Access to other loan types
Veterans United Home Loans says that it also offers the conventional loan, FHA loan, USDA loan, and non-VA jumbo loans. But those are offered through a lending partner called Paddio. It's not possible to get information about non-VA loans on the Veterans United Home Loans website or from Veterans United loan officers. After clicking through the "get a quote" tool, we got a message that said, "We created Paddio to better serve civilian homebuyers.
Veterans United is dedicated to serving Veterans and military families. We took our friendly, top-rated homebuying experience and built Paddio -- so we could serve homebuyers like yourself."
Paddio may be able to meet your needs if you are not eligible for a VA loan through Veterans United.
How to qualify
Veterans United Home Loans has branch offices in 17 states, or you can start the VA loan process on the website It also has a user-friendly app where you can check eligibility and get pre-approved. Once you've applied, you're assigned tasks to complete through the myVeteransUnited app. The online process gets excellent scores when it comes to customer satisfaction.
If you run into any snags, Veterans United Home Loans has 24/7 live help, which makes it a great choice for active-duty military personnel stationed overseas or for anyone who doesn't keep "banker's hours."
As mentioned, Veterans United Home Loans requires a 600 credit score for VA home loan applicants. The underwriter will also look at your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), or how much of your income goes to required debt payments every month. This figure includes the minimum payment on all of your loans and credit cards -- and your new housing payment, including taxes, insurance, and homeowners association fees. Your DTI should be below 41%. If it's higher, you might still qualify, but your application will require more attention.
How are Veterans United's refinance rates?
Mortgage rates at Veterans United are competitive. Streamline and cash-out refinance loans have a slightly higher rate than purchase loans.
How are Veterans United's rates compared to the national average?
Veterans United's mortgage rates trend slightly lower than the national average. VA loan rates are usually lower than conventional mortgage rates because with government backing, the lender is taking on less risk.
It's a good idea to get multiple lender quotes before you choose a mortgage lender. By filling out mortgage applications with a few lenders, you may find a lower-cost loan. A lower APR can save you thousands of dollars over the term of your mortgage. Keep in mind that each lender sets its own mortgage rates, even on government-backed mortgages like VA loans. And since there's a special provision in the FICO credit-scoring methodology that allows you to shop around for the best mortgage rate during a 14 to 45 day window, you aren't penalized for multiple loan applications during a two-week shopping window.
Veterans United Home Loans is right for you if:
You're a VA home buyer. Veterans United Home Loans is a leader in VA mortgages. It's a lender with the experience and know-how to offer a good experience.
You want an online mortgage. Veterans United Home Loans provides an easy-to-use online process, backed up by 24/7 live customer service.
You're working to improve your credit. Take advantage of the free and highly-rated credit counseling service at Veterans United.
FAQs
-
Veterans United's interest rates are lower than the national average loan rate.
-
Since Veterans United specializes in VA loans, they are an excellent choice for veterans and other borrowers who qualify for a VA loan. Based on reviews, this lender does a great job helping borrowers get VA loans.
-
Yes, if you are eligible for a VA refinance loan.
-
You'll need a credit score of 600. If your score is lower, Veterans United has free credit counseling services to help you bring it up. You don't need a down payment. Your debt-to-income ratio should be lower than 41%. If it's higher, your application will undergo more scrutiny, but may still be approved.
-
Veterans United offers all varieties of VA loans, including refinance loans and jumbo loans. If a different type of mortgage would be a better match for your situation, Veterans United will connect you with its lending partner, Paddio. Paddio offers conventional loans, FHA loans, USDA loans, and low down payment loans.
Our Mortgages Experts
Kimberly is a career writer and editor with more than 30 years' experience. She's a bankruptcy survivor, small business owner, and homeschool parent. In addition to writing for The Motley Fool, she offers content strategy to financial technology startups, owns and manages a 350-writer content agency, and offers pro-bono financial counseling.
Fact Checked
Ashley Maready
Ashley Maready is a former history museum professional who made the leap to digital content writing and editing in 2021. She has a BA in History and Philosophy from Hood College and an MA in Applied History from Shippensburg University. Ashley loves creating content for the public and learning new things so she can teach others, whether it's information about salt mining, canal mules, or personal finance.
Share This Page
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Kimberly Rotter has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Axos Financial and Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.