Since Congress created it in 1944, the VA Home Loan Guaranty program has abetted more than 19 million men and women who served in the military become homeowners. Designed as a reward for their service to our country, the VA loan program allows service members and veterans to purchase the home of their dreams without emptying their wallets.
Compared to conventional loans, Delaware VA loans provide borrowers with several ways to save. VA loans require little out of pocket expense, with down payments below 5 percent and can even be zero percent for well-qualified buyers. Even without spending a penny on a down payment, homebuyers can still fully finance their home in Sussex County, Delaware, where the VA loan limit is $417,000. Traditional loans’ down payments get as high as 20 percent, meaning borrowers may not be able to purchase a home that meets their needs.
Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is a monthly cost found in traditional mortgages; however, VA loans do not have PMI, which lowers monthly payments in comparison. VA loans also have negotiable interest rates and interest rate caps for active-duty borrowers. Subprime mortgages are sure to include prepayment penalties, whereas VA loans in Delaware have no prepayment penalties.
Due to the credit crunch, banks and lenders expect stellar credit when issuing a traditional loan. VA-approved lenders do not look for immaculate credit though. They assume less risk because the VA guarantees up to one-quarter of every loan. According to VA Mortgage Center.com, lenders look for credit scores of 620 or higher. In some cases, loans can be issued to borrowers who have a bankruptcy or foreclosure in their past.
Other perks to Delaware VA loans include:
- Lower closing and concession costs
- Paying the VA funding fee in monthly installments
- Refinancing options to lower interest rates
- Assistance to borrowers facing default
Those who may be eligible must be on active duty or received a discharge that was not dishonorable. Spouses of service members who died in the line of duty or because of a service-related injury may be eligible for VA loans in Delaware. Service members who were on active duty for 181 days or 90 days during peacetime or wartime, respectively, may be able to get a VA loan, as may Reservists and National Guard members who served for at least six years.
Contact a VA-approved lender today to complete a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and to receive answers to any questions you may have about Delaware VA loans.
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