The most powerful home loan benefit available, earned through your service. Zero down payment, no private mortgage insurance, and access to wholesale rates across 20+ lenders.
A VA loan is a mortgage guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and available exclusively to eligible veterans, active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and surviving spouses. The VA guarantee means lenders take on less risk, allowing them to offer exceptional terms that are simply not available to civilian borrowers.
Kris Syevens at Aravian Financial specializes in helping Texas veterans maximize their VA home loan benefit. As an independent broker with access to 20+ wholesale VA lenders, Kris consistently finds rates below what retail banks and direct VA lenders offer. Your VA benefit is one of the most valuable financial tools available to you.
Who is Eligible for a VA Loan?
90+ days active duty during wartime OR 181+ days during peacetime
6+ years of service in the National Guard or Reserves
Surviving spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty
Honorable or general discharge (under honorable conditions)
Certificate of Eligibility (COE) obtained through the VA or your lender
No minimum credit score set by the VA (lender overlays may apply)
Pros and Cons
Advantages
Zero down payment for eligible borrowers
No private mortgage insurance (PMI) ever
Competitive rates often below conventional
No prepayment penalty
Can be used multiple times throughout your lifetime
Surviving spouses may be eligible
IRRRL streamline refinance with minimal paperwork
Things to Consider
VA funding fee required (0.5% to 3.3% depending on use and down payment)
Primary residence only, no investment properties
Property must pass VA appraisal and minimum property requirements
Seller concessions limited to 4% of loan amount
Some condo developments are not VA-approved
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no limit to how many times you can use your VA loan benefit. As long as you have sufficient remaining entitlement or have paid off a prior VA loan, you can use it again. In some cases you can even have two VA loans simultaneously. Additionally, veterans with full entitlement have no maximum loan amount in Texas — you can borrow any amount a lender will approve with zero down payment.
The VA funding fee is a one-time fee paid to the VA to sustain the program. It ranges from 0.5% to 3.3% depending on your down payment, loan type, and whether it is your first VA loan use. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or more are exempt from the funding fee.
The VA does not set a minimum credit score. Individual lenders may apply their own overlays, but as an independent broker Kris works with multiple wholesale VA lenders and can find options across a wide range of credit profiles.
Yes. As long as you intend to occupy the home as your primary residence, you can use your VA benefit to purchase a home in Texas. This is common for service members PCSing to Texas or veterans relocating.
The VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), often called a streamline refinance, allows you to refinance an existing VA loan to a lower rate with minimal documentation. There is no appraisal required in most cases and no out-of-pocket costs if you roll the funding fee into the new loan.
Yes. An unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died in the line of duty or from a service-connected disability may be eligible for the VA home loan benefit. Kris can help verify eligibility and obtain a Certificate of Eligibility.
