Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

This device is too small

If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.

Skip to main content
Advertiser Disclosure Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which The Motley Fool receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear) and may influence which products we write about, but our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. We do not include all companies or offers available in the marketplace.
    |    Accessibility Options

Veterans United Home Loans Review: A VA Loan Leader

Review Updated
Kimberly Rotter, AFC®
Author: Kimberly Rotter, AFC®
Kimberly Rotter, AFC®
Kimberly Rotter, AFC®
Accredited Financial Counselor®

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.

See Full Bio

| 1 other [ + ]
Ashley Maready
Fact Checked: Ashley Maready
Ashley Maready
Ashley Maready
Writer and Editor

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.

See Full Bio

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

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.

Ratings Methodology
Logo for Veterans United
Check Rates for Veterans United

On Veterans United's Secure Website.

Best for: VA loans

Veterans United

Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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

Bottom 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

  • 620

Min. Down Payment

  • 0%

Key Features

  • Online approval process
  • No required down payment

Loan Types

  • VA

Fixed Rate Terms

  • 15y, 20y, 25y, 30y

Adjustable Rate Terms

  • N/A

Top Mortgage Lender

It's important to consider multiple mortgage lenders to find a good fit for you. We've listed one of our favorite lenders below so you can compare your options:

Lender Min. Down Payment Credit Score Next Steps
  • 0% - 3.5%
  • 580
Circle with letter I in it. 580 FHA 620 Conventional and VA 700 Jumbo
Apply Now for Better

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.

Check rates for 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.