Best VA Loans of 2023

As the nation’s leading VA loan originator. Veteran’s United has a strong commitment towards helping eligible veterans and military members reach their home ownership goals. With this in mind, the company provides the necessary tools and guidance to assist repeat or first-time home buyers in completing their purchase or refinance. Veteran’s United offers a long list of VA loan products, including:

• 30- and 15-year fixed purchase loans
• 30- and 15-year Streamline (Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan)
• 30- and 15-year Cash-Out
• 30-year fixed Jumbo purchase, Jumbo Streamline, or Jumbo Cash-Out

An essential aspect of VA loans are the eligibility requirements, not only from the lender, but from the VA itself. Customers can check to see if they meet qualifications by answering a few simple questions. Customers can even contact one of Veteran United’s loan specialist who can help getting the required Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to proceed with a VA loan.

The website’s vast collection of online resources sets Veteran’s United apart from other VA lenders. It boasts a variety of educational videos, articles, how-to guides, and calculators which serve as a powerful learning tool for any borrower but are especially handy for first-timers.

Another way Veterans United lends a hand is through its Lighthouse Program, a free, no-obligation service that’s available for service members who cannot get prequalified for a VA loan. Lighthouse credit consultants can go over your finances and help correct credit report mistakes as well as developing long-term strategies to strengthen your credit profile and reduce debt.

• Largest originator of VA loans in the country
• Zero down payment required
• Competitive rates and terms
• Comprehensive educational tools and online resources

Quicken Loans is the nation’s largest mortgage originator and one the largest for VA loans. Borrowers looking to purchase or refinance with a VA loan will have no trouble finding a suitable option.

Among the products offered by Quicken Loans are 30- and 15-year fixed rate VA loans as well as Jumbo VA loans. Customers can either apply online through Rocket Mortgage or fill out a short form to receive a call from a Quicken home loan expert to determine what the best option is for your situation.

Borrowers need to meet certain qualifications to be eligible for a VA loan, including:

• Having a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), issued by the VA for members who meet service guidelines. (Quicken Loans can apply for the certificate if you haven’t done so yet.)
• Minimum FICO score of 620 (for Jumbo loans it’s 640)
• 60% or less debt-to-income (DTI) ratio
• Enough funds to cover the VA’s funding fee (though this can be rolled into the loan)

Quicken Loans, as always, excels in customer service. It has been named as the highest in customer satisfaction for primary mortgage origination by J.D. Power for 11 consecutive years. Customers can take advantage of Quicken’s online portal, Rocket Mortgage, to complete the application and VA loan process completely online. Or, they can take care of business over the phone with service-oriented VA loan professionals who can guide through all the steps.

• Dedicated VA mortgage bankers to guide you through the process
• Finance up to 100% of the loan
• eClosing allows customers to close electronically
• VA purchase, jumbo, and refinance loans available

AmeriSave’s VA refinancing options are a cut above most other lenders. The company offers two types of products, each one serving specific purposes.

VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans (IRRRL), more commonly referred to as Streamline, offer the chance to get better mortgage rates and terms. As opposed to conventional loan refinancing, which generally requires borrowers to repeat the whole homebuying process, Streamlines allows for a simpler approach with little documentation required. No income or employment verifications, bank accounts statements, or even home appraisals are usually needed.

VA Cash-Out Refinance Loans provides the opportunity to access the home’s equity and receive cash for any multitude of purposes. Cash-out refis can be used for debt consolidation, home repairs or improvements, paying for tuition, or unexpected expenses.

Rates for these two refinancing options or for VA purchase loans can be requested via instant quote on AmeriSave’s website, with pre-qualification just a few clicks away.

• Purchase VA loans available to those with at least a 580 credit score
• Cash-Out or Streamline (VA IRRRL) refinance options available
• Zero down payment or monthly PMI
• Disabled veterans may qualify for an exemption from the VA funding fee

Rocket Mortgage is the home financing arm of Quicken Loans, the largest—and one of the most respected—mortgage companies online today. The company offers a wide range of first mortgage and refinance solutions, including government-guaranteed VA loans. Because the company is so well-versed in the myriad of loan options available to homebuyers, it’s a great place to start searching for a mortgage and comparing the advantages of VA versus conventional loans. When applying for a VA loan, it’s important to work with an experienced VA lender and Rocket Mortgage more than qualifies. The company employs a staff of dedicated VA loan officers. Rocket’s parent company regularly makes the list of highest-volume VA lenders.

Rocket Mortgage offers a 100% online mortgage search, application, pre approval, and closing process. Unlike many online mortgage lenders, Rocket Mortgage also services most of the loans it originates. To start the process, you can fill out a form that asks for some basic information about the home you are buying or refinancing and your financial circumstances. Rocket Mortgage’s intake form is a bit lengthier than other forms we have reviewed and the company makes it clear that to proceed, the company will perform a soft credit check that will not affect your credit score.

Rocket Mortgage offers quite a few VA loan choices. You can take out a 15-, 20-, or 30-year fixed mortgage or a 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage through the company. Rocket also stands out for offering VA jumbo loans, something not all VA lenders do. The company does state that jumbo VA loans may not be serviced by Rocket.

Rocket Mortgage has a solid online reputation. The company is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau and earns a median 3.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot with 66% of reviewers giving the company an excellent rating. Reviewers praise the quality of customer service, speed of process, and the transparency Rocket Mortgage offers. Rocket’s website and application process reflects that transparency. The company published daily rates on its site and, in addition, as you walk through the initial application, provides explanations on why you’re asked to answer certain questions. There is an opt-out feature you can use to limit the number of marketing communications you receive, which many people will appreciate.

Rocket Mortgage offers a number of online resources to help educate consumers on the ins and outs of the mortgage market and process. The company publishes multiple articles on VA loans and also offers a variety of calculators to help mortgage seekers estimate how expensive a home they can afford, how much they’ll pay monthly on a mortgage, how much home equity they may be able to access through refinancing, and more. The company’s FAQ section is extremely comprehensive, as well.

It’s easy to see why Rocket Mortgage is one of the most popular lenders for all types of home financing. The excellent online experience it provides, coupled with the company’s experience in VA lending, puts it at the top of our recommended-for-VA loans list.