These are our guides to VA home loans, written by Scott Carlin, a 20-year Air Force veteran and VA loan specialist serving Florida and Texas. Pick a topic below. If you do not see your question, call or text 321-364-4461.
Getting started
- VA Loan Requirements and Eligibility. Who qualifies and what you need to get started.
- How to Get Your Certificate of Eligibility. What the COE is and how to get yours.
- The VA Loan Process, Step by Step. What happens from application to closing.
- VA Loan Benefits. What the benefit gives you and how the funding fee works.
Qualifying
- What Credit Score Do You Need for a VA Loan?. How credit scores work on a VA loan.
- Debt-to-Income Rules and Residual Income. How your debts and income are measured.
- VA Loans After Bankruptcy or Foreclosure. What to expect if you have one in your past.
Comparing and using your benefit
- VA Loan vs Conventional Loan. A side-by-side look at the two.
- VA Loan vs FHA Loan. How the VA and FHA programs compare.
- Using Your VA Loan More Than Once. Second-tier and bonus entitlement explained.
- 2026 VA Loan Limits in Florida and Texas. County limits, and why full entitlement has no limit.
- The VA Appraisal and Minimum Property Requirements. What the appraiser checks and why.
- Is the VA Funding Fee Tax Deductible?. What to know about the funding fee at tax time.
BAH and moving on orders
- 2026 BAH Rates. How your housing allowance can help you buy.
- 2026 BAH for Patrick Space Force Base. Rates and buying near Patrick.
- 2026 BAH for Eglin AFB. Rates and buying near Fort Walton Beach and Destin.
- 2026 BAH for Fort Hood and Killeen. Rates and how they help you buy.
- PCS to Texas: VA Home-Buying Guide. Buying a home when your orders take you to Texas.
- PCS to Florida: VA Home-Buying Guide. Buying a home when your orders take you to Florida.
Refinancing
- VA IRRRL Streamline Refinance. How the VA streamline refinance works.
Talk to a veteran-owned team
Want a straight answer on your own situation? Call or text 321-364-4461, or send us a message.