The VA loan process is not complicated when someone walks you through it. I am Scott Carlin, a 20-year Air Force veteran, and I have guided a lot of military families from first conversation to closing. Here is the whole path, step by step, so you know exactly what to expect.
Step 1: Get pre-approved (and get your COE)
We start with a short conversation about your goals, then I review your income, credit, and entitlement and pull your Certificate of Eligibility. You come out of this with a pre-approval that tells you what you can comfortably buy and shows sellers you are serious. This is also where I confirm your eligibility, so there are no surprises later. See how to get your COE and VA loan requirements if you want to read ahead.
Step 2: Find your home with a good agent
With pre-approval in hand, you shop with confidence. If you do not have a real estate agent yet, I can point you toward agents who understand military buyers, PCS timelines, and the areas we serve across Florida and Texas.
Step 3: Make an offer and go under contract
When you find the right home, your agent writes the offer. Being pre-approved makes your offer stronger. Once the seller accepts, you are under contract, and the clock starts on your closing timeline.
Step 4: The VA appraisal
The VA orders an appraisal to confirm the home’s value and check that it meets the VA’s Minimum Property Requirements, which are basic safety and livability standards. This protects you as the buyer. Most standard homes in good condition pass without issue.
Step 5: Underwriting
While the appraisal is happening, underwriting reviews your full file, income, assets, credit, and the property, to give final approval. This is where being organized pays off. I tell you exactly what documents to have ready so we keep things moving and avoid delays.
Step 6: Closing
You do a final walkthrough, review your closing documents, sign, and get the keys. Congratulations, you are a homeowner. For VA buyers, you got here with zero down and no monthly mortgage insurance.
How long does the VA loan process take?
Most VA purchases close in about 21 to 30 days once you are under contract, right in line with other loan types. If you are racing a report-no-later-than date or the end of a lease, tell me early and we will build the timeline around it.
What can slow a VA loan down?
The usual culprits are slow document turnaround, appraisal scheduling, or repair items on the property. None of these are unique to VA loans, and most are avoidable with a lender who stays on top of the file. Keeping you informed at every step is my job.
VA loan process FAQs
What is the very first step? Getting pre-approved. It is a short conversation, and I pull your COE as part of it. You do not need to have a home picked out to start.
Do I need money for a down payment? No. A VA purchase is zero down on a primary residence, and you do not necessarily need full entitlement for that, just enough entitlement remaining to cover the loan. You will still want some funds for things like earnest money and closing costs, some of which can be handled in other ways, and I will walk you through it.
Can I get pre-approved before I start looking? Yes, and you should. It tells you your comfortable price range and makes your offers stronger.
How involved will my lender be? With me, very. I keep you informed at every step and give you a straight answer every time, veteran to veteran.
Ready to start step one? Reach out and let’s get you pre-approved.
Scott Carlin, Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS# 2613509 TrueVet Mortgage (a DBA of Xpert Home Lending, Inc., NMLS# 2179191) Call or text: 321-364-4461 | Get started Equal Housing Opportunity. TrueVet Mortgage is not endorsed by the VA, DoD, or any government agency.