Serving Goodfellow Air Force Base, the 17th Training Wing, and San Angelo military families. Scott Carlin, 20-year Air Force veteran and VA loan specialist (NMLS# 2613509). Call 321-364-4461.
San Angelo is home to Goodfellow Air Force Base, a joint-service training installation that produces intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and fire protection professionals for the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. The 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow trains thousands of students each year, bringing a constant flow of active-duty service members and their families to the San Angelo community.
A VA loan is a mortgage backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, available to eligible veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and surviving spouses. VA loans offer zero down payment, no monthly mortgage insurance, competitive interest rates, and flexible credit requirements — benefits designed specifically to help those who have served.
Scott Carlin is a 20-year Air Force veteran, mortgage loan originator (NMLS# 2613509), and founder of TrueVet Mortgage. As a fellow airman, Scott has a personal connection to the Goodfellow community and helps military families throughout the San Angelo area navigate the VA loan process from pre-approval to closing — typically in 21 to 30 days.
San Angelo offers military families an extremely affordable cost of living, a welcoming West Texas community, and a housing market where your BAH goes further than at most duty stations in the country.
Popular neighborhoods and communities for military families include Southwest San Angelo (closest to Goodfellow AFB), the Bluffs area, Lake Nasworthy, Grape Creek, and Wall. Southwest San Angelo provides the shortest commute to Goodfellow with a mix of established homes and newer construction. The Bluffs area is popular with military families for its neighborhood feel and proximity to shopping and dining. Lake Nasworthy offers waterfront properties and a recreational lifestyle. Grape Creek and Wall are small communities just outside the city that offer rural living with affordable acreage.
The San Angelo economy is driven by Goodfellow AFB, healthcare, education, agriculture, ranching, and energy. Major employers beyond Goodfellow include Shannon Medical Center, Angelo State University (part of the Texas Tech University System), the San Angelo Independent School District, and oil and gas operations throughout the Permian Basin region. Texas has no state income tax.
San Angelo has a strong relationship with Goodfellow AFB and regularly recognizes military service through community events, partnerships, and support programs. The city was awarded the Abilene Trophy (now the Commander-in-Chief’s Award for Installation Excellence community equivalent) for outstanding military-community relations, reflecting the deep connection between San Angelo and its military families.
VA loans give San Angelo military homebuyers advantages that conventional loans simply cannot match. Key benefits include:
Zero down payment — buy a home in San Angelo with nothing down, keeping your savings intact for moving costs, furniture, or emergencies.
No monthly mortgage insurance — unlike conventional or FHA loans, VA loans never charge monthly mortgage insurance, saving you hundreds of dollars each month.
Competitive interest rates — VA loan rates are typically lower than conventional rates because the VA guaranty reduces lender risk.
Flexible credit requirements — VA loans are more forgiving of past credit challenges than most loan programs, making homeownership accessible to more veterans.
Assumable loans — if you sell your San Angelo home when you PCS, the buyer may be able to assume your VA loan at your original interest rate, which can be a major selling point in a high-rate market.
No prepayment penalty — pay off your VA loan early or make extra payments anytime without fees.
VA loans can be used for single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and multi-unit properties (up to four units) in San Angelo and the surrounding Tom Green County communities.
VA loan eligibility in San Angelo is based on your military service. You may qualify if you meet one of the following:
Active-duty service members who have served at least 90 continuous days.
Veterans who meet minimum active-duty service requirements based on when they served.
National Guard and Reserve members with at least six years of service or 90 days of active-duty service under federal orders.
Surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty or from a service-connected disability, who have not remarried (or remarried after age 57).
To apply, you will need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), which Scott can help you obtain — often within minutes. You will also need to meet basic income and credit requirements set by the lender, though VA loans are more flexible than conventional programs.
Whether you are stationed at Goodfellow AFB as permanent party, a training student, or a veteran who has settled in the San Angelo area, TrueVet Mortgage can help you determine your eligibility and get pre-approved.
TrueVet Mortgage was built by a veteran, for veterans. Scott Carlin is a 20-year Air Force veteran, VA loan specialist, and mortgage loan originator (NMLS# 2613509) who founded TrueVet Mortgage to give fellow service members the kind of mortgage experience they deserve – honest, informed, and built around the unique needs of military families.
As a VA loan lender with access to over 120 wholesale lenders, Scott works as your mortgage broker to find the best rate and terms – not as a mortgage company that locks you into one option. As an Air Force veteran himself, Scott has a personal understanding of what Goodfellow families go through – whether you are permanent party, an instructor, or evaluating whether buying makes sense during a training assignment.
TrueVet Mortgage is licensed through Xpert Home Lending, Inc. (NMLS# 2179191) and serves veterans and military families across Florida and Texas. Scott handles every loan personally – no hand-offs, no call centers, and no surprises.
Call or text Scott Carlin at 321-364-4461, use the chat on this page, or visit our Schedule a Call page to get started with your San Angelo VA loan.
Can I use a VA loan to buy a home in San Angelo?
Yes. VA loans can be used to purchase a home anywhere in the San Angelo area, including Southwest San Angelo, the Bluffs, Lake Nasworthy, Grape Creek, and Wall. The home must be your primary residence.
Do I need a down payment for a VA loan in San Angelo?
No. VA loans require zero down payment regardless of the purchase price in San Angelo. This is one of the biggest advantages of the VA loan program.
How long does it take to close on a VA loan in San Angelo?
Most VA loans close in 21 to 30 days. Scott Carlin works closely with you throughout the process to keep everything on track and avoid delays.
Can I use my BAH to qualify for a VA loan?
Yes. Your Basic Allowance for Housing counts as qualifying income for a VA loan. Because BAH is tax-free, lenders can gross it up by 25%, increasing your buying power. Check your 2026 BAH rate for Goodfellow AFB using our BAH Calculator.
I am PCSing to Goodfellow AFB. Can I start the VA loan process before I arrive?
Yes. Scott regularly works with service members who are still at their current duty station. You can get pre-approved and start house hunting before your PCS, so you are ready to make an offer when you arrive in San Angelo.
Should I buy or rent at Goodfellow AFB?
It depends on your assignment length. In San Angelo, home prices are affordable enough that your BAH often covers a mortgage payment entirely. If you buy and later PCS, VA loans are assumable — meaning the next person assigned to Goodfellow may be able to take over your loan at your rate. Call Scott at 321-364-4461 to run the numbers.
What if I have used my VA loan benefit before?
You can use your VA loan benefit more than once. If your previous VA loan has been paid off and you have restored your entitlement, you can use it again with zero down payment. Scott can help you check your remaining entitlement.
If you already own a home in San Angelo or the Goodfellow AFB area with a VA loan, you may be able to lower your interest rate with the VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), also known as the VA streamline refinance. The IRRRL requires minimal paperwork, no appraisal in most cases, and no out-of-pocket costs if the funding fee and closing costs are rolled into the new loan.
This is one of the fastest and simplest ways to reduce your monthly mortgage payment. Visit our VA IRRRL Streamline Refinance page to learn more about eligibility and how the process works.
TrueVet Mortgage also serves veterans across Texas, including San Antonio, Killeen, El Paso, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, Abilene, Wichita Falls, Del Rio, and Corpus Christi.
Visit our VA Loan FAQ for answers to common questions
Look up your 2026 BAH rate for any Texas military installation with our free BAH Calculator.
Ready to Buy a Home in San Angelo? Call or text Scott Carlin at 321-364-4461, use the chat on this page or visit our Schedule a Call page. As a 20-year Air Force veteran and VA loan specialist, Scott will guide you through every step of the process – from pre-approval to closing.