VALoans.com belongs to the Mortgage Research Center, LLC, ("MRC") Network. MRC is a private company that provides mortgage information and connects homebuyers with lenders. Neither VALoans.com nor MRC are endorsed by, sponsored by or affiliated with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or any other government agency. MRC receives compensation for providing marketing services to a select group of companies involved in helping consumers find, buy or refinance homes. If you submit your information on this site, one or more of these companies will contact you with additional information regarding your request. For a full list of these companies click here. By submitting your information you agree MRC can provide your information to one of these companies, who will then contact you. MRC does not guarantee that you will be eligible for a loan through the VA loan program. VALoans.com will not charge, seek or accept fees of any kind from you. VALoans.com does not offer mortgage products and if you are connected to a lender through VALoans.com, specific terms and conditions from that lender will apply.
There is a "VA funding fee" required by law. A first-time buyer will pay a little over two percent for a 'no money down' loan, and a second time buyer's fee is just above three percent. The reason for the fee includes the idea that the veteran is reducing taxpayer burden by contributing to the cost of his VA mortgage. There is also a fee for VA refinance loans, and they fall within the same general price guidelines; just above two percent for first-timers and just above three percent for those who borrow again.
While there is a funding fee for a VA home loan, some people are exempt from paying. If you are a veteran getting disability compensation for service-related medical issues, or are entitled to get compensation if you aren't drawing retirement pay, you are exempt from the VA funding fee for your VA home loan. Also, surviving spouses of those who died in the service, or from service related disabilities are also exempt. It doesn't matter in this case whether the spouse has any of their own entitlements. Remember that the VA has the last word on who is exempt, and some issues may be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. If you have any doubts, ask your local VA rep to review your service records (or your spouse's records) and get a determination from the VA.