How to Get a VA Loan Through Quicken Loans Using Rocket Mortgage
Quicken Loans no longer lends directly, but it's still a solid starting point for veterans looking for a VA loan. Here's how it works and where Rocket Mortgage fits in.
Why trust The Military Wallet? We’re a veteran-founded resource that has helped millions make strong financial decisions.
Advertiser Disclosure: The Military Wallet and Three Creeks Media, LLC, its parent and affiliate companies, may receive compensation through advertising placements on The Military Wallet. For any rankings or lists on this site, The Military Wallet may receive compensation from the companies being ranked; however, this compensation does not affect how, where, and in what order products and companies appear in the rankings and lists. If a ranking or list has a company noted to be a “partner,” the indicated company is a corporate affiliate of The Military Wallet. No tables, rankings, or lists are fully comprehensive and do not include all companies or available products.
The Military Wallet and Three Creeks Media have partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Military Wallet and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. You can read more about our card rating methodology here.
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. For more information, please see our Advertising Policy.
American Express is an advertiser on The Military Wallet. Terms Apply to American Express benefits and offers.
Quicken Loans has reinvented itself.
The company spent decades disrupting the mortgage industry by moving the entire lending process online. But in 2023, Quicken Loans made another major shift, stepping back from direct lending entirely and relaunching as a financial services marketplace.
Now, instead of originating loans itself, Quicken Loans connects borrowers with a network of independent lenders through a single digital experience. Think of it like a matchmaking service for mortgages and other financial products.
If you’re shopping for a home loan, refinance, or other financing, Quicken Loans is still a useful place to start, just for different reasons than before.
About Quicken Loans
Quicken Loans was originally founded as Rock Financial in Detroit, Michigan in 1985. It eventually grew to be one of the largest mortgage lenders in America, closing more than $400 billion in loans between 2013 and 2017.
In 2021, the direct lending operation was rebranded as Rocket Mortgage. Then in 2023, Rocket Mortgage fully separated from the Quicken Loans brand, licensing the name to LMB Mortgage Services (NMLS #167283). Quicken Loans now operates independently as a consumer-facing marketplace headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
What Quicken Loans Offers
Rather than originating loans directly, Quicken Loans now serves as a hub for connecting consumers with lenders and financial products. Here’s what you’ll find on their platform:
Loan matching. Fill out a single form and get matched with lenders in their network offering mortgages, refinances, home equity products, personal loans, and auto loans. Because you’re being matched with multiple providers, you can compare options in one place rather than applying separately to each lender.
Educational resources. Quicken Loans still provides a wide range of guides and articles covering home buying, refinancing, home equity, and personal finance topics, useful whether you’re a first-time buyer or an experienced homeowner.
Mortgage calculators. The site continues to offer tools including:
- Refinance mortgage calculator – estimates your new monthly payment under different loan scenarios.
- Purchase mortgage calculator – shows what your monthly payments would look like.
- Amortization calculator – breaks down principal vs. interest and shows how extra payments can save you money.
- Home affordability calculator – helps you figure out the maximum home price you can comfortably afford.
How the Quicken Loans Marketplace Works
The process is straightforward. You start by filling out a short form on the Quicken Loans website with basic information about what you’re looking for, whether that’s a purchase loan, refinance, home equity product, or something else. You’ll generally want to have a sense of your credit score, annual income, and the approximate loan amount you need before getting started, as the form will ask for these basics to match you accurately.
From there, Quicken Loans matches you with lenders in their network who fit your needs. You’ll then work directly with whichever lender you choose to complete the full application, provide documentation, and close your loan. Depending on the lender you’re matched with, the time from application to closing can range from a couple of weeks to around 30 to 45 days, which is fairly standard for the mortgage industry.
Because Quicken Loans itself is not the lender, the specific rates, terms, requirements, and application process will vary depending on which lender you’re matched with.
If you have general questions, you can reach Quicken Loans customer support by emailing [email protected].
Getting a VA Loan Through Quicken Loans and Rocket Mortgage
If you’re a veteran, active service member, or eligible spouse looking for a VA loan, Quicken Loans is a great starting point, but the actual loan will most likely come from Rocket Mortgage, which is one of the largest VA lenders in the country.
Here’s how the process works in practice:
When you fill out the Quicken Loans matching form and indicate you’re looking for a VA loan, you’ll likely be connected to Rocket Mortgage as a lending partner. From there, you’ll move over to Rocket Mortgage’s platform to complete the full application.
Rocket Mortgage’s VA loan offerings include:
- 100% financing with no down payment required on most VA loan types.
- No private mortgage insurance (PMI), which can save you significantly compared to conventional or FHA loans. You may however be required to pay a one-time VA Funding Fee, which can usually be rolled into the loan.
- Typically lower interest rates than other loan types.
- The ability to qualify with a minimum FICO score of 640 for standard VA and jumbo loans, which is generally lower than conventional loans require.
- Closing costs typically ranging from 2% to 5% of the loan amount, which are sometimes negotiated to be covered by the seller.
- Cash-out refinancing up to 100% of your home’s value, with a minimum credit score of just 580.
- Fixed-rate options in 15, 20, 25, and 30-year terms for standard VA loans, and 15 or 30-year terms for VA jumbo loans.
- Jumbo VA loans available for larger loan amounts with flexible qualifications.
Rocket Mortgage also offers a VA streamline refinance, also known as an Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL). If you already have a VA loan and want to lower your interest rate, reduce your monthly payment, or switch from an adjustable rate to a fixed rate, the IRRRL is worth looking into. It typically requires no appraisal and less paperwork than a standard refinance, and you can qualify with a credit score as low as 580.
Rocket Mortgage is a VA-approved lender and can work directly with the VA to obtain your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and other required documentation, which simplifies one of the more confusing parts of the VA loan process.
One thing to keep in mind: VA loans are intended for primary residences only. If you’re also looking to purchase a second home or investment property, you’ll need a conventional loan, and Rocket Mortgage can help with that too.
Quicken Loans Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Compare multiple lenders through a single form rather than applying one by one.
- Access to a wide range of financial products beyond just mortgages.
- Still provides strong educational content and calculator tools.
- Likely to connect VA borrowers directly with Rocket Mortgage, one of the most experienced VA lenders in the country.
Cons:
- Quicken Loans is no longer a direct lender, so you won’t be getting a loan from them directly.
- Rates, terms, and the quality of your experience will depend on which network lender you’re matched with.
- Less control over exactly who you’re matched with upfront.
- No physical branches or full-service banking.
Should You Use Quicken Loans?
If you want to quickly compare multiple lenders without filling out a dozen separate applications, Quicken Loans is a convenient starting point. This is especially true for VA loans, where being connected to an experienced lender like Rocket Mortgage can make a real difference in navigating the extra steps involved.
Just keep in mind that for the actual mortgage, the application, approval, and closing process, you’ll be working with one of the lenders in their network, not Quicken Loans itself. For that reason, it’s worth doing additional research on whichever lender you’re matched with before committing.
If you’d like to get started, visit the Quicken Loans website here to fill out their matching form. If you already know you want a VA loan and want to skip straight to the source, you can go directly to RocketMortgage.com to begin your application there instead.
Equal Housing Opportunity. The Department of Veterans Affairs affirmatively administers the VA Home Loan Program by assuring that all Veterans are given an equal opportunity to buy homes with VA assistance. Federal law requires all VA Home Loan Program participants – builders, brokers and lenders offering housing for sale with VA financing – must comply with Fair Housing Laws and may not discriminate based on the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin of the Veteran.
