Veteran’s United is the nation’s premier VA lender, offering a superior customer experience, quick pre-qualification, and access to VA loans and alternative mortgages.
Not only are they the largest VA lender in the country, but also the most highly reviewed.
There are only a handful of VA loan specialist lenders in the country, and Veterans United tops the list.
Read on for a comprehensive review of what you can expect from Veterans United Home Loans, and get a quote in minutes.
About Veterans United Home Loans
Founded in 2002, and based in Columbia, Missouri, Veterans United Home Loans has grown to become one of the largest VA mortgage lenders in the country.
In fact, the company specializes in VA mortgages, making it one of the very best companies for veterans to obtain home loan financing with.
This is important because VA loans are perhaps the best mortgage program available. They enable veterans to purchase homes with 100% financing, meaning there is no down payment required.
This is in contrast to conventional mortgages, that require a minimum down payment of between 3% and 5% of the purchase price, or FHA mortgages that require a minimum down payment of 3.5%.
VA Loans also come with no monthly private mortgage insurance requirement or PMI.
This is in contrast to conventional and FHA mortgages, both of which do require monthly mortgage insurance payments if your down payment is less than 20% of the home’s purchase price.
The company has an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) (on a scale of F to A+). The company has been accredited with BBB since 2004, and has just 25 negative reviews to nearly 1,400 positive reviews.
And in late 2017, the JD Power Survey of 25 mortgage lenders gave Veterans United Home Loans an Overall Satisfaction Index rating of 889 based on a 1,000 point scale, the highest of all companies on the survey.
Veterans United Home Loans Products and Services
Veterans United Home Loans offers a full range of VA home loan products, available for both purchases and refinances.
VA Loan Purchases
You can purchase a home with a 0% down payment for up to $453,100 in most counties.
But Veterans United Home Loans can also provide maximum loans as high as $1.5 million.
First-time Homebuyers
VA loans are specifically well-suited to first-time homebuyers. Since they don’t have a down payment requirement, making that first home purchase doesn’t need to be delayed by saving up money.
Also, the lack of a monthly mortgage insurance requirement means a lower monthly payment.
Meanwhile, VA mortgage guidelines tend to be more lenient than they are with conventional financing.
USDA Loans
Veterans United Home Loans also has USDA Loans available from the US Department of Agriculture.
These are available for homebuyers with lower incomes, including veterans, to purchase homes and land in certain designated rural areas.
VA Refinance Loans
These give you the ability to refinance an existing mortgage, whether it’s to lower your interest rate and monthly payment, or to get cash out for other purposes.
It can be used to refinance a conventional mortgage, an FHA loan, or another VA loan.
VA Streamline Refinance
The technical term for these are Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans, or IRRRL loans. They’re refinance loans available only for existing VA loans.
They’re primarily to lower your interest rate and monthly payment, or to refinance an adjustable-rate loan into a fixed rate.
They do not require a new VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility, and most do not require a new appraisal.
Whatever the loan type, if you’re an eligible veteran, Veterans United Home Loans will help you qualify for the loan, and walk you through every step of the process.
Veterans United Home Loans Features and Benefits
Veterans United Home Loans helps veterans with every stage of the home-buying process, from education, to pre-qualification, through mortgage processing, and right to the closing table.
Some of the specific services they offer include:
Military Advisors
Veterans United Home Loans works with former senior enlisted leaders from each branch of the armed services to help educate veterans about homeownership, and how VA loans can help them realize that dream.
This helps the company to accommodate the unique needs of veterans, whether they’ve been discharged for many years, are new to civilian life, or still in active service.
Customer Service
You can get in touch with a Home Loan Specialist at Veterans United Home Loans by phone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The company also has branch operations available in more than 20 locations.
Credit Building
Veterans United Home Loans recognizes that credit is often an issue for service members transitioning into civilian life.
They can help explain the ins and outs of credit, as well as to help you improve both your credit and your credit score. This can be done through a program called Veterans United Lighthouse.
It’s designed to help potential homebuyers improve their financial profile. Since 2008, the program has helped more than 8,000 previously denied borrowers close on a home.
Veterans United Realty
When you’re finally ready to buy a home, you have the option of working with Veterans United Home Loans’ independent affiliate partner, Veterans United Realty.
They work to connect you with real estate agents in your area who specialize in helping veterans and military families through the home buying process.
Veterans United Home Loans Borrower Education
Servicemembers entering civilian life often don’t understand the technicalities of home buying and mortgage financing.
For that reason, Veterans United Home Loans offers special programs dedicated to close that information gap. These include:
Homefront Academy
This is an online training service, with live instructors, providing courses and tools to help you obtain your VA loan.
This includes a director of education, a licensed real estate agent, a credit expert, and a residential mortgage loan originator.
Calculators and Tools
Veterans United Home Loans offers the following calculators:
- Affordability Calculator – enables you to calculate how much mortgage you can afford, based on your income, recurring expenses, credit history, and the type of mortgage you want.
- Mortgage Payment Calculator – provides monthly payment amounts based on various loan sizes. Also includes real estate taxes and homeowner’s insurance in the payment.
- VA Loan Funding Fee Calculator – the VA Funding Fee is the premium you pay for VA mortgage insurance. It’s an upfront charge, that’s added to your loan amount. There are different levels of this fee, and this calculator will show you exactly how much it will be based on your eligibility, loan type and loan amount. In some cases, the VA Loan funding fee can be waived.
- VA Loan Limit Calculator – In most counties in the US, the VA loan limit is $726,200. But it can be either higher or lower in certain areas. This calculator enables you to find out exactly what the maximum VA loan amount is in the county where you are buying. You can also view the VA Loan limit list on our site for more information.
Homebuyer Education
If you’re a first-time homebuyer, Veterans United Home Loans has a long list of resources to help you become an informed buyer.
There are courses that explain homeownership, credit, home loans, the VA process itself, your life as a homeowner, and reusing your VA loan benefits.
These programs can take the mystery out of the home buying and the mortgage financing process.
Veterans United Home Loans Mortgage Rates
Veterans United Home Loans publishes VA loan rates for purchase and refinance on its website.
However, the rates and fees published on most mortgage lender websites are generally only for the most qualified borrowers, with large down payments, high incomes, and excellent credit.
In order to calculate a truly relevant interest rate, Veterans United Home Loans first collects information about you as a borrower.
This includes your income, your debts, and your credit history. Only when that information is available can they provide an accurate estimate of what your rate and fees will be.
This can actually be part of the pre-qualification process.
Once you complete it, you’ll not only know what your rates and fees will be, but also how much you can afford to borrow, and what additional documentation you will need between application and closing.
You’ll start the process by prequalifying, based on the financial information you supply. You will then be provided with a pre-approval.
That will let real estate agents and home sellers know exactly what you’re qualified for, strengthening your bargaining position when you find a home you want to buy.
Want to compare VA Loan Lenders? Visit the VA Loan page on our site to compare different lenders and get a quote on an interest rate for your next home purchase.
Veterans United Home Loans Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros:
- Veterans United Home Loans is a VA loan specialist lender. This is important because VA loans are unique in the mortgage industry. Mortgage lenders who primarily lend by either conventional and/or FHA loans may not fully understand the VA mortgage process.
- 24/7 customer support – you may need that in the middle of the night when you have important questions.
- Military Advisors. Veterans often have unique circumstances, that need the advice and input of actual military personnel.
- Veterans United Home Loans has abundant educational resources and calculators. These will give you an opportunity to learn what you’re getting involved in, as well as being able to crunch numbers before you actually commit yourself to the purchase or refinance.
Cons:
- Veterans United Home Loans doesn’t offer secondary home financing programs, such as home equity loans or home equity lines of credit (HELOCs).
- They specialize in VA loans, which makes them experts for this loan type. But there are certain situations where it might be more beneficial for a veteran to use either a conventional loan or an FHA loan. For example, VA loans are not available for second homes or investment properties. Conventional financing will be required in either case. (check out our list of best military banks for more lenders that specialize in military customers).
- Branches are available only in some states. Most of the process will take place by phone, email, or regular mail.
Should You Get Your VA Loan Through Veterans United Home Loans?
Veterans United Home Loans is a highly specialized mortgage lender. If you are an eligible veteran, this company should be on your short list of mortgage lenders.
While it’s often assumed first-time homebuyers understand the process, it’s not always true. This is especially the case with recently released service members.
The home buying process can be especially complicated for someone who is coming into the financial world for the first time.
Veterans United Home Loans can make that transition a lot smoother than it otherwise might be.
It’s important to understand that while a lot of mortgage lenders do offer VA loans, only a handful specialize in them.
VA loans have an incredible number of nuances, and you should be working with a specialist lender to get the most benefit out of all that VA loans have to offer.
If you’d like more information, or if you’d like to apply for a loan through the company, check out the Veterans United Home Loans website.
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.
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Linda says
Thanks Ryan.
We did all the above and were well below the debt to ratio. In fact at closing we got back almost 3K. I doubt this would have happened with Veterans United. Each situation is different and that organization left a sour taste in our mouths. Again, thanks for the response!!
Ryan Guina says
Hi Linda, It sounds like you did everything you could to get the best offer possible. That’s all you can do!
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Linda Robinson says
would never recommend anyone using this organization and that they even reference “Veterans” is offensive.
My issue with this organization was how they calculate your interest rate.
My husband and I have good credit. We decided to go initially with this company due to reviews on the internet (and that was our downfall). We allowed this company to run a credit report and when we decided on a home was given a 4.125 interest rate.
We went into contract with 3 homes, the first one the seller would not come to terms with credits due to issues with the home, the second home fell out of the contract due to the home being over priced via the VA appraiser and the third home was the one for us.
On the third home, the home rate was 4.125% again. During this time the mortgage rates were dropping drastically and this concerned me and my husband and thought we should get a better rate. Steve S was our loan officer and told us we were locked into this rate. I informed him that he unlocked the rate on the second home in contract, prior to the cancellation of the contract. He said he never did it, but he did because I had a recording of the conversation. I sent it to him and he did respond back he unlocked it due to my requesting it on the same day.
I felt this was disingenuous from him and this organization. So, if I can not unlock a rate on my loan, I am locked in, correct? Yes, you are locked in, but you can unlock the rate if you give Veterans United hundreds, thousands of dollars to get a rate you want. This is why I left and found another lender.
We had 2 weeks to close and found another lender, Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans. The banker who assisted us is also an underwriter and got us a rate of 3.5%. Now I want someone to explain to me how Rocket Mortgage got us a rate of 3.5% based on our credit scores and Veterans United COULD NOT. And this is a VA Loan that we closed on with Rocket Mortgage at 3.5%. Also after informing Veterans United, we were switching lenders, Steve S asked what rate we got, I told him 3.5% and he had the audacity to tell me that “he was surprised that we got this rate based on our credit scores”. Yes, he told me that and I have it on record. Lenders give you rates based on your creditworthiness, Veterans United need to answer this question, why they did not give us a good rate when OTHER LENDERS (including USAA, PenFed and Navy Federal after speaking to their loan officers were willing to give us 3.69-3.77 based on the FICO scores I gave them over the phone).
It is my conclusion that Veterans United is not a good mortgage company to take your business to. We feel this is a dishonest organization. If you deal with this organization, you better keep every email, record every conversation, keep all documentation because, in the end, you will need it.
Ryan Guina says
Thanks for sharing your experience, Linda. I had the opposite experience with Veterans United, and was able to get a significantly lower interest rate through them than I could get through multiple other lenders that I contacted. The loan officer I used was excellent and helped keep the process running smoothly.
Regarding interest rates, there are many factors involved, including credit score and debt to income ratio, as well as the purchase price of the home, the location, origination fees, whether or not you buy points on the loan, and other factors. When I bought my home a couple of months ago, I created a spreadsheet that I used to compare interest rates to things like the origination fee, buying points, etc. Veterans United still came in the lowest compared to several other local and national lenders.
All this to say – each situation is different. This is exactly why you should shop around to find the best situation for yourself. The interest rates you receive can, and often will vary significantly from lender to lender, just as they will for each person requesting a loan quote. Always shop around for the best rates and overall situation.
I wish you the best with your new home!
Pamela Collins says
I concur with this writer Veterans united is not a good mortgage company to go with. I have found that my loan officer Nathan A does not tell the truth most of the time. I’m trying to find out how i can change loan officer. I really want to change lenders . I really do not want to give this company my money. But I’m trying to find out if its the company or just my loan officer. I really need to let the VA know how Veterans are going through with this company. PTSD is real for me with this company. I will tell my experience when i close whether with this one or another.
Jimmy Baron says
As a realtor of over 9 years I can honestly say this was one of the worst experiences I’ve ever experienced with a lender. Missed deadlines, incompetence, unreturned phone calls, and loan officers who who never had a real handle on things. Both, the buyer and seller, were disappointed with this company’s poor performance. Sorry, but our veterans deserve better.
Ryan Guina says
Jimmy, I just closed on a home loan through Veterans United (May 2019) and it was a very smooth process. My loan officer and his team were on top of things and kept me in the loop regarding all required forms, where we were in the process, what they needed from me, and everything else. We closed in less than a month from the time we started the process. Overall, I was impressed with the process and level of service.
I have worked with other lenders, and in general, I have had good results with each of the lenders I have worked with. That said, I would assume most large lenders have some degree of problems and growing pains. My experience was great with Veterans United, and with USAA. I have friends and family members who have had great experiences with Navy Fed, PenFed, and other mortgage lenders. But I’m sure I can go online and find negative reviews for each of them.
Your feedback is helpful. But it’s also important to understand that one bad experience doesn’t mean the company is terrible.
I encourage homebuyers to shop around, read reviews, compare multiple lenders, then choose the lender they believe will offer them the best balance of low interest rates, quality service, and the ability to meet their loan needs. If using a VA Loan, I recommend homebuyers shop around with other major military banking organizations, other large banks, and local lenders before making their decision.
I shopped 7 companies for my most recent home purchase and chose Veterans United. My experience exceeded my expectations and I couldn’t be happier with the decision. My previous mortgage was with USAA. That was also a great decision, and they offered the best rate at that time. But each house and homebuying situation is unique, so each person should do their research and trust themselves to make the best decision for their needs at that time. (And that is why we create these reviews – to help people understand how to compare VA lenders, understand their options, and make more informed decisions).
Noel Robinson says
I currently have a V.A. loan. Since living in this house I discovered a few things that should have been caught during the inspection. There’s a large crack in the concrete wall that the inspector said was nothing to worry about. The wiring is so old that the insulation is cracking. I got the circuit breaker box replaced after so many blackouts, but I’m concerned that some wires will get hot and cause a house fire. I have lots of plumbing to do too. Is there any recourse ?
Ryan Guina says
Hello Noel, I don’t know the answer to this question. Once the loan closes, the house is typically your responsibility unless it is covered by either insurance or a home warranty. (unless you can prove there was fraud, but that is outside my level of expertise).
I recommend contacting a real estate lawyer in your area to inquire about any potential recourse or steps you can take. It may still be possible to obtain a home warranty, depending on when you closed on the sale of the home.
I wish you the best, and thank you for your service!
Michelle DeMello says
We are using Veterans United to refinance our home. My husband is a veteran. We have been treated with much respect and they have been so very helpful in working with us. I am glad we choose Veterans United for our mortgage refinance on our home. I am looking forward to being out of debt & updating our home.
Blessings
Mrs. Michelle DeMello
Kathy Schiefer Marson says
We can only afford a mobile home on leased land in California. We don’t have any money for a down payment and we can’t afford a house because we can’t afford them. How can we purchase this mobile home that’s way out of the city in the mountains with a guarded gate? Please is there any grants that you can help us with at least 20 – 30 % down? We don’t have any family members that can help us. We will greatly appreciate anything that you can do to help us get into this home before someone else gets it. My husband is trying to get some disability for service connected and I’ve been disabled for 24 years. Sincerely, Kathy Marson