VA loans – the financial product you should know about

Finding the right financial product for your needs can be difficult. You want to discover a product that is affordable, simple to use and provides you with the funding you require as soon as possible. If you are looking for a home loan that makes it easier to purchase a property, VA loans may be the solution.

If you are a veteran, and meet the required service requirements, you can apply for one of these loans to purchase a home for you and your family. You can find out more about the requirements necessary for these loans here. Applying for a VA loan can provide you with several benefits.

1. Home loans with no down payment

The biggest positive about getting help from the VA loan scheme is that you do not need to save money for a down payment. You can get a loan without having to put anything down. This is opposed to the normal requirement for at least 20% of the purchase cost up front. This is an  important benefit given the current high cost of living in many cities. You can afford to buy a home and still meet all of the other costs that you are faced with every day.

2. Affordable ongoing mortgage payments

VA loans also normally come with more attractive interest rates. This is because lenders have the knowledge that the Department of Veterans Affairs guarantees each loan, thereby ensuring that they do not lose all of their money if payment arrangements are not met. Given the current rising interest rates in the country, this provides a significant advantage to veterans who borrow money from the scheme.

3. Important facts about applying for a VA loan

The advantages of a VA loan as a financial product are obvious. However, there are other factors that you need to be aware of if you are thinking of applying for one of these loans.

• Your credit rating will be examined. Lenders still need to protect their interests, so they usually check an applicant's credit rating before making a decision about whether to award funding.

• You will need to pay fees of around 2.15%. The fees will be higher if you have already used the VA loan scheme previously, and they can also vary depending on personal circumstances.

• You need to make an application as you would with any home loan. Details that you need to provide include proof of id and income.

Once you have all of the information that you need, you can make your application. If a VA loan is awarded, you will have the benefit of a roof over your head at a cost that is affordable to you. This means that you have money left in your household budget for expenses such as insurance, healthcare, education costs and saving for your retirement. If you are a veteran, checking to see if you can benefit from a VA loan makes good financial sense.