3 Things To Do Before Purchasing (for Veterans and Active-Duty)

So you’re ready to put your VA loan benefits to work? Here are three things you can have ready before you start shopping for your new home.

Proof of Service

First you will need to obtain proof that you are entitled to your VA Loan benefits.

If you are a Veteran, you will need your DD214 to request a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility. If you do not have a physical copy of your DD214 and did not uploaded one to your VA Benefits account, you can request a copy of your DD214 from your milConnect account.

To request a copy, go to the “Correspondence/Documentation” Tab and select “Defense Personnel Records Information (DPRIS)”. You will find the option to “Request Personnel File” under the “Defense Personnel Records Information Retrieval System (DPRIS)” tab. There you will have the option to request a copy of your DD214 and other records. You can also click here for more information on the VA site.

If you are an Active-Duty Service Member, you will need a Statement of Service from your commander or personnel officer. Make sure to provide them with information about any duration of lost time (past discharge and re-enlistment) and the name of the command you are currently attached to.

For more information you can visit the VA’s website.

Certificate of Eligibility

Once you have your Proof of Service, you can request your Certificate of Eligibility. This is important because you will have to upload your Proof of Service (Eligibility) to submit a request for your Certificate of Eligibility. You can submit your request in your eBenefits account by going to the COE page. There it will ask you to upload your eligibility document (your DD214) to submit your request.

Proof of Income

If you are Veteran, have a copy of at least one month of income (most recent). If you are receiving VA Disability benefits and/or a VA Pension, make sure to have a copy of your most recent award letter. Your lender will likely ask for a copy of bank statements showing your income as well, so have those handy.

If you are an Active-Duty Service Member, have a copy of your most recent LES; as well as your most recent bank statements showing that income.

Once you’ve obtained these three items, you are ready to start your home-buying process! Already have them? Congratulation! Now let’s contact a lender who specializes in VA loans. I know some great local lenders (who are also veterans) that would love to help. Contact me and let’s get started!