VA LOANS · The Galli Team
For Veterans, Active Duty & Surviving Spouses

You served. Now buy your home with $0 down.

VA loans are the most powerful home buying benefit in America — zero down payment, no PMI, no loan limits for veterans with full entitlement, and rates that consistently beat conventional and FHA loans. We've been helping veterans use this benefit for 29 years.

$0
Zero down payment
No monthly PMI
Below-market rates
Use it multiple times
— 2026 VA Loan Snapshot —

The most generous home loan in America.

Down Payment
$0
PMI Required
None
Loan Limit (Full Entitlement)
No Cap
Min Credit Score
580-620
Disabled Vet Funding Fee
Exempt
29+Years Lending Experience
$0Down with VA Benefit
4.9 ★
★★★★★
145 Reviews
50States Licensed
Why VA Loans Win

The strongest home loan benefit in America.

If you've served, the VA loan benefit you earned is worth tens of thousands of dollars vs. conventional and FHA financing. Here's why veterans who understand the program never go back.

01

Zero down payment

Buy with $0 down on most VA loans. Conventional requires 5-20%. FHA requires 3.5%. On a $400K home, you keep $14,000-$80,000 in your pocket.

02

No PMI

Conventional buyers pay $150-$400/month in PMI when putting less than 20% down. VA loans have NO mortgage insurance. That's $1,800-$4,800/year savings.

03

Below-market rates

VA loan rates typically run 0.25-0.75% lower than conventional. On a $400K loan, that's $50-$150/month — and $18K-$54K over the life of the loan.

04

No loan limit

Veterans with full entitlement can borrow as much as a lender approves — no county loan caps. Even jumbo VA loans up to $2M+ require zero down.

05

Reusable benefit

Use it for your first home, sell, buy another with VA. Pay one off and restore full entitlement. Some veterans use this benefit 4-5 times in their lifetime.

06

Flexible underwriting

VA's "residual income" standard helps borrowers qualify with higher DTI ratios. Many veterans approved for VA when conventional declined them.

Side-by-Side Comparison

VA Loan vs. everything else.

The same $400K home, three different financing paths. The math is one-sided.

Factor
VA Loan
Conventional
FHA
Minimum Down Payment
$0
3-5%
3.5%
Down on $400K Home
$0
$12K-$20K
$14,000
Monthly PMI/MI
$0
$150-$300
$180-$240
Min Credit Score
580-620
620-740
580
Loan Limit
No limit (full entitlement)
$832,750
$524,225 (FL)
Funding Fee / MIP
2.15% one-time (exempt if disabled)
None
1.75% upfront + monthly
Refinance Streamline
VA IRRRL (super easy)
Standard refi
FHA Streamline
Who Qualifies

VA loan eligibility.

The VA benefit extends far beyond active-duty veterans. You may qualify even if you didn't see traditional combat duty.

Active Duty & Veterans

  • 90+ days consecutive active duty during wartime
  • 181+ days active duty during peacetime
  • Currently serving 90+ days continuously
  • Discharged for service-connected disability at any point
  • All branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force

National Guard & Reserves

  • 6 years of service in Guard or Reserves
  • OR 90+ days of active service (non-training)
  • Activations under Title 10 and certain Title 32 sections count
  • Honorable discharge required
  • Service in any era qualifies

Surviving Spouses

  • Receiving DIC (Dependency & Indemnity Compensation)
  • Spouse of service member who died in active service
  • Spouse of veteran who died from service-connected disability
  • Spouse of POW/MIA service member
  • Not remarried (with some exceptions)

Other Eligible

  • Cadets at U.S. Military, Air Force, or Coast Guard Academy
  • Midshipmen at U.S. Naval Academy
  • NOAA Commissioned Corps officers (active duty or retired)
  • Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
  • Certain U.S. citizens who served in allied military during WWII

Disabled Veterans: Funding Fee Exempt

If you receive VA disability compensation (any rating), you are completely exempt from the VA funding fee. On a $400K home, that's a one-time savings of $8,600. Surviving spouses receiving DIC and Purple Heart recipients on active duty are also exempt.

How It Works

From application to keys in 4 steps.

VA loans aren't more complicated than other loans — they're just specialized. We handle every step including pulling your COE electronically.

1

Apply for Pre-Approval

15-minute online application. We pull your credit and review income docs. You get a written pre-approval same day.

2

We Pull Your COE

Your Certificate of Eligibility verifies your VA entitlement. In 95% of cases, we pull it electronically in 60 seconds. No paperwork from you.

3

Find Your Home

House hunt with your VA pre-approval in hand. Make offers confidently — sellers know VA loans close reliably with us.

4

Close in 30 Days

VA appraisal ordered. Underwriting completed. You sign closing documents and get your keys. Move in within 60 days of accepted offer.

Funding Fee Explained

The VA funding fee.

The VA funding fee replaces PMI and helps fund future veterans' benefits. It's a one-time fee that can be rolled into your loan — no out-of-pocket cost at closing. Disabled veterans are completely exempt.

Scenario
First Use
Subsequent Use
0% down payment
2.15%
3.30%
5-9.99% down payment
1.50%
1.50%
10%+ down payment
1.25%
1.25%
VA IRRRL Refinance
0.50%
0.50%
National Guard / Reserves
Same as above
Same as above
Disabled veterans
EXEMPT
EXEMPT

Example: On a $400,000 home with zero down (first use), the funding fee is $8,600. This can be rolled into the loan — meaning $0 out of pocket at closing for the fee itself. Disabled veterans pay $0.

Myths vs. Truth

Common VA loan myths.

Most of what veterans hear about VA loans is wrong. Here's what's actually true in 2026.

❌ Myth

"VA loans take forever to close."

Outdated by 15+ years. Modern VA loans close in 21-30 days with experienced lenders. Faster than many FHA closings. The "VA is slow" reputation comes from inexperienced lenders, not the program itself.

✓ Truth

VA loans close fast with the right lender.

Our average VA loan closes in 24 days. We pull COEs in under 60 seconds electronically. The bottleneck is rarely VA — it's lender experience.

❌ Myth

"Sellers don't like VA offers."

Old myth from when VA loans had complicated property requirements. In 2026, VA appraisals are similar to conventional. Sellers who avoid VA offers are misinformed — and missing strong, well-qualified buyers.

✓ Truth

VA offers close more reliably.

VA loans have one of the LOWEST default rates of any loan type. Smart listing agents prefer VA buyers because the underwriting standards are rigorous. We educate listing agents on VA when needed.

❌ Myth

"You can only use VA loan once."

False. Most veterans can use the VA benefit multiple times. Pay off your first VA loan and your entitlement is fully restored. Sell the home and you can use VA again. Some veterans use it 4-5 times across decades.

✓ Truth

The VA benefit is reusable for life.

Your entitlement is a lifetime benefit. We help veterans use it on starter home → upgrade → retirement home, all with $0 down each time.

Common Questions

VA loan FAQ.

The questions veterans ask us most often.

How do I get my Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?

You don't have to — we get it for you. In 95% of cases, we can pull your COE electronically through the VA's WebLGY portal in under 60 seconds. No paperwork from you required. If for some reason an electronic pull isn't possible, we'll guide you through requesting it via VA.gov or by mail (usually takes 7-10 days).

Can I use a VA loan for a second home or investment property?

No. VA loans require you to occupy the home as your primary residence within approximately 60 days of closing. However, you can buy a multi-unit property (up to 4 units) with a VA loan as long as you live in one of the units. The rent from the other units can even help you qualify.

What if I'm separated or divorced from my military spouse?

Your eligibility depends on YOUR service, not marriage status. If you served and qualify, you can use the VA benefit regardless of marital changes. If you're a surviving spouse, eligibility continues unless you remarry (with some exceptions for spouses over 57 and certain other situations).

What credit score do I need for a VA loan?

The VA itself sets no minimum credit score. However, individual lenders (called "overlays") typically require 580-620 minimum. With our network of 25+ lenders, we can often place veterans with scores in the 580-620 range when other lenders decline. Scores of 640+ qualify most easily; 720+ unlocks the best rates.

Can I have two VA loans at the same time?

Yes, in some situations. If you have partial entitlement remaining, you may be able to use it on a second home without paying off the first VA loan. This commonly happens when veterans relocate for work but keep their original VA home as a rental. We calculate your remaining entitlement during pre-approval.

What is the VA IRRRL?

The Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) — also called the VA Streamline Refi — is the simplest refinance in mortgage lending. If you already have a VA loan and want to refinance to a lower rate, IRRRL requires minimal paperwork, no appraisal in most cases, and closes in 14-21 days. Funding fee is just 0.50%.

How long does a VA loan take to close?

With our team, average VA purchase loans close in 24 days from contract to keys. VA IRRRL refinances close in 14-21 days. The "VA is slow" reputation is outdated — modern VA loans close as fast or faster than conventional with experienced lenders.

Do I need to pay closing costs with a VA loan?

VA loans limit which closing costs you can pay. The seller is allowed to pay up to 4% of the loan amount in closing costs and concessions for you — meaning many veterans buy with truly $0 out of pocket. We help structure offers to maximize seller-paid concessions.

Get Pre-Approved

Use the benefit you earned.

Get pre-approved in 2 hours. We pull your COE electronically. No fees, no obligation, no fluff. Just a clear answer about how much home you can buy with your VA benefit.

  • 2-hour pre-approval with written letter
  • Electronic COE pull — no paperwork from you
  • 25+ lender network for best VA rates
  • Free funding fee analysis (you may be exempt)
  • Specialty programs for disabled veterans
  • Bank-level encryption on application

Apply for VA Pre-Approval

15-minute online application. Same-day response.

🔒Bank-level encryption. NMLS# 13152.
Want to Learn More First?

Get the free VA Loan Buyer's Guide.

8 pages covering the complete VA loan process — eligibility, COE, funding fees, exemptions, and how to use the benefit to its full power. No spam, just the guide.