Frequently Asked Questions - Eligibility

Questions about who is eligible for a VA loan and reuse of eligibility for another VA loan.

How do I apply for a VA guaranteed loan?

You can apply for a VA loan at any mortgage lender that participates in the VA home loan program. At some point, you will need to get a Certificate of Eligibility from VA to prove to the lender that you are eligible for a VA loan.

How do I get a Certificate of Eligibility?

To get a Certificate of Eligibility, you need to submit a form 26-1880, Request for Determination of Eligibility and Available Loan Guaranty Entitlement. A copy of the form can be obtained by calling 800-827-1000. Send it to any VA Regional Office. You must include a copy of your DD214 with the form 26-1880. If you are on active duty, you must submit a statement of service signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters showing date of entry on your current active duty period and the duration of any time lost.

I already got one VA loan. Can I get another one?

Yes, depending on the circumstances. If you have paid off your prior VA loan and disposed of the property, you can have your entitlement restored for additional use. To obtain restoration of entitlement, the veteran must send VA a completed VA Form 26-1880, along with evidence that the property has been disposed of and the loan repaid in full. This evidence can be in the form of a pay-off statement from the former lender, or a copy of the HUD-1 settlement statement completed in connection with the sale of the property. The application can be presented to any VA Regional Office. A veteran can also obtain restoration of entitlement, on a one-time basis, if the prior VA loan has been paid in full but the property has not been sold.

I sold the property I obtained with my prior VA loan on an assumption. Why can't I get my entitlement restored to use for a new home?

In this case the veteran's entitlement can be restored only if the assumer is also an eligible veteran who is willing to substitute his or her entitlement for that of the original veteran. Otherwise, the original veteran cannot have entitlement restored until the assumer has paid off the VA loan.

My prior VA loan was assumed, the assumer defaulted on the loan, and VA paid a claim to the lender. VA said it wasn't my fault and waived the debt. Now I need a new VA loan but am told that I am not eligible. Why not? or my prior loan was foreclosed on, or I gave a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure, or VA paid a compromise claim. I was released from liability on the loan and/or the debt was waived. Can I get another VA loan?

Although the veteran's debt was waived by VA, the Government has still suffered a loss on the loan. The law does not permit the veteran's entitlement to be restored until the loss has been repaid in full.