Veterans United Review
8.8
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Veterans United Reviews

8.8
Angela Mae Watson

WRITTEN BY

Angela Mae Watson

Relaxed credit and income requirements
Relaxed credit and income requirements
About Veterans United

Veterans United offers military families and individuals VA loans (government-backed home loans) to qualifying individuals. This includes veterans, active service personnel, and military spouses only.

Founded in 2002 by brothers Brock and Brant Bukowsky, Veterans United is now one of the largest VA lenders in the United States.

The company is committed to helping people find the best home loan based on their circumstances. Some borrowers can get a VA loan with 0% down depending on eligibility. In many cases, these loans do not come with private mortgage insurance. They also typically have competitive interest rates.

 

9.0

LS SCORE

8.0

CREDIBILITY

10

SUPPORT

10

ACCESSIBILITY

Veterans United Mortgages Review

Veterans United offers a VA loan for active military personnel, veterans, and military families. The lender lets you lock in the mortgage rate after applying so you have time to decide whether to go through with the process.

The traditional VA loan comes with competitive interest rates, no down payment, and no private mortgage insurance. The lender also has different types of mortgage loans, including a VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan, VA Cash-Out Refinance, and VA Energy Efficient Mortgage.

Veterans United Mortgages Highlights

MORTGAGE AMOUNT

Max $1,500,000

REPAYMENT TERM

15-30 years

MIN CREDIT SCORE

620

APR FIXED RATE

6.125% - 7.002%

FUNDING TIME

40-50 days

ORIGINATION FEE

None

PREPAYMENT FEE

None

UNDERWRITING FEE

None

OTHER FEES

Yes

SOFT CREDIT PULL

Yes

NMLS

1907

LENDER TYPE

Direct

Pros & Cons

  • Straightforward application with transparent eligibility requirements
  • Mortgage rate lock-in
  • 24/7 customer service
  • No down payment, prepayment penalties, or PMI
  • Lends in all 50 states
  • Some loans come with a VA funding fee (2.3% of the purchase price)
  • Must be a veteran, military spouse, or active service member
  • Loans are only for primary residences, not secondary or vacation homes

Mortgage Type

  • Mortgage Purchase
  • Fixed
  • Adjustable
  • FHA
  • USDA
  • VA

Veterans United Refinance Highlights

REFINANCE FIXED APR

6.359% - 7.224%

Pros & Cons

  • Transparent rates and terms
  • Flexible options, including 30-year VA Cash-Out, 15-year VA Cash-Out, and 30-Year VA Cash-Out Jumbo loans
  • Funds can be used for nearly anything
  • Must meet VA service requirements
  • Strict eligibility requirements
  • Only available for select property types

Veterans United Mortgages Terms & Requirements

Veterans United has several mortgage loan types, including VA, USDA, Conventional, and FHA loans, as well as cash-out refinancing. These loans have rates and terms that are comparable with the industry standard. Certain applicants do not have to put any money down when applying for a mortgage.

To be eligible for a VA loan, the primary applicant must meet the standard service requirements (as set by the VA). They must also meet certain other eligibility criteria, such as a minimum credit score and maximum DTI.

How to Apply

Veterans United’s application is comprehensive and requires a lot of personal and financial information, which is fairly standard in the industry. It begins with a pre-approval process. Completing this process will give you a quick quote on the mortgage you might qualify for.

Pre-approval takes around 10 to 15 minutes to complete, on average. It results in a soft credit inquiry that won’t affect your credit score. Before beginning the process, make sure you have the following information:

  • Branch of military service you’re in (ex. Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, etc.)
  • Whether you’re active duty, National Guard, or Reserve
  • If you’re currently serving and, if so, where you’re stationed
  • Whether you’ve received PCS orders (permanent change of station)
  • Zip code or city of the property where you intend to live
  • Estimated price range for the home loan
  • Property type
  • How you intend to use the new property (ex. primary or secondary residence, investment property, etc.)
  • Whether you currently own or rent a home
  • Current monthly mortgage or rent payment
  • Month and year your lease ends (if renting only)
  • If you’re a first-time home buyer
  • Estimated credit score
  • Whether you’ve declared bankruptcy within the past 7 years
  • Marital status
  • Household gross (before tax) annual income
  • If you’re currently receiving VA disability income
  • Name and contact information
  • Current home address and how long you’ve lived there
  • How you heard about Veterans United
Veterans United step 1: get started
Step 1

Get started

After answering all of the questions, create an online account with an email and password. Then, verify the information you’ve submitted. From there, be prepared to answer a few more questions about your household (ex. if you have dependents), how long you’ve served, your pay grade, and so forth.

Based on your initial application, you’ll be given a quote that includes a few loan options – VA and non-VA. The quote will include general loan information, but it won’t specify things like the APR or repayment terms. To get this information, check out Veterans United’s rates page for their current rates. Or, reach out to a loan specialist and ask what you qualify for based on the preliminary application.

For borrowers who want to continue with the process, be prepared to submit additional information relating to your finances, identification, etc. Before being approved for funding, Veterans United will run a hard inquiry into your credit report.

It typically takes 40 to 50 days to close on a VA loan, provided everything is in order with the application and documents.

Qualification Requirements

Min. Credit score 620
Max. debt-to-income ratio Typically 41%
Min. annual income Undisclosed
Min. age of borrower 18 years old
Citizenship/residency Undisclosed

Required Information

In order to qualify for a VA loan, you’ll need to meet at least one of the following requirements:

  • Served at least 90 consecutive days of active service during wartime
  • Served 181 or more days of active service during peacetime
  • Have 6 or more years of service in the Reserves or National Guard, or served at least 90 days under Title 32 orders
  • Be the surviving spouse of a service member who died while serving or because of a service-related disability

Required documents include:

  • Proof of identity
  • Proof of address
  • DD Form 214 for veterans or for those who are current or former activated Reserves or National Guard (those who weren’t activated need a statement of service and allocated points statement)
  • Statement of service for active duty
  • NGB Form 22 and NGB Form 23 for non-activated, discharged National Guard
  • DARP Form FM 249-2E or ARPC Form 606-E for Army Reserve
  • NRPC 1070-124 for Navy Reserve
  • AF 526 for Air Force Reserve
  • NAVMC HQ509 or NAVMC 798 for Marine Corps Reserve
  • CG 4174 or 4175 for Coast Guard Reserve

State Availability

Available in all states

Privacy & Security

Veterans United is one of the largest VA lenders in the country. It has a solid reputation in the industry, both for how it handles customer data and for its lending practices. For the past several years, it’s also been the Top VA Purchase Lender.

Like many online lenders, Veterans United collects certain data from its customers, such as personal and credit information. It doesn’t share this information with external sources or financial partners, but it may use it to help personalize the individual’s experience on the site.

The lender also complies with state and federal laws about protecting people’s data. To do this, it uses several physical, digital, and procedural safeguards. It also attempts to prohibit anyone under the age of 13 from using the site.

Customer Support

Veterans United has a highly responsive customer support team that’s available 24/7 via phone (800-884-5560). It also has an online contact form and email address – customer_service@vu.com. When you contact them, you’ll typically receive a reply within a few hours or 1 to 2 business days.

The Veterans United website also has a help desk and FAQ section that offers additional information about their VA loan, lending process, budgeting, and more.

On BBB, the lender is accredited with an A+ rating. It also has 4.81 out of 5 stars. Many of these reviews indicate the lender’s responsive and friendly customer service.

Phone Support
1-855-258-3548
Mon-Sun
24/7

In Conclusion

Veterans United is a highly rated lender of VA loans. It’s BBB accredited and has an A+ rating with over 2,000 customer reviews.

This well-established lender offers competitive interest rates and terms. Interest rates are around 0.5% to 1% lower than what you’d find with most conventional mortgages. Plus, the loans come with no prepayment penalties.

In addition to offering VA loans to active service members, veterans, and military spouses, Veterans United has several other mortgage options. This includes FHA and conventional loans with 15- or 30-year terms.

Many home loans from Veterans United come with no private mortgage insurance or down payment. This makes it easier for many people, especially first-time home buyers, to get a property.

FAQ

Does Veterans United offer VA refinancing?
Yes. Veterans United offers two types of VA loan refinancing. One is the VA Streamline (IRRRL) Refinance, which is meant for current VA loan borrowers who want to take advantage of lower interest rates. The other is the Cash-Out Refinancing, which lets borrowers with conventional or VA loans use their home equity to make improvements, consolidate debt, and more. Eligibility for either option is strict. To find out if refinancing is right for you, get a custom quote.
Is Veterans United a direct lender?
Veterans United is a private lender that offers home loans, particularly VA loans. VA loans are part of a federal program and are guaranteed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
What is a VA funding fee?
This is a one-time fee that the borrower must pay to reduce the cost of the home loan for U.S. taxpayers. It helps offset the cost since VA loans don’t require monthly mortgage insurance or a down payment. Some borrowers, such as veterans who’ve received a Purple Heart, do not have to pay it.

Veterans United Disclaimer

Mortgage Research Center LLC is NOT affiliated with any government agencies, including the VA.
This website has been developed by Mortgage Research Center LLC (MRC) to provide general information about mortgages and related matters. The materials posted in this website are not intended to create, and do not create, any relationship between MRC and the reader or viewer. The process of obtaining a mortgage loan is a serious one and should never be done without a licensed loan originator. This information is not intended to be, and is not valid as, a substitute for a licensed loan originator, licensed loan officer or other licensed lending professional. MRC is not a government agency, nor affiliated with any government agency, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, in any way. Customers with questions regarding our loan officers and their licensing may visit the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Directory for more information.
Individuals featured are actual clients of Mortgage Research Center LLC or its affiliated companies. These individuals are expressing their personal views of Veterans United. The personal views of these individuals reflect their opinions and experiences with Mortgage Research Center LLC or affiliated companies. The individuals shown here may have been compensated by Veterans United or one of its affiliated companies for expressing their opinions relating to their Veterans United experience.

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WRITTEN BY

Angela Mae Watson

Angela Mae is a personal finance writer specializing in loans, debt management, investing, retirement planning, and financial literacy. She comes from a journalistic background and pulls from hands-on experience and deep-dive research to breathe life into her stories. Her goal is to help others achieve financial stability and independence. When not writing, she can be found traveling, honing her yoga skills, hiking, or exploring new means of healthy, sustainable living.