Mortgage Insights With Gary | VA & Home Loan Answers

Yes. A VA loan can potentially be used to build a new home, and in some cases the construction financing and permanent VA mortgage can be handled through one closing. It's called a  VA one-time-close construction loan , sometimes called a  VA construction-to-permanent loan . And it's one of the VA loan options I find many veterans simply don't know exists. I'm Gary Bourgeois. I served 23 years in the Army, retired as an E8, and now work as a mortgage advisor. I spend a lot of time helping veterans understand not only whether they  can  use their VA benefit, but how to use it strategically. If you've been looking at land or thinking about building instead of buying an existing home, here's what I want you to know. Can You Really Build a House With a VA Loan? Yes. The Department of Veterans Affairs specifically allows VA-backed financing to be used to  build a new home . That's different from buying a completed new-construction home from a builder. With a cons...

  VA Loan vs. Conventional With 20% Down: Which Is Better for Veterans? If you're eligible for a VA loan and have enough cash to put 20% down on a home, you may be asking a question I hear from financially established veterans: Should I still use my VA loan if I can afford a 20% down payment? Maybe. Having the money to put 20% down doesn't automatically mean you should. It also doesn't mean a VA loan is automatically the better choice. I'm a retired Army veteran and a mortgage advisor, and when I'm looking at this decision with another veteran, I don't start with which loan program sounds better. I run the numbers. Because the real question isn't simply VA loan vs. conventional loan. It's: Which financing strategy puts you in the strongest financial position? Prefer the Short Version VA Loan vs. Conventional With 20% Down: The Quick Comparison Here's the basic difference. VA Loan Conventional With 20% Down 20% down required? No Yes for this compariso...

Can You Have Two VA Loans at the Same Time? Yes. In some situations, you can have two VA-backed loans at the same time. That does not mean everyone with an existing VA loan will qualify for another one. The answer depends on how much entitlement you have remaining, the mortgage you already carry, where you are buying, the price of the next home and whether you can financially qualify for both properties. I’m Gary Bourgeois. I served 23 years in the Army, retired as an E8 and now work as a mortgage advisor. When a veteran asks me this question, I don’t give them a quick yes or no based on one number. I look at the entire situation. Prefer the Short Version? Watch my video explanation below. Then, if your situation is different from the example, send me the details and I’ll help you sort through it. Watch My Video Here Why Would Someone Need a Second VA Loan? This usually comes up when a veteran: Relocates for a civilian job or receives PCS orders Needs a larger home for a growing family...