VA Home Loan Learning Center
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How to apply
1. How do I prepare before starting my application for a VA Home Loan?​
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Current member of National Guard or Reserves who was never activated
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Discharged member of the National Guard who was never activated
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Surviving spouse of a Veteran who died on active duty or who had a service-connected disability
2. How do I apply for my COE?
3. Next steps for getting a VA direct or VA-backed home loan
4. What if I have questions about the loan process?
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Veterans
If you’re a Veteran, you’ll need a copy of your discharge or separation papers (DD214).
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Service Members
If you’re an active-duty service member, you’ll need a statement of service—signed by your commander, adjutant, or personnel officer—showing this information:
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Your full name
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Your Social Security number
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Your date of birth
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The date you entered duty
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The duration of any lost time
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The name of the command providing the information
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Current or former activated National Guard or Reservist
If you’re a current or former activated National Guard or Reserve member, you’ll need a copy of your discharge or separation papers (DD214). This request can take up to 90 days to process.
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Current member of National Guard or Reserves who was never activated
If you’re a current member of the National Guard or Reserves, and have never been activated, you’ll need a statement of service—signed by your commander, adjutant, or personnel officer—showing this information:
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Your full name
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Your Social Security number
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Your date of birth
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The date you entered duty
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Your total number of creditable years of service
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The duration of any lost time
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The name of the command providing the information
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Discharged member of the National Guard who was never activated
If you’re a discharged member of the National Guard and were never activated, you’ll need:
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Your Report of Separation and Record of Service (NGB Form 22) for each period of National Guard service, and
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Your Retirement Points Statement (NGB Form 23) and proof of the character of service
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Have you lost your NGB Form 22 or NGB Form 23? You'll need to contact the National Guard Adjutant’s Office for your particular state.
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You can contact US Army Human Resources Command for a copy of your DD214, if available, or a copy of your discharge order, if available.​
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All requests can be submitted on a signed and dated letter or on a Standard Form 180.
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Mail your request to:
Commander
U.S. Army Human Resources Command
ATTN: AHRC-PDR-H/Dept 420
1600 Spearhead Division Ave.
Fort Knox, KY 40122
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Discharged member of the Reserves who was never activated
If you’re a discharged member of the Reserves and were never activated, you’ll need:
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A copy of your latest annual retirement points, and
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Proof of your honorable service​
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Surviving spouse of a Veteran who died on active duty or who had a service-connected disability
If you’re a surviving spouse who qualifies for home loan benefits, you’ll need the Veteran’s discharge documents (DD214)—if available.
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If you’re receiving Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC), you’ll need to fill out and send us a Request for Determination of Loan Guaranty Eligibility—Unmarried Surviving Spouses (VA Form 26-1817).
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If you’re not receiving DIC benefits, you’ll need to send the VA all of these:
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A completed Application for DIC, Death Pension and/or Accrued Benefits (VA Form 21P-534EZ), and
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A copy of your marriage license, and
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The Veteran’s death certificate
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how do i prepare before starting?
how do i apply for my coe?
You can apply online via the VA's eBenefits Online.
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To apply by mail*, fill out a Request for a Certificate of Eligibility (VA Form 26-1880) and mail it to the address listed on the form; likely the Regional Loan Center in your applicable area.
*Please keep in mind that this may take longer than applying online or through the WebLGY system.
If you're the surviving spouse of a Veteran who died on active-duty or who had a service-connected disability​, you can request your spouse's COE
To get a VA-backed home loan as the surviving spouse of a Veteran, you’ll need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to show your lender that you qualify for this benefit.
Keep in mind that you’ll also need to meet your lender’s credit and income requirements to get a loan.
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You may be able to get a COE if you’re the spouse of a Veteran, and at least one of the descriptions below is true for them.
At least one of these must be true. The Veteran:
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Is missing in action, or
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Is a prisoner of war (POW), or
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Died while in service or from a service-connected disability and you didn’t remarry*, or
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Died while in service or from a service-connected disability and you didn’t remarry before you were 57 years old or before December 16, 2003*, or
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Had been totally disabled and then died, but their disability may not have been the cause of death (in certain situations)
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Note: A surviving spouse who remarried before December 16, 2003, and on or after their 57th birthday, must have applied no later than December 15, 2004, to establish home loan eligibility. The VA will deny applications received after December 15, 2004, from surviving spouses who remarried before December 16, 2003.
Applying for your COE is only one part of the process for getting a VA direct or VA-backed home loan. Your next steps will depend on the type of loan you’re looking to get—and on your lender. For most loans, the lender will be a private bank or mortgage company; for the Native American Direct Loan, the VA itself will be your lender.
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The lender will request a VA appraisal (assessment) of the house. An appraisal estimates the house’s market value at the time of inspection. An appraisal isn't a home inspection or a guaranty of value.
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The lender reviews the appraisal and your credit and income information and decides if they should accept your loan application.
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If they decide to accept your application, the lender will work with you to select a title company (or other entity) to close (transfer ownership) on the house.
next steps for getting a va home loan
If you have any questions that your lender can’t answer, please call either your VA Regional Loan Center Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET, or you can call the VA directly to speak with a VA Home Loan Technician.
what if i have questions about the process?
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