Eligibility Audit
Complete each factor below. The sidebar tracks your readiness score in real time.
Branch of Service
VA entitlement is branch-agnostic — but your Certificate of Eligibility pathway differs. Identify your branch to route correctly.
National Guard and Reserve members: your eligibility depends on activation orders, not just enlistment. We'll sort that out in the next section.
Total Years of Service
Minimum service thresholds determine full vs. partial entitlement. Active-duty requires 90 days wartime or 181 days peacetime. Guard/Reserve requires 6 years.
Even if you served less than the minimum, a service-connected disability discharge may still qualify you. A loan officer will verify.
Discharge Status
VA loan eligibility requires an honorable or general discharge under honorable conditions. Other Than Honorable (OTH) requires a Character of Discharge review.
Your DD-214 (Member Copy 4) is the primary document. If you don't have it, we can help you request it from the National Archives.
VA Entitlement & COE
Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) confirms remaining entitlement. First-time users have full entitlement ($0 down, no loan limit). Prior users may have partial or restored entitlement.
We pull COEs electronically through VA's WebLGY system — takes under 10 minutes with your SSN and service dates.
Estimated Debt-to-Income Ratio
VA guidelines recommend DTI under 41%, but residual income thresholds often override. Higher DTI is manageable with strong residual income — we'll run both calculations.
BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) is non-taxable income — it's grossed up 25% in DTI calculations, which significantly improves your qualifying ratio vs. civilian borrowers.
Property Type
VA loans are for primary residences only. The property must meet VA Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs). Condos require VA-approved project status.
Manufactured homes and investment properties are not VA-eligible. The property must be your primary residence within 60 days of closing.
Purchase Timeline & Target Zip
PCS orders compress timelines — we know how to close in 21 days when orders drop. Tell us when you need to be in contract.
Pre-approval locks in your rate environment and gives you an edge in competitive markets near installations. It costs nothing and takes under an hour.
Target Purchase Zip Code
Loan limits vary by county. High-cost areas near major installations (San Diego, DC, Honolulu) have no VA loan limit with full entitlement.
5-digit ZIP · Used to determine county loan limits and matching loan officers
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