Meta Description: VA loans close fast, in under 30 days! Bust the myth of slow closings. #VALoan

A common myth is that VA loans take forever to close, discouraging veterans from using this benefit. In reality, VA loans close in 30 days or less, just like FHA & Conventional loans.

Let’s debunk this misconception and explore the VA loan timeline.

Why the Myth Exists

Concerns about VA appraisals or paperwork requirements lead some to assume VA loans are slower. While unique steps like the VA appraisal exist, they don’t significantly delay closings when handled by experienced professionals. Misinformation perpetuates this myth.

The Truth About VA Loan Closings 

Standard Timeline: VA loans average 30 days to close, competitive with other mortgage types. We recently closed a VA loan in 11 business days!

Efficient Process: VA appraisals and underwriting align with industry standards, avoiding major delays. 

Prepared Lenders: A VA-savvy lender can streamline paperwork and keep the process on track.

How to Close a VA Loan Quickly

Choose a VA-approved lender with experience in fast closings. Provide all required documents (e.g., COE, income verification) promptly. Work with a realtor to select homes likely to pass VA appraisal, reducing repair-related delays. Stay in communication with your lender to address issues quickly.

VA loans don’t drag on—they close as fast as most mortgages with the right team. Don’t let myths about slow closings keep you from buying your home with a VA loan.

Ready to close your VA loan quickly? Contact John Burke, VA Mortgage Specialist, at jburke@valoansdoneright.com or call (877) 228-9069 to explore your VA loan options.

VA renovation loans let Veterans buy and fix up homes! Learn how. #VARenovationLoan

Many Veterans believe VA loans are only for move-in-ready homes, but that’s a myth. VA renovation loans allow you to buy a fixer-upper and finance repairs in one loan, all with no down payment. Let’s bust this misconception and explore how VA renovation loans work for Veterans.

Why the Myth Persists

The standard VA loan process focuses on homes meeting Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs), leading some to assume fixer-uppers are ineligible. However, VA renovation loans are specifically designed to cover both purchase and repairs, making home improvement accessible.

The Truth About VA Renovation Loans 

One Loan, Two Purposes: Finance the home purchase and renovation costs (e.g., kitchens, roofs, HVAC) in a single VA loan. 

Zero Down Payment: Like standard VA loans, no upfront cash is needed, up to the loan limit. 

Eligible Repairs: Covers structural, safety, or cosmetic upgrades, subject to VA approval.

How to Get a VA Renovation Loan

Find a VA-approved lender experienced in renovation loans, as not all offer them. Identify a fixer-upper and work with a contractor to estimate repair costs. Submit a renovation plan to your lender for approval, ensuring repairs meet VA guidelines. Close the loan and start your home transformation.

VA renovation loans open the door to fixer-uppers, letting Veterans create their dream home with no down payment. Don’t let myths limit your options—explore this powerful VA benefit today.

Ready to buy and renovate a home with a VA loan? Contact John Burke, VA Mortgage Specialist, at jburke@valoansdoneright.com or call (877) 228-9069 to explore your VA loan options.

Can You Build a Home with a VA Loan?

Build your dream home with a VA One-Time Close Loan, $0 down! #VAConstructionLoan

Think VA loans are only for buying existing homes? Think again! The VA One-Time Close Construction Loan lets Veterans finance land purchase, construction, and the permanent mortgage in one loan with no down payment. Let’s debunk this myth and show how Veterans can build their dream home.

Why the Myth Exists

VA loans are often associated with purchasing ready-built homes, so many Veterans don’t know construction loans are an option. The One-Time Close program is less common, and some lenders don’t offer it, contributing to this misconception.

The Truth About VA Construction Loans 

All-in-One Loan: Covers land, construction, and the final mortgage with a single closing, reducing costs. 

Zero Down Payment: Build your home without upfront cash, up to the VA loan limit. 

Flexible Design: Work with a VA-approved builder to create a home tailored to your needs.

How to Get a VA Construction Loan

Find a VA-approved lender offering One-Time Close Construction Loans. Select a VA-registered builder experienced in VA projects. Develop a construction plan and budget, and submit it to your lender for approval. Close the loan, begin construction, and transition to the permanent mortgage once the home is complete.

VA construction loans make building a custom home affordable and accessible for Veterans. Don’t let myths keep you from designing your perfect home with the benefits you’ve earned.

Ready to build your dream home with a VA loan? Contact John Burke, VA Mortgage Specialist, at jburke@valoansdoneright.com or call (877) 228-9069 to explore your VA loan options.

UPDATE February 2019

Can You Get A VA Mortgage With An Open CAIVRS Report?

Yes you can, depending on why you’re in the system.

Call me at (877)228-9069 for more information or help.

If you have applied for a VA Mortgage and had your loan denied because of the CAIVRS report you probably wondered why and what it is.

CAIVRstands for Credit Alert Interactive Voice Response System. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development maintains this system, which includes federal tax liens and information from governmental agencies like VA, FHA, USDA & SBA to name a few. 

For example, Veterans who have yet to settle over-payments on education or disability income may trigger a hit in the CAIVRS system.

Perhaps the most common CAIVRS Report issue is tied to defaulted Student Loans so staying current on Federal Student Loans is critical.

* UPDATE – If you have Student Loans that are in default and reporting in the CAIVRS system, it is still possible to get approved for a VA Mortgage!*

* UPDATE # 2 – Basically you can find yourself in the CAIVRS system anytime you owe the Federal Government money. So let’s say you owe Restitution to the Federal Government, you’ll be in the CAIVRS system BUT that doesn’t mean you are not eligible for a VA Mortgage!

*Update # 3 – This now applies to FHA mortgages as well!

I’ve had several people contact me after getting turned down by other lenders that had filed chapter 7 Bankruptcy and included an FHA Mortgage in the Bankruptcy.

The Bankruptcy isn’t an issue once it has been discharged for 2 years under the VA guidelines for a new VA Mortgage. The problem is when FHA pays a claim, you end up with a CAIVRS Report. Pretty much every VA Mortgage lender out there will tell you there is no way you can get approved for a VA Mortgage until you clear up your CAIVRS Report but the only way to do that is to pay off the claim or wait it out! The wait time will be 36 months from when the claim was paid!

The good news is I can get your VA Mortgage approved & closed even though you have an open CAIVRS Report as long as the CAIVRS Report was the result of an FHA or VA Mortgage being included in a Bankruptcy or through foreclosure and it’s been at least 2 years since the discharge or the foreclosure sale!

*A new update on the whole situation of including a mortgage in Bankruptcy & when you’re eligibility starts. A lot of lenders will tell you that if you stayed in the home & did not make a payment on the mortgage, you are not eligible for a VA Mortgage until 2 years after the bank forecloses on the home! This is NOT what VA requires so it’s a lender overlay. I can go by the discharge date of the Bankruptcy regardless so don’t let anyone tell you that you have to wait longer!

Here are some reviews from Veterans that I’ve helped get a VA Mortgage for a new home with an open CAIVRS hit.

These reviews are not made up testimonials on my own site, these reviews are on my Zillow.com profile here:

https://www.zillow.com/lender-profile/MTG%20Banker/

Getting a loan while on the CAIVRS report

jamesrenee13 from Suffolk, VA

John and his team got my wife and I in to our home while I was on the CAIVRS list after a bankruptcy and closed in 35 days. Thank you John and your team for your help and persistence

I cannot say enough good….

boller bonnie from New Germany, MN

I honestly cannot say enough good words when it comes to John and his team.

My husband and I were ready to purchase a home after many years of renting. Our current landlord was also ready to sell the house, so we were under a deadline to make this happen.

Due to credit issues (of our own past fault – a default on a student loan from years ago). We were told by multiple lenders our dream was not possible, especially going with a VA loan because we were in the CAIVRS system. I had spoken to many, and always told the same.

I stumbled on John’s name and read a post on a site, of a woman asking his advice. Since her situation basically paralled mine, I decided to contact him as well.

John assured me there was a way. To make a long story short…..we just closed on our home Jan 4th!

John’s experience and knowledge literally saved us. I would without a doubt recommend him to everyone.

ABSOLUTELY THE BEST!!

Robi and Kennetg from Houston, TX

After receiving the worst service and help with a different lender John and his team stepped in to help us in a difficult situation! We came to John with a very tight timeline to proceed with closing on our new home in time. We were packed and ready to move with a new baby on the way when we were told by our terrible lender that they wouldn’t be able to close… John took on the task and had us approved and ready to close in time! He and everyone we worked with was professional and so helpful! We were in such a crisis and feeling so defeated! John made our dreams come true! We will never use anyone else for our future home buying and you shouldn’t either!

Nothing Short of Amazing!!!

naeemmolette from Dallas, GA

I found John when I realized I was in CAIVRS. His name kept coming up in a forum so I checked the reviews and called him immediately. John and his team were outstanding in their communication and in being proactive to close my loan quickly. Amanda and Amy were amazing in processing the loan; down to the day before when Amy noticed that the DTI was slightly off, she took it upon herself to reach out to our insurance agent to get a lower rate and solved the DTI problem before I even knew it was a problem!! This home buying process was stressful in and of itself BUT John and his team make it worth doing again. Thanks for helping our family’s dream come true!!! Forever grateful!

Easiest home purchase ever

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John Burke and his team at Great Plains Bank made my mortgage process extremely easy. This was our third home purchase, so I had somewhat of an idea what the steps were. The part I was concerned about was the fact that in 2014 we had filed chapter 7 Bankruptcy and lost a home to foreclosure. The home we lost was an FHA loan which of course landed us on the CAIVRS list. For any of you curious, the CAIVRS list is the governments do not lend list which will bar you from receiving a government-backed loan such as an FHA or VA mortgage. There is little information published about it, but the rules for lending afterward can be very confusing. Most banks will just write you off, trust me I had inquired with at least 6 different lenders.

I saw a post somewhere where John Burke had mentioned depending on the circumstances he could probably make a VA Mortgage happen. I contacted him, sent all the required documents and had a pre approval in a few days. I will say that prior to the Bankruptcy and after my wife and I had pretty decent credit. I will admit, I was very skeptical that I was going to invest a lot of time and money into finding a house, getting all the appraisals and inspections completed to be told oh sorry, we can’t do this. I was wrong. We found a house, had an accepted offer on February 12th, 2017. We closed on the house March 10th, 2017. John is a man of his word.

I will end by saying if you have made some decisions in the past that have put a mark or two on your record that would cause most banks to deny you, give John a few minutes of your time. If there is a way to get you into a home, he will do it.   2/17/2017

Amazing Lender Who Will Work Hard For You!

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Working with John Burke was more like dealing with an old friend than a mortgage professional. John was extremely thorough and professional. I know that for me, not feeling like I’m just another account was probably one of the most enjoyable parts of the whole home buying process. John never once hesitated to answer any of my questions or phone calls, which is rare these days! He explained all the paperwork and options to us with patience and clarity, and walked us through the process with steady and responsive communication. I felt that he wanted the best for my family the entire time, and for these reasons I can never thank him enough. You will not be disappointed if you use John. So glad I decided not to use a “big bank” that would have just shuffled me through. Thanks John!

Highly likely to recommend

7/12/2016 at 3:14 PM – cadj62

CLOSED PURCHASE LOAN.

I can’t say enough good things about John Burke and his team. We had to file chapter 7 Bankruptcy in 2012 to get out from under a home that got caught in the housing meltdown and had lost over 60% of it’s value and being faced with my job being relocated to CO. We relocated to CO in 2013 and did the right things after the Bankruptcy such as rebuilding our credit and score and applied for a VA Mortgage after 30 months. At this time we were told we had an open CAIVRS and we were instructed to call the government agency to inquire about the date it was filed. We called only to find out nothing was ever filed therefore there’s no date. It’s considered an “open” CAIVRS which is basically a dead end to this agency. The best they could do is tell us to call the mortgage company that financed the house in NY and ask them why they never filed a claim?? I was about to give up for a year and found John Burke’s name and read the stories from others who struggled with similar situations. I contacted John and he took my application over the phone, he asked for copies of a few things and I had my pre-approval letter the same day. Within two weeks we found the perfect home and had an accepted offer. John and Brittany the processor were awesome. In fact my realtor made a comment that it’s probably the smoothest financial transaction he has been involved in. Today a month after closing, me and my family are enjoying our new home. It’s truly a blessing considering the nightmare we endured in NY. If you have a similar issue contact John Burke he will help you in any way he can.

If you have questions or you want to see how much you qualify for, feel free to call me at (877)228-9069 or fill out the form below.

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We now have a VA Renovation Mortgage Available!

Now you can renovate your home with the benefits of a VA Renovation Mortgage.

Do you have a home in need of minor repairs or updates but no cash on – hand?

The VA Renovation Mortgage is designed to help Veterans & the men & women who serve our country repair or upgrade their home with the low rates the VA lending programs offer. 

The VA Renovation Mortgage allows for minor renovation costs to be included in the VA Renovation Mortgage loan amount of a house for purchase, or for repairs being done to an existing home with equity.

The VA Renovation Mortgage program is perfect for those looking to do small repairs such as repainting, fixture swaps, or accessibility upgrades such as ramps or rails.

The VA Renovation Mortgage Program Features Include:

  • Up to $35,000 in renovation costs.
  • No minimum repair amount.
  • Includes minor & non-structural repairs.
  • Includes accessibility upgrades like ramps & rails.
  • Cosmetic repairs allowed.
  • No consultant required.

Take charge of home improvements with our one of a kind VA Renovation Mortgage to create the home of your dreams!

Contact me today to learn more.

(877)228-9069 or fill out the form below.

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