Established in 2002, Veterans United Home Loans is a full-service direct mortgage lender specializing in VA loans. It’s a popular choice among military borrowers and has become the leader in the VA loan sector, providing more VA purchase loans by volume than any other lender since 2016. Depending on the borrower, the lender can issue a preapproval in minutes (with conditional approvals in 24 hours), and its VA loan closings currently average 36 days. Notably, the lender is flexible enough to consider non-traditional credit data, and if you’re a returning borrower, you might be eligible for a credit.
Bankrate insight
Veterans United was the nation's most active VA lender in 2022, according to federal data.
Our Editor’s Take on Veterans United Home Loans
Veterans United Home Loans is the top VA loan lender in the U.S., specializing in mortgages for military members and qualifying spouses. It consistently receives high marks from customers on Bankrate (five stars out of more than 3,600 testimonials as of this review), as well as accolades from J.D. Power. The lender primarily operates online, but there are some branches as well, particularly near military bases and defense hubs.
How Bankrate scored Veterans United Home Loans
- Affordability: As of this review, the VA loan rates from Veterans United Home Loans are somewhat competitive to Bankrate’s averages. The exact closing costs and fees you’ll pay depend on your specific loan.
- Availability: Veterans United works with borrowers in all 50 states, with a focus on VA loans.
- Borrower experience: As the top VA lender in the U.S., the Veterans United website is brimming with educational resources for VA borrowers. Notably, you can contact the lender 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Affordability: 10/10
The lowest rates for a VA loan through Veterans United go to borrowers with at least a 720 credit score and those willing to pay points. The lender displays current purchase and refinance rates for each of its VA loan products online, and updates these daily. For a personalized rate, you can fill out a form online with information about your military service, living situation, loan type and contact info.
Availability: 10/10
Veterans United offers mortgages to borrowers nationwide. While it specializes in VA loans, the lender also offers conventional, FHA and USDA loans for various needs. To qualify for a VA loan from Veterans United, you’ll need a minimum credit score of 620 and a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio no higher than 41 percent.
Borrower experience: 9.6/10
Veterans United was founded in 2002 and has since become the biggest VA lender in the U.S., having worked with more than 594,000 veterans on $149 billion in financing. The lender consistently has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and “Excellent” marks on Trustpilot. It also scored highly in J.D. Power’s mortgage origination survey for customer satisfaction. You can contact the lender 24/7 if you have questions on a home loan.
Images courtesy of Veterans United Home Loans as of 11/14/2023. Note: Depending on method of contact, your individual credit profile and other circ*mstances, your experience might differ.
How to apply for a mortgage with Veterans United Home Loans
You can apply for a mortgage with Veterans United Home Loans in person at a branch location, online or by phone at 800-884-5560. Here are some tips to prepare for the process:
- Check your credit report. It’s important to check your credit report before your lender does, in case there are errors that could impact not only whether you get preapproved but also your ability to get the best mortgage rate. Knowing your credit score also helps you decide what type of loan to apply for. If your score is in the very low 600s, for instance, an FHA mortgage might be best for you, as its standards are more lenient than those for conventional loans.
- Gather personal and financial documents. With any lender, you must supply documentation about your income, assets and debts. This includes pay stubs and W-2s and account and loan statements.
- Provide details about the property. You’ll need to provide the address of the home and submit to an appraisal. (If you’re refinancing, you might or might not need an appraisal.)
Refinancing with Veterans United Home Loans
Veterans United offers both rate-and-term and cash-out refinancing options, along with the VA IRRRL or streamline refinance.
