Can a Borrower Have 2 VA Loans at One Time?

There’s a difference between how many VA loans you can have throughout your lifetime and how many you can have at one time.

There is no limit on how many VA loans you can secure throughout your life. If you’re eligible for a VA loan and you qualify for lending than you could conceivably change houses and mortgages every few months if you wanted to. The ability to secure a VA loan is a lifetime benefit.

VA loans are meant for primary residences. In most cases you will have only one primary residence, so you have one VA loan – but there are situations that can complicate things.

For example, let’s assume Soldier A owns their current home through a VA home loan, but has been transferred to a new base a state over and must buy a new house near the new base. In this instance it will be okay for the soldier to apply for another VA home loan on a new home, even if their original home hasn’t sold yet.

While a second VA loan isn’t uncommon, qualifying for that second VA loan depends on two main factors – how much entitlement is left and qualifying with a lender.

Every VA loan comes with a VA loan entitlement. The entitlement is how much of your loan the VA backs or the maximum amount the lender is guaranteed should you default on your VA loan. The bigger your entitlement, the more attractive you are to lenders. First time VA loan applicants start with a basic entitlement.

By default, most first time VA loan applicants can receive 25% up to the conforming amount plus bonus entitlement but what if that’s still not enough to qualify you for a loan in a hot real estate market?

Back to bonus entitlement. In many areas like New York and California the conforming limit is much higher than $417,000. If basic plus bonus entitlement doesn’t cover you, you can talk to a loan officer about an increased bonus entitlement.

If you’re still confused or need more direct answers you can contact your local VA office to speak with a VA loan officer. They can help you lay out your budget, what you qualify for, and what long term payment plans will look like.

A VA loan officer or certified realtor is the best way to calculate your entitlement, but you can also use a VA loan calculator to get a sense of what you can buy. Try out Veterans United’s VA home loan calculator to get an idea of how much you can get and where.

Any federally backed loan is appealing to mortgage lenders but that won’t automatically qualify you for a second mortgage or a mortgage on any home you want. When you need to take out a VA loan you still must qualify with a lender. If you have poor credit and excessive debt, private lenders might not approve your loan.

A VA loan is great for veterans, but it comes with a lot of confusing tasks and paperwork. If you have questions about VA loans, The Storck Team is here to help. The Storck Team has been operating in Colorado’s Front Range for decades. We’ve worked with dozens of families from Petersen Air Force Base in Colorado Springs to Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, and others to get them the best deal and VA loan possible.

If you’re looking for help with your first VA loan or need to make sure a second VA loan is done right, give The Storck Team a call. We’ll put our years of training together to help you find the best home and get through the VA loan paperwork the right way.

The Storck Team can help veterans and their families sell their home, get into a new home, and help handle the mountains of paperwork that come with a VA home loan. If you’ve got your full entitlement and you’re ready to start shopping – call The Storck Team today.