Veterans United Home Loans Mortgage Review 2023

How Bankrate scored Veterans United Home Loans

To determine Veterans United’s Bankrate Score, Bankrate’s editorial team rated it and other lenders on a scale of one to five stars based on a variety of factors relating to the lender’s products and services. (Bankrate’s partners compensate us, but our opinions are our own, and partner relationships do not influence our reviews.) We derived its overall score by considering three basic factors:

• Affordability: 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.

• Methodology

  Bankrate’s expert editorial team collects lender information through a variety of methods. We contact lenders directly, and we also turn to regulatory filings and to assessments by third parties. Our research takes into account three main factors – affordability, availability and borrower experience.

  Bankrate’s reporters and editors have decades of experience covering the mortgage industry. They’re skilled at gathering information through interviews and by scouring regulatory filings. Bankrate evaluates more than 85 lenders for factors relating to affordability, availability and customer experience, assigning each a Bankrate Score out of five stars. Here’s how we assess each of the categories:

  • Affordability. Loan cost is a deciding factor for many borrowers. We look at two metrics: 1) a lender’s lowest advertised annual percentage rate (APR) based on Bankrate’s sample scenario, which assumes a 740 or higher credit score and a 20 percent down payment, among other factors and 2) established-customer discounts or incentive pricing, when applicable.
  • Availability. Another factor is how quickly your loan application will be approved, and how many loan programs the lender offers. So we evaluate approval and closing timelines and diversity of loan products.
  • Customer experience. Finally, we delve into what it’s like to deal with the lender as a consumer. We look at the lender’s application process and availability of customer service support. We also consider the results of J.D. Power’s 2022 Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Survey.

  Bankrate’s editorial team confirms the accuracy of data at the time of publication. Our team is dedicated to maintaining the timeliness of information – the mortgage industry is changing constantly, so we regularly revisit these reviews to update them.

  Bankrate’s methodology page spells out our rating process in greater detail.

Affordability: 4.3/5

Affordability differs from lender to lender, so comparing costs is key. The lowest rates for a VA loan through Veterans United Home Loans 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: 5/5

This factor can make the overall mortgage application process smoother or more challenging. Veterans United Home Loans 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: 5/5

Know what to expect when you work with a specific lender. Veterans United Home Loans 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.

How to apply for a mortgage with Veterans United Home Loans

You can apply for a purchase loan or a refinance with Veterans United in person at a branch, by phone or via the lender’s website.

Here are some tips to prepare for the process:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 helps VA borrowers qualify for the VA IRRRL, also known as a VA streamline refinance. Because you’ll be swapping one VA loan for another, VA streamline refinance loans are relatively easy to process and approve. Veterans United can help you with rate-and-term and cash-out refinancing.