Military families and veterans don’t buy homes the way most civilians do. They move on short notice and often finalize purchases from hundreds or thousands of miles away. When you add a VA home loan into the mix, some lenders and agents assume the transaction is headed for trouble before it even starts. That assumption […]
VA loans are not slow, agents who prep early close faster Read More »
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) urged the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to revise elements of its proposed partial claim and loss-mitigation policies for VA-backed mortgages, arguing that the draft rules could leave veteran borrowers at a disadvantage compared to others. In a comment letter submitted Wednesday and addressed to Patrick Zondervan, executive director
Mortgage trade groups urge VA to revise elements of proposed partial claim rules Read More »
Just weeks after mortgage trade groups expressed concern about a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would raise fees on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, Republicans in Congress have revised the original proposal. The bill, H.R. 6047 — also known as the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act
House scales back proposed VA mortgage fee hike Read More »
Mortgage trade groups are closely monitoring a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would raise fees on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mortgages to help fund other veterans’ benefits. The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2025 (H.R. 6047) — introduced in November by Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) and
House bill would raise VA mortgage fees to fund veterans’ benefits Read More »
Will 2026 be a turning point for prospective first-time homebuyers? The National Association of Realtors (NAR) seems to think so. In a report published on Tuesday, the trade group says that it expects the housing affordability landscape to improve throughout the year. Driving this improvement, according to NAR, will be a steady rise in housing
What will bring first-time buyers into the 2026 housing market? Read More »
Even though down payments remain an obstacle to prospective homebuyers across the country, affordability conditions have improved significantly in the past three years. That’s the key takeaway from a Realtor.com report released Monday. The company found that across the 50 largest U.S. metro areas, the typical household in 2025 needs seven years to save for
How long does it take to save for a down payment in 2025? Read More »
CrossCountry Mortgage (CCM) announced Wednesday that it’s welcoming the Victor Alpha Group to the company. Led by the husband-and-wife duo of Patton Gade and Shari Gade, the team brings more than 20 mortgage professionals with military ties to CCM. “This team exemplifies the values that define CrossCountry Mortgage,” Ron Leonhardt, founder and CEO of CrossCountry
CrossCountry Mortgage adds top VA loan producer Patton Gade Read More »
A growing share of U.S. homebuyers are using Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans as the housing market leans in favor of buyers. Nationwide, 7.3% of mortgaged homebuyers used a VA loan in August, up from 6.5% a year earlier — the highest level for that month since 2019, according to a report from Redfin.
VA loans rise as housing market shifts toward buyers Read More »
Veterans Day serves as a meaningful opportunity to honor the sacrifices made by the men and women in uniform who have served our country. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the challenges veterans face as they transition back to civilian life, including navigating the homebuying process. For real estate professionals, it’s important to recognize
Helping heroes home: how real estate pros can better serve veterans Read More »
Tens of thousands of veterans are missing out on the benefits of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans each year, with billions of dollars in potential mortgage volume left untapped, according to a new analysis from Veterans United Home Loans. The report found that more than 58,000 VA loans went unused in 2024,
Veterans are missing out on billions in VA loan benefits Read More »