Louisville Kentucky Mortgage Lender VA Home Loans

What are the eligibility requirements for a VA Loan in Kentucky? Veterans Affairs loan guidelines use two methods of income qualification in Kentucky. The residual income method is the primary method, where it is determined that the borrower has sufficient income to cover daily living costs once housing, taxes, insurance and all other liabilities like credit card and auto payments have been made. Additionally, VA loans use a debt to income ratio (DTI). Using this ratio, the veteran's total debt should not exceed 41% of the veteran's total income. Most lenders will require at least a 580 to 620 credit score for a VA Loan approval. Keep in mind, VA guidelines do not call for a credit score but most lenders institute minimum credit score overlay to protect from buybacks from VA loans if they have too many go into foreclosure How much can I borrow? The maximum Kentucky VA Mortgage amount is determined by: Maximum VA Loan in Kentucky: The largest loan allowed for VA mortgages with zero down is now based on your VA loan entitlement in KY. Please refer to the Kentucky VA Loan Limit chart at the bottom of this page to see your area's limit. Maximum Finance: For purchase transactions, the Maximum VA Loan will be 100% of the lower of the selling price or the appraised value. What will the down payment and closing costs be? No down payment required and closing costs vary from lender to lender and usually is based upon the loan amount, credit score, time to close (lock period) and whether or not you get a par rate or a higher rate with a lender credit to pay some of your closing costs at closing. What property types are allowed for VA Loans in Kentucky? VA Loans may be used to purchase or refinance single-family residences and VA approved condo projects if the property is the veteran's primary residence. Can I do a VA refinance in Kentucky? Three kinds of VA Refinance programs are available for veterans in Kentucky. Rate/Term VA Refinance The Rate/Term VA Refinance can be used to refinance a conventional, FHA or subprime mortgage into a stable, fixed rate VA Loan. VA Cash-Out Refinance A Cash-Out VA Refinance is very beneficial for the veteran who wants to access the equity that they have built up in their home. VA Loans can be used to refinance up to 90% of a home's current value and take cash out for any reason. Streamline Refinance The VA Streamline Refinance is designed to lower the interest rate on a current VA mortgage or convert a current VA adjustable-rate mortgage into a fixed rate. A VA Streamline Refinance Loan can be performed quickly and easily. It requires much less hassle and paperwork than a normal refinance including no appraisal, no qualifying debt ratios and no income verification. How much can I refinance in Kentucky? The maximum amount for an KY VA loan is determined by: Maximum VA Loan in Kentucky: The largest loan allowed for a VA Mortgage varies from county to county. To see what the limit is in the county in which you're interested, visit the following page http://www.emailmeform.com/builder/fo... Joel Lobb Senior Loan Officer (NMLS#57916 text or call my phone: (502) 905-3708 email me at kentuckyloan@gmail.com The view and opinions stated on this website belong solely to the authors, and are intended for informational purposes only. The posted information does not guarantee approval, nor does it comprise full underwriting guidelines. This does not represent being part of a government agency. The views expressed on this post are mine and do not necessarily reflect the view of my employer. Not all products or services mentioned on this site may fit all people. NMLS ID# 57916, (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). Mortgage loans only offered in Kentucky. All loans and lines are subject to credit approval, verification, and collateral evaluation and are originated by lender. Products and interest rates are subject to change without notice.

Louisville Kentucky Mortgage Lender for FHA, VA, KHC, USDA and Rural Housing Kentucky Mortgages: Kentucky VA Mortgage Loan Information

Louisville Kentucky Mortgage Lender for FHA, VA, KHC, USDA and Rural Housing Kentucky Mortgages: Kentucky VA Mortgage Loan Information: Kentucky VA Mortgage Loans What are VA Home Loans? VA Loans provide military veterans and current service members a distinct advan...

Louisville Kentucky Mortgage Lender for FHA, VA, KHC, USDA and Rural Housing Kentucky Mortgages: Kentucky VA Mortgage Qualifying Guidelines

Louisville Kentucky Mortgage Lender for FHA, VA, KHC, USDA and Rural Housing Kentucky Mortgages: Kentucky VA Mortgage Qualifying Guidelines:   NMLS ID. 57916, NMLS ID. 1364 EQUAL HOUSING LENDER CALL/TEXT 502-905-3708 www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org subject to credit and income qualifyi...

• Min 580 FICO (Refer /Eligible thru DU or LP)- Refer Eligible
• 580 + Cash Out Refi's up to 100% (approved eligible)
• No DTI cap - follow AUS findings
• VA- REFER/ELIGIBLE - 50% max ratio
• No VOR unless required by DU findings (unless VA Refer)

Louisville Kentucky Mortgage Lender for FHA, VA, KHC, USDA and Rural Housing Kentucky Mortgages: KENTUCKY VA MORTGAGE LOAN INFORMATION

Louisville Kentucky Mortgage Lender for FHA, VA, KHC, USDA and Rural Housing Kentucky Mortgages: KENTUCKY VA MORTGAGE LOAN INFORMATION:   COMMON KENTUCKY VA LOAN MYTHS FOR KENTUCKY VETERANS VA loans are difficult to qualify for. All VA loans require a down payment. VA loans r...

 COMMON KENTUCKY VA LOAN MYTHS FOR KENTUCKY VETERANS

1. VA loans are difficult to qualify for.
2. All VA loans require a down payment.
3. VA loans require private mortgage insurance (PMI).
4. You can't refinance a VA loan.
5. You can only have one VA loan.
6. You can use a VA loan once.
7. VA loans are not assumable.
8. You can't buy land with a VA loan.
9. You can't build a house with a VA loan.
10. VA loans only apply to the home purchase itself.

Is it hard to qualify for a VA loan?

Myth #1: Kentucky VA loans are difficult to qualify for.

Fact: VA loans have fewer credit restrictions compared to conventional loans. These reduced restrictions, like a higher debt-to-income (DTI) ratio and more leniency regarding credit scores, mean it can be easier to qualify. VA has no minimum credit score but lenders will have overlays with most being 620 and some going down to 580, with a few going all the way down to 500 but it is very difficult to get approved at this level --- though each individual case and lender will vary.

Do VA loans require a down payment?

Myth #2: All Kentucky VA loans require a down payment.

Fact: While conventional loans generally require down payment options that can reach up to 20%, no such thing is required with a VA home loan at or under the local conforming limit. Down payments are still an option, of course, but they are not a requirement.

The VA allows you to purchase jumbo loans, but the down payment depends on your entitlement:

• Full entitlement - 100% LTV (loan-to-value) maximum
• Partial entitlement - Maximum loan must be calculated using 25% guarantee of 1 unit county loan limit. Max LTV is lesser of max allowed or LTV required to meet 25% guaranty

Do VA loans have PMI?

Myth #3: VA loans require private mortgage insurance (PMI).

Fact: Private mortgage insurance is not required for VA loans. PMI typically adds 0.2%-0.9% of expenses to your monthly mortgage payments when you put less than 20% down. That’s a big additional expense you don’t have to worry about when you get a VA loan. Remember, VA loans do come with a funding fee.

Can you refinance a VA loan?

Myth #4: You can’t refinance a Kentucky VA loan.

Fact: Thanks to VA streamline and cash-out loan programs, VA loans are actually easier to refinance than conventional mortgages. The streamline version lowers the mortgage rate of an already existing VA loan, usually for less than the current principal and interest. This means it doesn't require a credit check or appraisal. The cash-out option involves a credit check and appraisal, since the home’s value represents the maximum loan amount and the new loan will be larger than the existing loan.

How many VA loans can you have?

Myth #5: You can only have one Kentucky VA loan.

Fact: There is no limit to the number of VA loans you can have. While it is possible to have multiple VA loans at once, this depends on VA loan entitlement. VA loan entitlement refers to the amount that the VA will pay your lender if you default on your loan. There is a limit on your VA entitlement. It can be split across multiple loans but the limit remains the same. For full entitlement, the VA covers:

• Up to $36,000 for loans < $144,000
• Up to 25% for loans > $144,000

If, however, you’ve used a portion of your entitlement in one loan that you’re still actively paying off (or defaulted on), the amount of entitlement you have on any new loan is reduced. This means that you may need to put money down yourself instead of having the usual benefit of a zero down payment for VA loans. To learn about VA loan limits and entitlement, visit us here.

How many times can you use a VA loan?

Myth #6: You can only use a Kentucky VA loan once.

Fact: There is no limit on the number of times you can use the VA loan benefit. You can use the benefit an unlimited number of times throughout your life, as long as you still qualify. To qualify, you need to meet certain requirements, which you’ll already be aware of if you’ve taken out a VA loan in the past. For those who haven’t taken out a VA loan prior, you can learn how to qualify here.

Are VA loans assumable?

Myth #7: Kentucky VA loans are not assumable.

Fact: Federally insured and guaranteed loans are usually assumable. This includes VA loans. What does it mean if a loan is assumable? An assumable mortgage is when the lender allows you, the buyer, to take over the current mortgage that the seller has. This can save a lot of money if the interest rates are lower on the existing mortgage than they would be to take out a new mortgage. Assumable mortgages allow buyers, who otherwise wouldn’t qualify for a VA loan, to take over a VA mortgage. This means that you would get most, if not all, of the benefits that come with VA loan eligibility. In order to assume a VA mortgage, you will need to meet certain requirements, such as:

• acceptable credit history and  credit score
• debt-to-income ratio to meet guidelines 
• No Bankruptcies or foreclosures in last 2 years ( Chapter 7) --Chapter 13 is possible within one year in the plan.
• acceptable work history for last two years
• residual income requirements
• property passing VA standards

You will also be required to pay the VA funding fee that comes with VA loans. This equates to 0.5% of the total loan amount. This may be waived if you’re an eligible military borrower who qualifies for an exemption. Other fees may be required as well.

For sellers, if a non-military borrower assumes your mortgage, your VA entitlement won’t be restored until the loan is paid in full. You will want to request that the lender releases you from liability on the loan to avoid dips in your credit reports if the buyer defaults or makes a late payment.

Can you buy land with a VA loan?

Myth #8: You can’t buy land with a Kentucky VA loan.

Fact: The VA doesn’t authorize buyers to singularly purchase land with a VA loan. However, you can purchase land and build a home on it. This is partially because VA loans are granted with a required occupancy period — you must use the property as your primary residence for at least one year. If there is already a home on the land, this is acceptable. Another acceptable scenario is if you plan to immediately build a home on the land after purchase. This may require a purchase/construction loan.

You can also purchase land with a conventional loan or certain other types of loans. Then you can build a home on the land using a VA construction loan. Upon completion, military borrowers can refinance VA construction loans into permanent VA loans. Builders must be VA-approved.

Finally, you can purchase land and build a property using a non-VA purchase/construction loan. Then you can refinance the loan upon completion of the build into a permanent VA loan (as long as the property meets the VA’s requirements).

Can you use a VA loan to build a house?

Myth #9: You can’t build a house with a Kentucky VA loan.

Fact: VA construction loans do exist, as mentioned above, and under the right circumstances, they can be refinanced into permanent VA loans. Ask your lender about VA purchase/construction loan options.

Can you use a VA loan for home improvement?

Myth #10: Kentucky VA loans only apply to the home purchase itself.

Fact: The VA allows for increases to purchase loans for the purpose of making renovations. The VA’s Energy Efficiency Mortgage program, for instance, lets borrowers add up to $6,000 to their home loan amount to install solar heating, insulation and storm windows, among other features.

In conclusion

Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, completeness or timelines of the information in this publication. While efforts are made to verify the information provided, the information should not be assumed to be error free. 

--

Joel Lobb
Mortgage Loan Officer

Individual NMLS ID #57916

American Mortgage Solutions, Inc.

10602 Timberwood Circle 

Louisville, KY 40223

Company NMLS ID #1364

click here for directions to our office

Text/call:      502-905-3708

fax:            502-327-9119
email:          kentuckyloan@gmail.com

https://www.mylouisvillekentuckymortgage.com/

How to Get Approved for a Kentucky VA Home Mortgage Loan

Basic Understanding of a Kentucky VA Mortgage Loan Approval Process.

The VA makes a guarantee to the lending institution (the

insurance)-for 25% of the loan amount (from a lenders

perspective the effective LTV is 75%).

Because the risk to the bank is reduced, the bank can provide

more affordable loans to the Veteran:

• Eliminating the need for a down payment (100% Mortgage)

• Provides the Veterans favorable interest rates

• Eliminating Mortgage Insurance (NO PMI)

Crushing the Myths of the VA Loan

• VA Mortgage Benefits do not expire.

• You can use your VA benefits as many times as you wish.

• You can have more than 1 at a time. (See occupancy rules)

• There is no limit to the size of a VA loan. (There is a county

loan limit, but veterans can purchase above the county loan

limit with a 25% down payment)

• Credit and risk is reviewed differently by each bank

and lender.

• Even with a foreclosure or short sale, the veteran may still be

able to buy a house with a VA loan. (See burnt entitlement,

veteran might have reduced buying power, but can still

use the VA loan). The VA understands that bad things can

happen to good people.

• VA Appraisals are significantly different than they use to be.

What military documents would I need
to have in order to get a VA mortgage?

I don’t know if I still have my documents from when I

served. How can I retrieve them?

There are three websites that should be able to help you, they are:

vetrecs.archives.gov

archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

ebenefits.va.gov

*If you have difficulty retrieving information from any of these sites,

the local recruiting office for your branch would be able to assist.

I have my discharge paperwork, but would like help

obtaining my Certificate of Eligibility

Contact your lender.

I served, but it was a very long time ago. Do my VA
benefits for a mortgage expire?

No, VA Home Loan benefits never expire. You can use your

VA benefit as long as you’re alive.

I used my VA mortgage along time ago to buy a
home. That means I can’t use it again, right?

The VA Mortgage can be used several times over. If the previous

home was sold, your entitlement should be fully reinstated.

What is the minimum credit score to obtain
a VA mortgage?

The VA does not have a minimum credit score, but lenders will

have their own internal overlay. If your score is greater than 580,

you are likely a candidate for the VA mortgage.

Can I use the VA loan to buy a condo?

You can, with the same terms as buying a detached single family

residence. However, we do have to see if the condo association

is VA approved. Check this website:

vip.vba.va.gov/portal/VBAH/VBAHome/condopudsearch

I relocated here and have a home in my hometown. I

kept the home and it has a VA mortgage on it now.

Can I get another VA mortgage?

You can get another VA Mortgage. Mortgage

will calculate your remaining entitlement to compute your

maximum loan amount with no money down and/or what

you would have to put down if you exceed the remaining

entitlement.

Can I build a home with a VA Home Loan?

Yes, but there are several clauses that may make this difficult

to accomplish. Many veterans use their VA Home Loan

Certificate of Eligibility to negotiate in good faith a private home

construction loan and then refinance the completed home using

VA Home Loans.

I heard the VA Mortgage was more expensive than
other mortgage types. Is that true?

There is a mandatory funding fee on all VA mortgages (unless

the borrowing veteran is receiving a VA related disability, then

the funding fee is waived). The funding fee is built over and

above the loan amount and the fees are as below.

It's Military May, and that means Permanent Change of Station (PCS) season for military families is upon us. However, some brokers will miss out on opportunities to help more Veterans due to a few commonly held misconceptions regarding Kentucky VA loans. Separating fact from fiction can make all the difference this season for your business. Here are a few myths around Kentucky VA loans: Myth: Kentucky VA Loans Are Credit Risks Reality: Kentucky Veterans and military members tend to have higher credit scores and savings. Myth: The Seller Pays the Closing Costs Reality: In a well-structured Kentucky  VA loan, the benefits include no down payment and ideally no closing costs to the seller. Myth: There Is a Maximum VA Loan Amount   Reality: There has never been a maximum Kentucky  VA loan amount, though it's often confused with maximum VA loan guarantee. Myth: VA Loans Are Complicated With Many Restrictions Reality: The expertise of our Kentucky VA lending team makes the process simple so you can focus on your borrower.