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Veterans United mortgage review
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This lender specializes in loans for service members and their families, but its branch locations are limited.
Veterans United is a top lender for VA loans and provides other government-backed loans like FHA and USDA. But the lender doesn’t offer home equity products. And if you prefer in-person support, it only has branches in 18 states.
Details
| Loan products offered | Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo, Refinance |
|---|---|
| Minimum credit score | Conventional: 640 Jumbo: 640 VA: 640 |
| Minimum down payment | 3.5% |
| State availability | Available in all states |
| NMLS # | 1907 |
Veterans United requirements
The borrowing requirements for Veterans United depend on the kind of loan you apply for.
To qualify for a VA loan, you’ll need a credit score of at least 640 and you must be an active or veteran service member or qualified family member.
Non-service members can apply for other loans through Veterans United, but other government-backed loans can require specific qualifications like income, credit score and residence in a specific region.
Documentation
- Address and employment history for two years
- Paystubs stating monthly income
- Recent bank statements with account balances
- Current mortgage information
- Military history
Costs and fees
Fees depend on the kind of loan you have, but some typical costs you can expect include:
- VA Funding fees. Typically with refinancing, these fees range between 1.4% and 3.6% of the loan and go directly to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Origination fees. These are lender fees paid at closing. For VA loans, origination fees can’t be more than 1% of your loan amount.
- Closing costs. Documents, underwriting and attorney fees are rolled into one cast to be paid at closing.
- Third-party fees. This can include appraisals, credit reports and recording fees, which are often paid to companies other than the lender.
How to apply for a mortgage with Veterans United
To apply for a mortgage with Veterans united, begin by applying for prequalification online:
- Go to the Veterans United website, choose Get a Quote and select if you’re buying or refinancing a home.
- Answer questions surrounding your work with the military, then questions about the home you want to buy.
- Answer questions about how quickly you’d like to close on your home, if you currently own a home and if you plan on selling a home before you make your purchase.
- After specifying if you need a real estate agent, answer various questions regarding your financial situation.
- Provide details like email, phone number, name and address.
- Once you submit, a loan officer should reach out to complete your application.
What types of mortgages can I get through Veterans United?
- Conventional
- FHA
- VA
- USDA
- Jumbo
Other mortgage products offered by Veterans United
Other home loan options include refinancing to lower your monthly payments by taking advantage of lower interest rates.
- VA Streamline Refinance. Most borrowers can qualify for no out-of-pocket costs and no appraisal to refinance a VA loan.
- Cash-out refinance. Refinance your VA loan to a lower interest rate and get cash from the equity in your home. Borrowers need a credit score of at least 640, and closing costs come from the cashout amount.
How Veterans United’s mortgage products compare to other lenders
Veterans United stands out from other lenders for its focus on serving the military community. But borrowers not looking for VA loans won’t find any home equity or specialty mortgage products to choose from.
Compare mortgage lenders
Compare top brands by home loan type, state availability and credit score. Select See rates to provide the lender with basic property and financial details for personalized rates.Veterans United reviews and complaints
As of March 2021, Veterans United has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for closing 74 customer complaints in the last three years. VU also rates 4.71 out of 5 stars with 1,314 BBB reviews.
There are 6,373 reviews on TrustPilot, where Veterans United has 4.9 stars out of 5. Reviews praised Veterans United for creating an easy experience for clients to reach their goals.
Pros and cons of Veterans United
Pros
- Focus on veterans. Not only does Veterans United specialize in loans for service members and their families, it employs mostly veterans from all branches of the military.
- Suite of mortgage options. Veterans United offers loans for non-service members, government-backed loans and refinancing options.
- Streamlined application. Its online application for preapproval takes just a few minutes.
- 24/7 customer service. VU’s helpline is always open, with mortgage specialists available whenever best meets your schedule.
Cons
- No equity or specialty mortgage products. VU’s mortgage offerings are more traditional, and the only way to access your home’s equity is to refinance your loan.
- Little info on non-VA loans. It can be hard to find information on VU’s non-VA mortgages on its website.
- Limited branch locations. This lender offers loans in all 50 states, but in-person service is limited to 18 states.
What is Veterans United?
Veterans United started in 2002 with a focus on VA loans. This niche lender not only helps military service members and their families qualify for VA loans, but it employs professionals primarily from the military. In 2017, J.D. Power gave VU the highest score in customer satisfaction out of 25 lenders, with customers citing friendly, helpful and attentive staff.
The lender’s charitable foundation is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2021, after distributing over $87 million in donations to military and community-based charities. The foundation is funded by the lender, its affiliated companies and VU employees, who generally give back an average of one percent of their paychecks each month.
Expert review
Review by
Heather Petty
heather.petty@findercrew.comHeather Petty is a writer at Finder specializing in banking, investments and insurance. She's a self-proclaimed word nerd who worked as a technical writer and editor for the casino systems industry and is an internationally published young adult mystery author. Heather earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Expert review
Veterans United is a niche lender that’s good for military service members and their families. It’s a certified VA lender, and its customer service is well-rated.
However, if you don’t qualify for a VA loan, Veterans United doesn’t offer much information on the rates and fees for any of its other mortgage products. And the lender doesn’t offer home equity loans or lines of credit.