Praise For The VA Loan Program
Mike Davis has plenty of praise for the , a veterans benefit guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Not long ago, the VA loan had a so-so reputation. But Davis, a recent home buyer and VA borrower, formed a favorable impression of the loan based on his personal experience.
In fact, he says he’d encourage other servicemembers to look into the VA loan as a benefit of their service and see whether it makes sense for them.
“The stereotype is that it’s a lot more cumbersome, and it’s slower,” Davis says. “I think they’ve made good progress on (fixing) that.”
“Obviously, it’s a small sample size, but it looks like it’s as quick to close as any conventional loan, so people shouldn’t be dissuaded.”
Retired Navy Commander Purchases A Bungalow
Davis, 51, is an attorney with the state of California. He retired from military service as a U.S. Navy commander at the end of 2014, after 28 years of combined active and reserve duty.
His first seven years on active duty were served on a ship-and-shore command. He then remained in the Reserves until 2013, when he was mobilized to work in the U.S. Navy Central Command in Bahrain.
Davis’ wife Andrea, 42, is an executive with The Walt Disney Company. The couple has two pets: a Siamese cat named Mr. Boo and mixed-breed rescue dog named Peanut.
The home the couple bought is a 1906 California bungalow in Pasadena, Calif.
Extensively remodeled in 2012, the home has 1,266 square feet of space with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
It’s not located in Pasadena’s “bungalow heaven” area, but Davis says it’s nearby.
“It ended up being pretty much a turnkey place that had the charm of an older bungalow, but then also had a lot of the things that you don’t get in older homes — an updated kitchen, walk-in closet, a larger bathroom with larger tub, dual sinks.”
“Things they didn’t think about back in the early 20th century,” he says.
A VA Closing After Just 35 Days
The Davises made their offer to buy their home at the end of July 2015 and the deal closed at the end of August, after an escrow of about 35 days.
They moved in over the three-day Labor Day weekend.
“Our son is an adult now and out of the house, so we realized that we didn’t need a really large place,” Davis says. “We just liked it.”
The home cost $600,000, and Davis estimates that his came to about $10,000.
The monthly payment, approximately $3,800, includes principal and interest at 4.3%, and an impound for property tax and homeowner insurance.
The Davises have owned two prior homes. They purchased the first with a VA loan, and the second using home builder financing.
Are You VA-Eligible?
If you’re a veteran, or currently serving in the U.S. armed forces, you might be able to purchase a home using a VA loan like the Davises did.
VA home loans come with low rates, no down payment, and no mortgage insurance. So if you’re qualified, there’s a good chance this loan is your best bet.
Are you a U.S. armed services veteran? Get today’s live VA mortgage rates now.
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This interview is part of a series of stories covering veterans and homeownership. TheMortgageReports.com is honored to highlight these honest, first-hand accounts.
