🏠 What Is a VA Loan and How Does It Work?
💎 Why VA Loans Are One of the Best Deals in Home Financing
Understanding your eligibility — and how to put your benefit to work.
If you’ve served in the military, you may be eligible for a VA loan — one of the most valuable and flexible mortgage options available.
But many veterans and active-duty members don’t realize they qualify, or they’ve heard conflicting info that keeps them from using the benefit they’ve earned.
Let’s clear that up.
Here’s exactly who qualifies for a VA loan, what you need to get started, and how PRMI can help you navigate the process with clarity and confidence.
✅ Basic VA Loan Eligibility Requirements
You may be eligible if you are:
- A veteran who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or Space Force
- An active-duty service member
- A National Guard or Reserve member
- An eligible surviving spouse of a service member
The VA uses something called a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to verify that you qualify. We can help you request it — often within minutes.
🕒 Minimum Service Requirements
Eligibility is based on when and how you served. Here’s a general breakdown:
| Status | Minimum Service |
|---|---|
| Active-duty (current) | 90 consecutive days |
| Veterans (wartime) | 90 days active duty |
| Veterans (peacetime) | 181 days active duty |
| National Guard/Reserves | 6 years or 90 days active duty (under certain conditions) |
| Surviving spouses | May qualify if not remarried and veteran died in service or from service-connected disability |
🧠 Different service eras (e.g., Vietnam, Gulf War, post-9/11) have slightly different criteria — we’ll help confirm your eligibility based on your record.
📄 What Is a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)?
The COE is a document from the VA that confirms your eligibility for a VA loan.
It shows:
- Your service history
- Your entitlement status
- Any past use of your VA loan benefit
At PRMI, we can usually retrieve your COE electronically using your basic service info — no paperwork required from you.
💬 Can You Use a VA Loan If You’ve Used One Before?
Yes! The VA loan benefit is reusable — even multiple times — as long as:
- You’ve paid off the previous VA loan
- Or you’re selling the home and restoring your entitlement
- Or you’re using any remaining entitlement (if partial was used)
We’ll walk you through how much you can still use — and how to restore full entitlement if needed.
🧠 Common VA Loan Eligibility Myths (That Aren’t True)
❌ “I didn’t serve long enough.”
✅ You may still qualify depending on the era and your duty status.
❌ “I already used my VA loan years ago.”
✅ You can reuse it if entitlement is restored — and we’ll help.
❌ “I’m in the Guard, so I don’t qualify.”
✅ You may — especially with Title 10 activation or 6+ years of service.
🏢 Why PRMI?
As a VA-approved direct lender, PRMI helps you:
- Confirm your eligibility quickly
- Explain every step clearly (no jargon, no VA red tape)
- Handle everything in-house — no middlemen, no confusion
We believe if you served this country, you deserve service without obstacles when buying or refinancing a home.
👇 Not Sure If You Qualify?
Let’s check your eligibility, request your COE, and help you unlock one of the best benefits of military service — your VA home loan.