How to Apply for a VA Home Loan in California: Step by Step

This article is part of an ongoing series that explains how VA loans work in California. Located in the Bay Area, our company offers VA loans to borrowers all across the Golden State. So let us know if you have a question that’s not covered below.

Today, we’ll explain how to apply for a VA home loan in California. The application document itself is pretty straightforward. But there are some other important steps you should know about.

Related article: Top-10 VA home loan FAQs

How to Apply for a VA Loan in California

While the application process can vary slightly from one borrower to the next, it usually includes the same basic steps. Here are five of the most important ones.

1. Find out if you’re eligible for the program.

Before you can apply for a VA loan in California, you must determine if you’re eligible for the program. Most military members and veterans in California are eligible for a VA loan. If you’re on active duty now, you should be eligible after 90 days of service.

National Guard and Reserve members are typically eligible after six years of service, or after 90 days of continuous active-duty service.

In order to apply for a California VA loan, you must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. You can request this document through the VA.gov website. We can also assist you with this step, if you need help.

Once you’ve obtained your COE, you’re ready for the next step in the VA loan application process.

2. Create a basic budget that included your house payments.

This step is optional but highly recommended.

Before you start the application process for a California VA loan, you might want to get a basic home-buying budget on paper. It doesn’t have to be anything complex. Just look at your recurring monthly debts along with your income, to determine how much of a monthly mortgage payment you can afford.

As a VA-approved mortgage lender, we can pre-approve you for a certain loan amount based on your income and debt situation. But it’s always good to do some of this basic math for yourself, before you apply for a VA loan.

3. Contact us with any questions you have.

You could actually perform this step at any stage of the application process. You could even put it first, if you prefer. It’s a good way to get all of your questions answered, regarding the VA loan application process.

While we offer many different types of mortgage products, we specialize in California VA loans. We can walk you through the application process and answer any other financing-related questions you might have. Use the contact link at the top of our website to reach us.

4. Submit your VA loan application.

So, you’ve determined that you’re eligible for the program and you’ve got a home0buying budget worked out. Now you’re ready to “officially” apply for a California VA loan, by submitting a mortgage application. This is a standardized document used for both VA and conventional (or regular) mortgage loans.

You can see a sample application form online, by doing a Google search for “uniform residential loan application.” By reviewing a sample document, you can see what kind of information it asks for and start rounding it up. While not required, it’s always good to familiarize yourself with the paperwork ahead of time.

Again, we are here to help. If you have questions about completing a VA loan application form, don’t hesitate to contact our knowledgeable staff.

5. Provide additional documents as needed.

When you apply for a VA home loan in California, you’ll also have to supply some additional documents relating to your financial situation. This can include bank statements, pay stubs, and tax-related documents.

Some of these items can even be submitted electronically, which makes the application process simpler and more efficient. It’s a digital world we live in.

Like all mortgage companies, we use these kinds of documents to determine how much of a loan you can take on. It helps to ensure you are not taking on too much additional debt, in the form of a mortgage loan. After reviewing all of this information, we can pre-approve you for a specific amount.

Buying Versus Refinancing a Home

The VA loan application process is generally the same for home buyers and homeowners who want to refinance their existing mortgages. But there are some obvious differences.

For instance, a homeowner who is refinancing an existing loan does not need to get pre-approved for a certain amount. They’re not buying a new house — they’re refinancing the one they already own.

Also, if you’re applying for a VA loan in California for refinancing purposes, you’ll need to have your house appraised to determine the market value. This is a standard step in the refinancing process, regardless of the type of mortgage loan being used.

Aside from that, most of the steps in the application process are the same for both home buyers and homeowners.

This article explains how to apply for a VA loan in California and is intended for a general audience. Depending on your situation, you might encounter additional steps that are not included above. Please contact us if you have questions about this program or would like to start the application process.