Primer on Certificates of Eligibility for VA Loans

At Primary Residential Mortgage, we’re proud to offer VA loans among our wide variety of mortgage loan programs. VA loans, backed by the US Department of Veteran Affairs and designed to give guaranteed loan programs to veterans and their families, help settle those who have given service to our country.

There are a few important documents and steps to the process of obtaining a VA loan, and one such document is known as a Certificate of Eligibility, or COE. What is a COE, what’s the process involved in obtaining one, and who needs one? Here is all the information you might need to know about a COE for a VA loan.

Defining COE

A Certificate of Eligibility is documentation from the Department of Veteran Affairs designed to confirm the applicant’s eligibility for a VA loan. Because these loans are extremely high-quality – they tend to come with no down payment, no mortgage insurance and very low credit score requirements – the VA naturally wants to confirm that only truly qualified applicants receive these benefits.

Luckily, applying for a COE is very simple and can be done online. Veterans themselves will use form 26-1817, while spouses will use form 26-1880. If you choose, you can download these forms, print them out and send them back in via direct mail.

Information Required

The following information will generally be required to obtain a COE – it’s essentially a “statement of service,” one that needs to be signed by the commander of the unit or another authorized agent:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Entry date on active duty
• Social Security number
• Duration of any lost time
• Name of the command providing the information

Who Needs One?

So who are the kinds of people who need a COE or might be able to qualify for one? Essentially, the answer is anyone who themselves holds a military record, or has a spouse who holds one. This record can either be currently active or retired. Anyone under these qualifications looking for a home loan must apply for a COE and be able to meet one of the following categories:

• Member of the military with at least six months of active duty served
• Reservist or member of the National Guard
• Veteran of the military
• Surviving spouses of former military members, who must also provide a COE from the VA – we can assist you with any questions about filling this out if you lack certain areas of information

Once a COE is obtained, it can be taken to any qualifying lender, who will then help you lay out your rates and move forward from there.

For more on Certificates of Eligibility for military veterans looking for VA mortgage loans, or to learn about any of our mortgage programs, speak to the staff at Primary Residential Mortgage today.

*PRMI NMLS 3094. PRMI is an Equal Housing Lender. Some products and services may not be available in all states. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. Programs, rates, terms, and conditions are subject to change and are subject to borrower(s) qualification. This is not a commitment to lend. Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views of my employer.