Yes, you can become a homeowner even while on active duty. This has been a common question for service members with families as they want to secure their homes as early as possible. You can apply for a VA home loan if you are newly enlisted or have years of service under your belt. This will make buying a home while on active duty more manageable.
For those newly enlisted, you should have at least served 90 consecutive days during wartime or 181 days during peacetime. This is important to remember if you plan to buy a home. The VA home loan is one of the only mortgage types that do not require you to provide a down payment. Credit requirements are also easier than conventional loans because you do not need perfect credit. Furthermore, the VA home loan rates offer some of the lowest available.
Before applying for the loan, you must obtain your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Fortunately, we can assist you with this to make the process as seamless as possible.
The Benefits of Buying a Home While on Active Duty
Buying a home while on active duty is a great investment, but this does not mean that there are no disadvantages. Let’s explore the benefits:
- Lower Costs in the Long Run – Mortgages are cheaper than renting. This may sound farfetched, but when you consider how much you pay monthly for something you don’t even own, you begin to realize how costly this is for you. Furthermore, homeowners receive tax benefits that help mitigate their costs.
- Build Home Equity – Instead of paying your monthly rent to the landlord, you will instead buy into your own home equity. This refers to the portion of your home that you own. Basically, it is the difference between what your home is worth and what you owe the lender. The more payments to your mortgage, the more you reduce your loan balance, thereby building equity. In other words, your house becomes a long-term piggy bank. The advantage of this is that you can cash out a portion of your home equity if you suddenly need a large amount of cash.
- No Down Payment – Since VA loans are guaranteed by the Department of Veteran Affairs, down payments aren’t generally required.
- Appreciating Investment – Since housing prices increase yearly, most houses appreciate value. Notwithstanding special circumstances, the tendency is that buying a home is a valuable investment. It is worth noting that you do your own research to ensure that the market prices and trends are favorable for you. As experts in this field, we will also guide and provide you with market information to ensure that you make a sound investment in the long run.
After seeing all these benefits, you may want to buy a home while on active duty. However, it will be remiss of us if we do not caution you to assess your priorities first. With active servicemembers, PCS is always a consideration. When you are a homeowner, it will not be as easy to have your family move out each time, thus, it is imperative to think about your own personal situation before committing to a home purchase.
