California VA Loan Requirements & VA Eligibility

There is no minimum VA Credit score required for California VA Loan Eligibility, but the individual lender who provides the money is allowed to set their own minimum VA Credit standards. (The VA doesn’t lend money.  The VA provides an insurance policy that insures the institution lending money.  If a VA Loan borrower should default on or stop making payments on the California VA Loan, the VA will reimburse the lender for a portion of their loss—usually 25%).

In terms of credit scores and FICO requirements (FICO is a branded credit score issued by Fair Isaac Corporation), it is important to know that VA has no minimum.  Each lender, however, can set their own minimum.  As of 3/4/21, our minimum score (the lower of the middle score of all borrowers on the loan) is 600 (this score can change periodically, so please contact us for the most current score requirement).

Don’t think you have the minimum score required to get a VA loan?  DO NOT LET THIS DISCOURAGE YOU.  Ask a qualified California VA Lender their requirements.  If you don’t have the needed FICO score, many times they can advise you of steps to take to raise your score and get yourself qualified to buy.

Determining California VA Loan Eligibility can be accomplished through WealthWise Mortgage Planning or another experienced VA lender (To make your VA Loan process as easy and painless as possible, experience is key when getting a California VA Loan.  Find a loan professional, like me, who is licensed by the California Department of Real Estate and by the National Mortgage Licensing System). 

Determining your VA Loan Eligibility requires the following paperwork: 

• Discharged Veterans:  Form DD214
• Active-Duty:  Statement-of-Service
• National Guard/Reserve, never activated:  NGB Form 22 or 23
• Any of the above:  Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to determine you have VA entitlement.

WealthWise Mortgage Planning, as an experienced California VA Lender, has direct access to the Veteran’s Administration and can help you get your Certificate of Eligibility much quicker than if you did it on your own.

Lastly, if you have either had a divorce, filed bankruptcy, or had a previous home go into foreclosure, you are not immediately disqualified from a California VA Loan, although there are some additional restrictions.