The unbeatable benefits of the VA loan program aren’t bestowed on every property that catches a military buyer’s eye. In order to garner VA approval, every home must undergo a VA appraisal. And although the VA appraisal has a reputation for being rigorous, its intentions are honorable: ensuring that homes purchased by veterans are fiscally and structurally sound. So how tough is the VA appraisal? In thi… Full Article
Any good agent knows that an appraisal can make or break a real estate transaction. As a military-friendly real estate agent, it’s certainly in your best interest to be familiar with VA appraisal guidelines. All properties financed through a VA loan must undergo a VA appraisal and meet VA Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs). Some MPRs are very precise, while others give appraisers room for interpretation. 14 major MPRs for any real estate agent to consider: 1. Purchased property must… Full Article
Providing top-notch service to military house hunters doesn’t stop with neighborhood recommendations and home tours. Financing is often the most complex part of buying a home for new buyers. Frustrated by information overload and a lack of clear answers, confused buyers often turn to their trusted agents for mortgage advice. Make sure that you can offer sound guidance to your military clients with a basic und… Full Article
What does the Department of Veterans Affairs say about homes with pools? For veteran homebuyers and their agents, having a pool is an additional consideration when purchasing a home with a VA loan. There are a few different options for backyard pools. For VA loans, the type of pool can make a difference in how you proceed with searching for and structuring a contract on a property. Here are a few tips to ke… Full Article
How can agents and buyers ensure VA appraisal success? It starts with a simple walk around the home's exterior. VA appraisers use “the three S’s” to ensure homes purchased by veterans are move-in ready and in good repair: safe, structurally sound, and sanitary. Homes that don’t live up to “the three S’s” or the VA’s additional list of Minimum Property Requirements must be repaired before a VA lo… Full Article
REALTOR® income is up for the second year in a row, according to the 2017 National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Member Profile. The median gross income of a REALTOR® jumped from $39,200 in 2015 to $42,500 in 2016. You know what that means: A new crop of real estate agents is trickling onto the scene. Real estate agents are in one of the nation's happiest industries and cite many reasons to love their jobs. C… Full Article
The incredible benefits offered by VA loans come with a few unique guidelines. Guidelines that can, logically or not, make sellers hesitant to accept VA offers. But experienced military-friendly agents have learned a thing or two about working with VA buyers — and the crucial VA loan advantage. From their knowledge, we’ve culled five dos and don'ts to get your next VA purchase offer accepted. 1. Don't pi… Full Article
Ever notice that some folks have a skewed view of life as a real estate agent? Considering how agents are depicted on some reality TV shows, that’s understandable. Agents with big incomes and lavish lifestyles undoubtedly bring in higher television ratings than your run-of-the-mill agents. And while those shows are entertaining and real estate agent tends to be one of the happiest industries to work in, they can… Full Article
What military buyer wouldn’t want to shave more than a third off the price of a home? Distressed properties sold at an almost 37 percent discount in March 2017, according to RealtyTrac. Fortunately for cash-conscious military buyers, VA loans can be used to purchase foreclosure or short sale properties if the property meets the VA home loan guidelines set by the Department of Veterans Affairs. But as expe… Full Article
Apartments, condos, manufactured homes, co-ops, single-family homes — modern real estate has come a long way since the days of the one-room shack. The current market offers a wide variety of homes to satisfy any buyer’s desires. But VA loan buyers will need to focus on certain types of properties to win final loan approval. Knowing how VA loans work is the first step toward getting the home of your drea… Full Article