- Your VA loan benefits never expire, so you may qualify even if you served years ago or didn’t retire from the military.
- VA loans remain accessible with imperfect credit or higher debt-to-income ratios because of flexible credit, income and residual-income guidelines.
- Surviving spouses and Veterans with past bankruptcies or foreclosures may still be eligible if enough time has passed.
If you’ve served in the military and want to buy a home, you might wonder if you can use your VA loan benefits. The good news is that many Veterans and service members fit the VA loan requirements, even if your service was years ago or you never retired from the military.
VA loans offer powerful benefits that make homeownership more accessible, including no down payment, no private mortgage insurance (PMI) and competitive interest rates. As one of the most valuable military home loans available, the VA loan can make a major difference in both the homebuying process and your long-term financial health.
If you’re unsure whether you qualify or haven’t explored your benefits, here are five signs you might be a strong candidate for a VA loan.
1. You Served in the Military, Even Years Ago
One of the most common misconceptions is that VA home loan benefits are only available to those currently serving or recently discharged. In reality, VA loan benefits do not expire. If you served even decades ago, you may still qualify for a VA loan.
You may be eligible for a VA loan if you:
- Served at least 90 days during wartime (without any breaks in service) or
- Served 181 days during peacetime or
- Completed 6 years in the National Guard or Reserves
On top of these requirements, an honorable discharge is typically required. If you were dishonorably discharged, you can still apply if you’d like a lender to review your service record and see if you qualify for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
VA loan eligibility isn’t always easy to determine on your own. That’s why it’s helpful to work with a lender like Veterans United, where specialists can help you request your COE and determine what VA loan benefits you may have earned.
2. You Didn’t Retire From the Military
Think you have to be retired or make a career out of military service to get a VA loan? You’re not alone, and you're also not out of luck.
The truth is, you don’t need to retire from the military to use VA loan benefits. Even a single qualifying period of service could make you eligible.
Some Veterans and separated service members mistakenly assume they missed their opportunity. But if you meet the VA’s service requirements and have an honorable discharge, you can qualify for a VA loan.
In fact, many VA borrowers qualify for a VA loan without retiring. They are younger Veterans and former service members using their VA loan to buy their first home or upgrade to a new one as their families grow.
3. Your Credit or Income Isn’t Perfect
A lot of Veterans believe they need perfect credit to qualify for a VA loan, but that’s simply not the case. The VA loan program was designed to make homeownership more accessible to those who served, and that includes being more forgiving of imperfect financial histories.
The VA doesn’t set a minimum credit score requirement, and many lenders work with borrowers who have lower scores, depending on other factors. Veterans United has a team of trusted credit consultants who educate Veterans about their credit and offer solutions to improve it.
Additionally, VA loans are more accommodating when it comes to income and debt. Lenders will review your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, which compares your monthly debt obligations to your gross monthly income. While most lenders prefer a DTI below 41%, many borrowers are approved with higher ratios if they have compensating factors like stable employment, a strong savings cushion or minimal additional debt.
The VA loan program also considers residual income, or how much money you have left each month after major expenses. This helps ensure borrowers can afford basic living costs while managing a mortgage.
If you’ve hit a few bumps on your financial journey, VA loans can be one of the most forgiving and accessible mortgage options available.
4. You Are a Surviving Spouse of a Veteran
The VA loan program isn’t just for service members and Veterans. Under certain conditions, surviving spouses may also qualify for this benefit.
You may be eligible if:
- Your spouse died in service or from a service-connected disability
- Your spouse is missing in action or a prisoner of war (POW)
- You have not remarried (or remarried after age 57 and before Dec. 16, 2003)
- You meet the standard credit and income requirements
Importantly, you can qualify even if you never served in the military yourself. This extension of benefits is one of the ways the VA continues to support families who have lost a loved one due to their service.
Surviving spouses may also be exempt from paying the VA Funding Fee, further reducing the upfront cost of buying a home. In some cases, surviving spouses may be eligible to reuse VA loan benefits if their previous loan has been paid off.
5. No Recent Bankruptcies or Foreclosures
A past financial hardship doesn’t automatically disqualify you from using your VA loan benefits. Many Veterans who have experienced bankruptcy or foreclosure go on to use their VA entitlement to buy a home again. But bankruptcy and foreclosure must be in your past to qualify for a VA loan.
In general:
- You need to wait 2 years after a bankruptcy discharge
- The same 2-year waiting period applies to foreclosures, short sales or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure
- If you filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may qualify after 12 months of on-time payments, though many lenders still prefer a full 2-year period
Even if you lost a previous VA loan to foreclosure, you may still have some remaining entitlement. This is known as second-tier entitlement, and it allows eligible Veterans to use a portion of their benefits again.
With second-tier entitlement, you’ll have a VA loan limit based on the local county loan limit. While second-tier entitlement can involve additional lender overlays or scrutiny, it does not mean your VA benefits are gone forever.
You Might Qualify for a VA Loan and Not Even Know It
VA loans are one of the most valuable benefits available to Veterans and their families. Whether you served long ago, didn’t retire or have faced financial challenges, you may still qualify.
Many Veterans are surprised to learn they’re eligible, and the first step is simply checking. There’s no obligation, and it could put you on the path to homeownership sooner than you think.
Reach out to a Veterans United VA loan expert at 855-870-8845 to discuss your situation or get started online today.
How We Maintain Content Accuracy
Our mortgage experts continuously track industry trends, regulatory changes, and market conditions to keep our information accurate and relevant. We update our articles whenever new insights or updates become available to help you make informed homebuying and selling decisions.
Current Version
Dec 3, 2025
Written ByChris Birk
Reviewed ByDon Wilson
Rewrote article for clarity and to reflect current market conditions. Content reviewed and fact checked by underwriter Don Wilson.
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