Veterans United Mortgage Review for 2022

Veterans United mortgage rates

Veterans United specializes in VA mortgage loans, which are almost exclusively available to current and former military members. But they’re a valuable loan option for those with a military service background.

VA mortgages typically have lower interest rates than the rest of the market. They also let active-duty service members and veterans buy a new home with zero down and no mortgage insurance.

Veterans United mortgage interest rates and underwriting fees are lower on average than some other loan lenders, but its closing costs are slightly higher.

Average mortgage rates at major lenders

	Veterans United	Rocket Mortgage	Wells Fargo	Freedom Mortgage
Avg 30-Yr Interest Rate, 2021¹	2.86%	3.00%	3.14%	2.66%
Median Total Loan Costs, 2021	$4,830	$4,670	$3,600	$3,880
Median Origination Fee, 2021	$925	$2,430	$1,330	$0

Average rate and fee data sourced from public rate and fee records required by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Of course, the rates and fees that you’ll get will depend on your personal finances. So be sure to get rate quotes from 3-5 lenders before committing.

Also, check your quotes for discount points. Discount points are essentially paying interest upfront to receive a lower rate over the life of the loan. And they can make your rates seem lower than they really are.

Veterans United mortgage review for 2022

When asked to add their two cents to this Veterans United lender review, a VU loan officer had this to say:

“Veterans United Home Loans is the nation’s largest VA lender. We’re a full-service lender, but we specialize in VA lending and providing an exceptional customer experience for those who serve our country. Our staff is specially trained to work with Veterans and service members to help overcome the unique circumstances and challenges they may face to make their homebuying journey as seamless as possible.”

And it’s true that it’s hard to find anyone with a bad word to say about Veterans United.

For example, its Trustpilot page had, at the time of writing, nearly 9,000 reviews. Of those, 96% ranked its service “excellent” (the highest) and another 3% called it “great” (the next highest). Less than 1% labeled it “bad.”

Veterans United does offer other types of government-backed home loans. But its focus is clearly on VA loan benefits and providing the best service possible to U.S. military personnel.

Veterans United mortgage eligibility

If you want to get a mortgage from Veterans United, you’ll need to be a current or former member of the U.S. Armed Forces, or an eligible family member.

Those eligible for VA loans from Veterans United include:

Army
Navy
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
Air Force
National Guard (with six years of service)
Military spouse
Surviving spouse

If none of these apply to you, Veterans United is likely not the right company for your home purchase or refinance. You can explore reviews of other top lenders here.

Working with Veterans United

Based in Columbus, Missouri, Veterans United has a limited branch network, which may be an issue if you prefer an in-person home buying process. However, its online services are slick and backed up by 24/7 telephone support.

If you wish, you can upload your documents securely and complete your VA mortgage application online. You can also:

Get VA home loan preapproval online
Complete a partial loan application, save it, and return later to finish it off
Use mobile devices as well as home and office computers
Securely upload your documents
Monitor your mortgage application’s progress through to closing

Meanwhile, Veterans United’s call centers are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So there’s always an expert available to help you through a mortgage or technical issue.

Things may be less straightforward if you dislike online technology. With only 26 branches nationwide, many people won’t live close to a Veterans United location.

Veterans United Lighthouse program for poor credit

It’s worth expanding on Veterans United’s Lighthouse Program. This unique credit counseling service helps veterans with subpar credit build up their scores and become homeowners.

If your credit score is too low to qualify for a mortgage (think, below 620), you can work one-on-one with a credit consultant from Veterans United. They will suggest strategies — such as how to prioritize debt repayment from installment loans and credit cards — to get your finances back on track and rebuild your score quickly.

According to the lender’s website, one family with a credit score in the 400s was approved for a mortgage only 10 months after first getting in touch with the Veterans United loan team.

Veterans United customer service reviews

When it comes to customer service, it’s hard to write a Veterans United review that doesn’t read like an ad. Of course, many lenders strive to deliver an excellent home buying experience. But it’s hard to think of one who achieves that status so well.

	CFPB Complaints, 2021⁴	Complaints Per 1,000 Mortgages, 2021⁵	J.D. Power Satisfaction Score, 2021⁶
Veterans United	33	0.15	905/1,000
Rocket Mortgage	376	0.24	876/1,000
Wells Fargo	488	0.58	832/1,000
Freedom Mortgage	262	0.35	829/1,000

We already mentioned this lender’s excellent ratings on Trustpilot. And those results are matched on Better Business Bureau: More than 2,000 reviews at the time of writing, many of which feature an average 5-star rating.

Veterans United also gets the second-highest rating in J.D. Power’s mortgage customer survey (after USAA) and has fewer than one complaint per thousand mortgage customers.

Veterans United mortgage loan products

Clearly, Veterans United focuses on home loans backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. And if you’re eligible for one of those, it may be the best way into a new home. Especially if you’re a first-time home buyer with fairly straightforward needs.

After all, VA loans often come with zero down payment, fairly easy credit thresholds (minimum score 620 at VU), lower mortgage rates than many other types of mortgages, and no continuing mortgage insurance payments after an initial upfront premium. What’s not to like?

Keep in mind that you’ll need to pay a one-time VA funding fee based on the total loan amount, which can be rolled into your loan amount to avoid paying out of pocket at closing.

Other mortgage loans at Veterans United

If you’re not eligible for a VA purchase loan or have needs they can’t satisfy, Veterans United offers other products:

USDA loans: The only other mortgage that requires no down payment, but you’ll have to pay mortgage insurance throughout the time you have the loan. There are also income caps on who can qualify, and you’ll need to buy a home located in an eligible rural area
FHA loans: Veterans United FHA loans allow a down payment as low as 3.5%, and require a credit score of 580 or above. They also come with a monthly mortgage insurance premium (MIP)
Conventional loans: Down payments start at 3%, but you have to put at least 20% down to avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI). Conventional loans from Veterans United have a credit threshold of 620
VA Jumbo loans: If you don’t have full entitlement on your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), you may need a VA jumbo loan to borrow above local loan limits
Fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs): Most borrowers opt for a 30-year mortgage with a fixed rate, though fixed-rate loan terms are available. These types of loans offer predictable monthly payments
Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs): Offers a lower rate, which is fixed for an initial period and a floating rate for the rest of the loan term. Borrowers have choose between a hybrid 5/1 and VA adjustable-rate loan

Because it originates so few non-VA loans, it’s difficult to say how competitive Veterans United is for these loan types. You’ll want to get a custom rate quote to find out for yourself.

Additionally, if you’re uncertain about which loan option is best for you, you can speak with one of the lender’s many loan specialists.

Refinancing with Veterans United

Refinancing is a popular way to lower your monthly mortgage payments, own your home sooner, leverage your home value, or take advantage of a new low rate.

Homeowners who are looking for mortgage refinance options can choose between a VA Streamline Refinance or cash-out refinancing.

VA Streamline Refinance: Also known by its formal title, Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), this refi loan allows borrowers to exchange their existing mortgage with a new one that offers loan terms that are more favorable. Unlike a traditional rate-and-term refinance, an IRRRL requires less paperwork and often closes sooner
VA cash-out refinance: A VA cash-out refi allows homeowners with a VA loan or conventional loan to access their equity by replacing a current mortgage with a new, larger loan amount, and then receiving the difference as a lump sum of cash

The lender’s refinance rates are generally similar to its purchase loan rates. But you’ll need to request a quote to find out your specific refi rate.

Lastly, borrowers who want to tap their equity without refinancing will have to go elsewhere. Veterans United does not offer a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC).

Where can you get a mortgage with Veterans United?

NMLS ID: 1907

If you prefer to arrange your mortgage face to face, Veterans United currently has at least one branch in the following states, according to the lender’s branch locator:

AL, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, KY, NC, NE, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WA

Most of its other branches are located near military bases in the states where they’re available.

Those who don’t live close to a branch can apply online from any U.S. state. And the website provides a more functional online loan process than most competitors do.

Indeed, you might be able to carry out almost the entire transaction digitally. And if you need help with a technology issue or a mortgage query, there’s 24/7 telephone support.

Is Veterans United the best mortgage lender for you?

So what should you take away from this Veterans United mortgage lender review? Well, if you want to take full advantage of your VA loan benefit, then you should definitely explore your options with this company.

If you want another type of loan, it may still be able to help. But its talents are less obvious and less proven.

Either way, homeownership is a big decision and the loan program that you choose will have a significant impact on your finances for years to come. So make sure you compare personalized mortgage rate quotes from several loan lenders before committing. You can get started using the link below.