Can a Veteran and Fiancé Get a VA Loan Together?
There are many different circumstances under which you can get a VA loan. Some veterans apply for the loan by themselves without a co-borrower or co-applicant. Others want to apply for a VA loan with one or more fellow veterans, and others still want to get a home with a non-veteran.
Spouses often apply for a VA mortgage loan together, and some wonder if VA loans are available to a veteran and a spouse who is not a fellow vet. The answer to this question is yes–spouses are treated equally on the VA loan application, unlike other VA loan scenarios between veteran applicants and non-veterans.
But what if the veteran and soon-to-be-spouse aren’t legally married at the time of VA loan application? Do VA loan rules permit them to be treated the same as a married couple, or do the unmarried (but engaged to be married) vet and fiancé have to apply for a VA joint loan where the non-veteran’s portion of the mortgage isn’t guaranteed by the VA loan?
VA loan rules in the VA Lender’s Handbook address this situation in Chapter Seven under the heading, “Joint Loans.” Chapter Seven says that a veteran and fiancé can apply for the VA loan together and be treated the same as a married couple–but the loan’s approval depends on the couple becoming legally married.
“A loan to a veteran and fiancé who intend to marry prior to loan closing and take title as veteran and spouse will be treated as a loan to a veteran and spouse (conditioned upon their marriage), and not a joint loan.”
Since joint loans only insure the veteran’s portion of the loan, they are reserved for situations where the veteran is applying with one or more non-vets. In the case of an engaged couple or one that is already married, VA loan rules state that the two applicants are to be recognized equally based on the couple’s legally married status. The procedures for handling joint loans differs from those for married couples, so this rule is an important one:
“Any joint loan for which the veteran will hold title to the property and any person other than the veteran’s spouse must be submitted [to the VA] for prior approval. Any loan for which the veteran and the veteran’s spouse will hold title to the property, whether or not the spouse also uses entitlement, may be closed automatically by a lender with automatic authority.”
Do you have questions about VA home loans? Ask us in the comments section.
thomas
can you help me with a combined score for loan
Joe Wallace
You can apply or get pre-approved for a VA home loan at http://www.VALoans.com which is a private company and not a government lender.
Jacob
Me and my fiancee have been together for 6 years, and engaged for less then a year. I am the vet who will be initially applying for the VA loan in California. Will the VA recognize my fiancee and I on a single loan?
Joe Wallace
It's possible depending on circumstances, but the VA loan would be contingent on the legal marriage happening--your lender may have a specific time frame this needs to happen by in order to approve the loan.
Jeannie
My parents currently purchased a home in California using their VA loan. Is it possible for their non-VA daughter to be placed on title to that property in hopes of purchasing it from them next year?
Joe Wallace
VA loan rules do not prevent the borrower from freely selling the property at any time--there would be no need, under VA home loan rules, to have a title alteration if the goal is for you to purchase the home
Scott Johnson
When applying for a VA loan as a married couple are the credit scores of each person ? I went through a divorce a few years ago and my credit is still in the process of recovering. Thanks Scott
Joe Wallace
It can depend on the laws of your state, but in general all parties to be obligated on the loan will be required to have a credit check done. A new VA loan would be available to the eligible veteran but not a divorced, non-veteran ex-spouse.
Natalie
Hello, my fiancé and I have a contract on a house now, and were told we did not have to be married to get the VA loan, however, now we are being told my the lender that we do have to be married. We will be married two months after the closing date in our contract. Any help would be appreciated!