Buying a home with a VA-backed loan Get step-by-step instructions for buying a home through the VA home loan program. What kind of VA-backed loan will I need to buy a home? You’ll need a VA-backed purchase loan You’ll go through a private lender, like a bank or mortgage company, to get this loan. We’ll guarantee part of the loan against loss, which will allow your lender to give you better loan terms, like the option to pay no down payment. How can I buy a home with a VA-backed loan? Buying a home is a complex process, and getting a VA-backed loan is only one piece of the puzzle. Stay on track by following the steps below. Steps to starting the process and finding a home Apply for your VA-backed home loan Certificate of Eligibility (COE) You’ll need to show your COE to your lender as proof that you qualify for the home loan benefit. Find out if you qualify for a COE Apply for your COE now Look at your current finances Go over your credit profile, income, expenses, and monthly budget to make sure you’re ready to buy a home. Decide how much you want to spend on a mortgage—and be sure to include closing costs in the overall price. To learn more: Find out current VA home loan limits Read about the VA funding fee and other loan closing costs Get more advice from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Use CFPB’s mortgage calculator Choose a lender Remember, you’ll go through a private bank, mortgage company, or credit union—not through us—to get your loan. Lenders offer different loan interest rates and fees, so shop around for the loan that best meets your needs. Be prepared to pay lender fees. Many lenders charge Veterans using VA-backed home loans a 1% flat fee (sometimes called a “loan origination fee”). Lenders may also charge you additional fees. If you don’t know what a fee is for, ask the lender. In some cases, lender fees are negotiable. To learn more: Read about the VA funding fee and other closing costs Choose a real estate agent Get recommendations for potential real estate agents online or from relatives, friends, and neighbors. Then meet with several agents to find one you like. Read all agreements before signing with an agent. Make sure you understand any charges, fees, and commissions as well as your rights and obligations in the buyer-agent relationship. Shop for a home Look at houses in your price range until you find one that works for you. When comparing homes, be sure to consider what factors are most important to you and your family. These may include factors like how far you’ll need to commute to work and the quality of local schools. Steps to buying your home Once you’ve found the house you want to buy: Work with your agent to put together and sign a purchase agreement Be sure the sales contract includes the “VA escape clause” or “VA option clause.” This provides an option to void the contract if the property doesn’t appraise for the contract price. Ask your real estate agent for advice on other options for voiding the contract you may want to include, such as if the property fails a home inspection. These options are called contingencies. To learn more, watch this helpful video: Using your VA home loan benefit: working with a Realtor and lender Have the house inspected and appraised We strongly recommend that you get an inspection to check for any major defects before you purchase your home. A VA-approved appraiser will also appraise the house to make sure it meets basic property condition requirements (called minimum property requirements, or MPRs), and will provide an opinion of value on the house. Please note that an appraisal isn’t the same as an inspection. If the property doesn’t appraise at a value that’s high enough to get the loan, you have a few options: Request a Reconsideration of Value (ROV). You can ask your real estate agent to provide the lender with valid sales data showing the property is worth more than its appraised price. The lender will ask the appraiser to reconsider based on this information. Renegotiate the sales price. Ask the seller to lower the price to match the appraised value. Pay the difference between the appraised price and the sales price. To do this, you’ll need to pay this cost at closing. To learn more, watch these helpful videos: VA home loans: What are MPRs? What’s the difference between VA’s appraisal process and a home inspection? Review pre-closing paperwork and give your lender any other needed information Your lender must give you a Closing Disclosure at least 3 business days before closing. Be sure to read it carefully. It includes loan terms, fees, closing costs, and your estimated monthly mortgage payments. Your lender may also ask you to provide more information or documents at this time. Close on your new home Your closing may be held at a title company, escrow office, or attorney’s office. Be prepared to sign a lot of documents—and be sure to take the time to read everything before you sign. To learn more: Go to Fannie Mae’s website Move in After closing, you’re ready to move into your new home. Congratulations! What if I need help or more information? Call us at 877-827-3702 to find the nearest VA regional loan center. We’re here Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. You can also use the resources below to learn more about the VA home loan program and the home-buying process. Online resources Download a home loan toolkit (PDF) from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Get tools and resources for homebuyers from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Helpful videos Overview of home loans and how to apply Top 5 benefits of the VA home loan program True costs of home ownership Using your VA home loan benefit: where to start Veteran stories about using a VA home loan Eeland was able to buy a home before age 30 Play this video about Eeland (YouTube) Gibb and Monelle bought a home for their children to grow up in Play this video about Gibb and Monelle (YouTube) Brian and Amy bought a home and had enough money left to fix it up

Local Market Trends For North Port, Florida What Buyers and Sellers Should Know About Today’s Market in North Port, Florida Understanding the current housing market trends can greatly aid both buyers and sellers in making informed decisions. In North Port, Florida, the real estate landscape is evolving, and knowing how to navigate it is crucial for anyone considering entering or exiting the market. Here’s a breakdown of the latest data to guide your next steps. The current months of inventory in North Port stand at 6.17, indicating a balanced market . This balance means that neither buyers nor sellers have a distinct advantage, which can provide a more stable environment for negotiations. For sellers, pricing your home competitively is essential, as buyers have options. For buyers, this balance offers the chance to find a home that fits your needs without the intense competition seen in seller's markets. The inventory trend shows a modest increase of 1% over the past month and 54% over the past year. This gradual increase in inventory suggests that more homes are becoming available over time, potentially easing the pressure on buyers and offering them more choices. Sellers might want to be mindful of this trend and consider the timing of their listings to avoid increased competition . In terms of pricing, homes in North Port are selling for about 96% of their asking price. This ratio suggests that while homes are generally selling close to their list prices, there is still some room for negotiation. Buyers might find opportunities to negotiate a better price, while sellers should remain realistic about their pricing strategies to attract serious offers. Homes are spending a median of 60 days on the market, which points to a steady pace. This timeframe gives buyers ample opportunity to consider their options without rushing into a decision. For sellers, patience becomes key, as it may take a couple of months to secure a suitable buyer. Proper staging and marketing can help make your property more appealing and expedite the selling process. The median sold price in North Port is currently $315,700. This figure provides a benchmark for both buyers and sellers. Buyers can use this median price to gauge affordability and budget accordingly, while sellers can evaluate how their property compares to the typical home in the area, assisting in setting a competitive price. For personalized guidance tailored to your specific situation, contact Salvatore Lissandrello at WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Agency ONE. Salvatore can provide expert advice whether you're buying or selling, helping you make decisions with confidence in North Port’s housing market. Let's chat! Email me.

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17 Florida cities make U.S. News’ top 250 places to live — None of them are Orlando, Miami or Tampa Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida Fri, May 30, 2025 at 3:37 PM EDT2 min read 60 Seventeen Florida cities placed among the best places to live in the U.S., according to the U.S. News & World Report's "2025-2026 Best Places to Live" ranking. The publication analyzed 859 cities in the U.S. based on five categories: quality of life, job market, value of living, net migration and desire to live in the area. They said they evaluated each category by using a methodology determined by Americans' preferences. "While quality of life remains the top priority for many Americans – and has the heaviest weight in determining the Best Places to Live rankings – U.S. News slightly adjusted its weights to increase priority for a location's job market amid heightened economic uncertainty," Erika Giovanetti, consumer lending analyst at U.S. News & World Report, said in a May 20 statement. You can read more about the

Fix It or Not? What to Know When Prepping Your Home for Sale Find out whether a repair is worth making before you put your house on the market Laura Gaskill May 19, 2021, Houzz Contributor.