Texas VA Home Loan Experts — Zero Down, No Fees

The VA doesn’t set a minimum credit score requirement, but most lenders look for at least a 620 FICO® score. At LendFriend, we evaluate your entire financial picture — not just your credit score — which means we may be able to help veterans qualify even if they’ve been turned down elsewhere. Stronger credit can help you secure a lower interest rate, but VA loans are more flexible than most conventional options.

The VA funding fee is a one-time charge that helps keep the VA loan program running for future veterans and service members. The amount depends on your loan type, whether it’s your first or subsequent use, and your down payment amount. For most purchase loans, it’s 2.15% for first-time use and 3.30% for subsequent use with less than 5% down, and lower if you put 5% or more down. For VA Streamline Refinances (IRRRLs), it’s just 0.5%.

Veterans with a VA disability rating, Purple Heart recipients, and certain surviving spouses are exempt from paying the funding fee. If your disability claim is approved after closing but effective before your closing date, you may be eligible for a refund.

VA loan rates are often lower than conventional rates because they’re backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which reduces the lender’s risk. Lower rates can mean significant savings over the life of your loan. In addition, VA loans have no PMI, which further reduces your monthly payment compared to a conventional loan with a small down payment.

No. With full VA entitlement, you can buy a home with zero down payment — even in higher-priced Texas markets or with a Jumbo VA loan. A down payment is only required if you’re using partial entitlement or the home price exceeds your entitlement limit. Even in those cases, the required down payment is usually much smaller than with other loan types.

Yes. You can reuse your VA entitlement as many times as you want, as long as you’ve paid off the previous VA loan or sold the property tied to it. In some cases, you can even have more than one VA loan at the same time if you meet the occupancy and entitlement requirements. Many Texas veterans use their benefits multiple times throughout their careers and retirement.

Yes. In most cases, your spouse can be a co-borrower on your VA loan, which may help you qualify for a larger purchase price. Non-veteran co-borrowers generally must be your legal spouse, though in certain cases another VA-eligible borrower can be on the loan. If your spouse is also eligible for a VA loan, you may be able to combine benefits for even greater buying power.

VA loans are designed for primary residences, but you may be able to buy another home with a VA loan if you have remaining entitlement and meet the occupancy rules. For example, this can happen when you receive PCS orders or move to a new duty station but keep your current VA-financed home as a rental.