In short
A VA loan is a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that lets eligible veterans, service members and some surviving spouses buy a primary residence with 0% down and no monthly mortgage insurance. Waymaker Mortgage Company funds VA loans in house and sets no minimum credit score on a standard VA loan.
Reviewed by Scottie Campbell, NMLS #1610726 · Last updated October 18, 2026
What is a VA loan and how does it work?
A VA loan is a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs for eligible veterans, active-duty service members and some surviving spouses. Because the VA backs part of the loan, you can buy a primary residence with 0% down and no monthly mortgage insurance. There's a one-time VA funding fee that can usually be financed, and it's waived for many veterans with service-connected disability compensation. The VA sets no minimum credit score, and I don't either on a standard VA loan. I look at your whole picture and find the path that fits.
Key takeaways
You earned this benefit, and I want you to use it with confidence. I'm Scottie Campbell, Mortgage Advisor and owner of Waymaker Mortgage Company. I fund VA loans in house, and I'll walk you through how the program works, what it costs over the time you own the home, and how to write an offer a seller takes seriously.
A Benefit You Earned, Explained Plainly
If you served, a VA loan is one of the strongest tools you have for buying a home. It is a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which lets qualified veterans, active-duty service members and some surviving spouses buy with 0% down and no monthly mortgage insurance.
I've been in this business since 2003, and I've watched a lot of veterans leave this benefit on the table because someone told them it was complicated, or that sellers don't like VA offers. Quite frankly, neither one has to be true. My job is to educate and empower you. Your job is to decide.
How a VA Loan Works
The VA does not lend the money. It backs a portion of the loan, which gives the lender room to offer terms most other programs can't match. Here's what that looks like in practice:
- 0% down payment for eligible borrowers buying a primary residence
- No monthly mortgage insurance, even with nothing down
- A one-time VA funding fee, which can usually be rolled into the loan, and which is waived for many veterans receiving VA disability compensation
- Limits on certain closing costs the veteran can be charged
- Reusable entitlement, so you can use the benefit more than once over your life
What that means for you is a lower barrier to getting in the door, and more of your savings left in the bank for reserves, moving costs or the projects that turn a house into your home.
No Minimum Credit Score Here
The VA does not set a minimum credit score, and neither do I on a standard VA purchase or refinance. That doesn't mean credit doesn't matter. It means I look at your whole picture: income, residual income, debts, history and what's changed since any rough patch.
If you've had a setback, you're in good company, and you won't get judged here. It's never a no. It's always a how. Sometimes the how is a clear path forward today. Sometimes it's a short Mortgage Action Plan to get you ready over the next few months. Can't do it now doesn't mean can't do it ever.
Why Where Your VA Loan Lives Matters
Here's something most people never hear: Waymaker Mortgage Company originates and funds VA loans in house, under our own name. Underwriting runs through multiple investor partners, not one desk.
At a bank, your file goes to one underwriting department with one set of rules. If your situation doesn't fit their box, the answer is usually no. With my setup, if one investor's guidelines don't fit your file, I take it to one that does. That matters for self-employed veterans, borrowers with recent job changes, and anyone whose story takes more than one sentence to explain.
And when you call, you're talking to the owner of this company. High-tech, high-touch: the tools move fast, and a real person who knows your file answers the phone.
Making a VA Offer Sellers Take Seriously
Some agents still worry a VA offer will lose to a conventional or cash buyer. The fix is preparation. With a Greenlight Approval, I pre-underwrite your file up front, before you write an offer. It's the highest assurance of approval available, and it can make your offer as strong as cash, and at times more attractive to a seller.
I kinda like that strategy for veterans in a market like Georgetown, TX, because it takes the "will the financing hold up?" question off the table before the seller even asks it.
Down Payment Assistance for Veterans
You don't need a down payment on a VA loan, but closing costs and reserves still take cash. Several assistance programs I work with can help, depending on where you're buying:
| Program | Where it applies |
|---|---|
| TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes | Texas, for veterans and service members |
| TDHCA My First Texas Home | Texas statewide |
| SETH 5 Star Texas Advantage | Texas (not available in Travis County) |
| Travis County HFC Hill Country Home DPA | Travis County, TX |
| Florida Hometown Heroes (subject to annual funding) | Florida, for veterans and active military |
| Florida Assist | Florida statewide |
| Escambia County HFA DPA | Participating Florida counties; first-time buyer rule waived for veterans |
| Ohio Heroes, OHFA Down Payment Assistance | Ohio statewide |
Availability depends on property location, income limits and loan type, and I confirm eligibility program by program for your scenario.
Looking at the Total Cost, Not One Number
A lot of folks shop a VA loan by asking about the rate and nothing else. Your rate depends on your scenario and the day's market. Reach out and I'll price it for real. But the rate is only one piece. My Total Cost Analysis looks at the funding fee, closing costs, how long you plan to own the home, and whether a buydown or a different structure saves you more over that time. You'll see the trade-offs side by side and pick the one that fits your life.
Already Have a VA Loan?
VA refinancing has options too, including the Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) and a VA cash-out refinance. Same rule applies: no minimum credit score on my end, and we'll only move forward if the numbers make sense for you.
Let's Get You Rocking and Rolling
Whether you're buying your first home in Georgetown, TX or using your benefit again, start with a conversation. Feel free to text me. I'll pull your eligibility, walk through your options and map out the next step. I'm here to serve the people who served.
Information on this page is general and educational. It is not a commitment to lend or an offer of credit. Programs, guidelines and eligibility change and depend on your full scenario. VA loans require eligibility and a Certificate of Eligibility. Waymaker Mortgage Company, NMLS 2440476. Equal Housing Lender.
Quick facts
- Loan type
- Government-backed (VA), funded in house by Waymaker
- Minimum credit score
- No minimum (whole file reviewed)
- Down payment
- 0% for eligible borrowers
- Monthly mortgage insurance
- None
- VA funding fee
- One-time; often financed; waived for many disabled veterans
- Occupancy
- Primary residence
Is this loan right for you?
Who it's for
- Veterans, active-duty service members and eligible National Guard and Reserve members
- Eligible surviving spouses of service members
- Military families who want to keep their savings instead of spending it on a down payment
- Veterans rebuilding credit who need a lender that looks at the whole file
- Veterans using their benefit again for a move-up home
Who it may not fit
- Buyers without military service eligibility or a Certificate of Eligibility
- Buyers purchasing a pure investment property or vacation home (VA requires you to live in the home)
Pros and cons
Pros
- 0% down payment for eligible borrowers
- No monthly mortgage insurance
- No minimum credit score on a standard VA loan with Waymaker Mortgage Company
- Funding fee waived for many veterans with service-connected disability compensation
- Reusable benefit you can use more than once
Trade-offs to weigh
- A one-time VA funding fee applies unless you're exempt
- The home must be your primary residence and meet VA property standards
- VA appraisals include condition requirements that can add steps on homes needing repairs
Frequently asked questions
What credit score do I need for a VA loan?
The VA doesn't set a minimum credit score, and I don't set one on a standard VA purchase or refinance either. I review your full picture, including income, residual income, debts and what's changed since any past setback. If something needs work, I'll build you a Mortgage Action Plan with clear next steps. It's never a no. It's always a how.
Do I really need nothing down?
Eligible borrowers buying a primary residence can finance with 0% down. You'll still have some closing costs, though sellers can contribute and some down payment assistance programs can help depending on where you're buying. I'll show you the full cash-to-close picture before you write an offer.
What is the VA funding fee?
It's a one-time fee paid to the VA that helps keep the program running. It can usually be rolled into the loan instead of paid in cash, and it's waived for many veterans receiving VA disability compensation and certain surviving spouses. I'll confirm whether you're exempt using your Certificate of Eligibility.
Will sellers take my VA offer seriously?
They should, especially with a Greenlight Approval. I pre-underwrite your file up front, so the financing question is answered before you make an offer. It's the highest assurance of approval available and can make your offer as strong as cash, and at times more attractive to a seller.
Does Waymaker fund VA loans itself?
Yes. Waymaker Mortgage Company originates and funds VA loans in house under our own name, with underwriting through multiple investor partners. If one investor's guidelines don't fit your file, I take it to one that does, which a single bank underwriting desk can't do.
What's my VA rate going to be?
Your rate depends on your scenario and the day's market. Reach out and I'll price it for real. I'll also run a Total Cost Analysis so you can compare structures, like paying points or a buydown, based on how long you plan to own the home.
Can I use my VA benefit more than once?
Yes. VA entitlement is reusable, and in some cases you can have more than one VA loan at a time. I'll review your Certificate of Eligibility and tell you exactly how much entitlement you have available.
Related loan programs
Low down payment options, dozens of down payment assistance programs and a Greenlight Approval that helps your offer compete. It's never a no. It's always a how.
Flexible credit, low down payment, and dozens of assistance programs. I'll show you how FHA fits your plan, then you decide.
No down payment for eligible homes and households. I'll check the address and your income up front, so you shop with confidence.
Last updated October 18, 2026 · Reviewed by Scottie Campbell, NMLS #1610726. This page is educational and not a commitment to lend; program details change — ask for current figures.