As we celebrate Veterans Day in November, I would be remiss to not mention one of the most misunderstood and overlooked veteran’s benefit, the VA home loan.

• Of the more than 20 million U.S. military veterans, only 10.5 percent utilize their home loan benefits.
• When those who aren’t using this benefit were asked why, more than 33 percent responded that they didn’t know about the VA loan guarantee (2010 National Survey of Veterans). Another large group claims that FHA loans are easier to obtain.
• The largest groups of respondents to the National Survey of Veterans who were unaware of the program’s existence were older veterans and unmarried surviving spouses.

While not at all flag-waving worthy, these statistics can, and should change. It starts with the real estate/mortgage industry taking responsibility for educating veterans and their spouses about the VA home loan program and its benefits.

The loan, in a nutshell

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a home loan guaranty, promising the veteran’s lender that the veteran will repay the loan.

Now this guaranty doesn’t cover the entire loan amount. Should the veteran default on the loan, the VA guaranty covers from 40 to 50 percent, depending on the size of the loan.

VA home loans can be used to:

• Buy a single-family home or a condominium unit in a VA-approved project.
• Build a home.
• Simultaneously purchase and improve a home.
• Improve a home’s energy efficiency.
• Buy a manufactured home and/or lot.

VA loan advantages

Today there are only two easy ways to finance a home with no down payment: through the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program and through the Veterans Administration.

Thinking of a FHA-backed or conventional loan? If you put down less than 20 percent, you’ll be subjected to the required monthly payment for MIP (mortgage insurance premium) for the former and PMI (private mortgage insurance) for the latter.

This insurance, which benefits the lender should the borrower default on the loan, can add quite a chunk to your monthly mortgage payment.

The amount you’ll be required to pay depends on how much you borrow and the loan-to-value ratio. You’ll find an FHA MIP rate chart at LendingTree.com.

The VA loan, on the other hand, has no monthly mortgage insurance premiums, there are limitations on how much you’ll spend on closing costs, and the loan has no prepayment penalty.

If you choose a newly constructed home, the builder is required to purchase a 1-year home warranty for you.

How to get one of these bad boys

As with anything that comes from the government, eligibility can become complicated (wait until you see the appraisal requirements!).  You are eligible for a VA-backed loan if:

• You have what the VA considers “suitable credit.”
• You have sufficient income to pay your bills and your mortgage payment.
• You plan on occupying the home.
• You have a valid Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

The latter is easy to obtain. In fact, a VA-savvy lender should be able to get your COE through the online ACE system. Learn how to choose the right lender for your VA loan at Military.com.

If for some reason your records can’t be accessed, you’ll need to apply to the VA for your certificate. We can help you with that.

Remember, you’ll be applying for this mortgage through traditional lender and each has its own guidelines so you’ll need to meet the lender’s requirements as well.

Yes, your credit score and overall financial picture will be examined, but the lending process for veterans isn’t quite as stringent as it is for civilians.

Houses a bit like your kids’ shoes – before you know it, they don’t fit anymore.

And, while we never hear folks say they regret having children, we often hear that they wish they’d bought a larger home.

While a growing family is one good reason to think about moving up, there are other aspects to upsizing that offer bonuses you may not have considered.

Larger Homes Offer More

That sounds a bit like a “well, duh” comment, but bear with us.

We aren’t just referring to the extra square footage here. Think about roomier closets, glorious amounts of storage space, the ability to comfortably house out-of-town guests and more elbow room in which to find a bit of privacy when you need it.

If you made a priority list to refer to when you shopped for your current home, you no doubt ended up making compromises. When you upsize, however, you’ll find that both of you (and maybe even the kids) will finally get some of the options you dreamed about but had to give up.

Finally, a larger home offers the option of growing into it. You may not be currently thinking of having another child or offering a room to an aging parent, but isn’t it nice to not have to consider moving again should either of these come to pass?

The financial benefits of a larger home

Depending on the equity you have in your current home, you may be able to keep your house payment quite close to what you’re paying now. After all, that equity will go a long way to cutting down on the initial cost of the new home.

Then, consider this: money has rarely been cheaper to borrow than it is right now. If you make the move now, before interest rates increase, you’ll save significantly when it comes to your monthly mortgage payment.

Then, consider the resale value of the new home. In 2016, for instance, the average American home included 2,400 square feet of living space, according to the Census Bureau.

And a National Association of Homebuilders survey finds that most older members of our largest generation, the Millennials, prefer living in a home with at least 2,475 square feet of living space with either three or four bedrooms and a minimum of two bathrooms.

So, look to the future, because it looks quite rosy for owners of larger homes. Demand should be high enough to mean more money in your pocket when you decide to sell.

Upsizing: Get clear on your goals

You already know you want a larger home, but it’s important to understand your other goals. As discussed earlier, the amount of room you need right now will change if you plan on growing your family or take in an older family member.

And, if you have children, consider how close you’ll need to live to schools.

Other goals to consider include:

• Your commute time to work
• Desired nearby amenities
• The type of floor plan you’ll need to accommodate your family’s lifestyle

Need to save money? Shop strategically

The more move-in ready a home is, the more competition you’ll encounter when shopping for homes, and competition drives up home prices. If you’re on a tight budget, overlook those turnkey properties and search for a home that many need some simple upgrades.

Once you’ve settled on a neighborhood or two, buying one of the worst homes on the block can be a good financial strategy. It’s the old “rising tide” adage – the surrounding homes will lift the prices of all the homes in the neighborhood.

If a home is sitting on the market because of cosmetic issues, and priced accordingly, consider looking at it to see if it meets your needs.

Sure, there’s a lot to consider about upsizing. But, take the process one step at a time and you’ll not only get rid of some of the stress, but find that moving up is one of the best decisions you’ve ever made.

Whether you’re a crazy cat lady with a house full of felines or you prefer the company of just one kitty, if you watch closely you can learn a lot about successful house hunting.

Of course, you never want to rub up against a homeowner’s couch or destroy the roll of toilet paper in their bathroom, but there are three cat characteristics in particular that you might put to good use when searching for a home.

1. Be a hunter

Cats are serious hunters. Even when the prey is a stuffed mouse, they practice their stealth and hunting prowess.

Watching a cat hunt is a lesson for home buyers. If a cat were house hunting instead of mouse hunting, she would stalk the latest MLS listings tenaciously, pouncing immediately on those that look tasty.

Don’t give up the hunt because it seems too challenging. Crouch, crawl, stare hard and then twist, curl and pounce when that perfect home is within striking distance.

Ok, so you don’t need to go through the physical gyrations that cats do when you’re on the hunt for the perfect house, but you do need to use that same laser-focus, remain flexible and be oh-so-tenacious.

Keep in mind that the absolute perfect home for any one person probably doesn’t exist, unless it’s custom-built. Decide what your priorities are and aim for fulfilling at least three of them.

Then, be flexible enough to compromise on the others if they conflict with your partner’s priorities.

2. Don’t be distracted by shiny objects

Staged homes are attractive, there’s no doubt about it. Especially if the staging was performed by a professional, it’s so easy to see yourself living there.

Homes with features you’ve been dreaming of (a fireplace in the master bedroom, that to-die for Wolf® range or the perfectly-perfect-for-entertaining backyard can blind you to other, perhaps undesirable aspects of the home.

Don’t be like your cat – easily distracted by shiny objects.

But do be like kitty in that you should be curious. Look beyond the sexy paint colors and amazing décor to the bare bones of the home. Don’t be distracted – be curious.

3. Remain aloof

Many cats are mysterious, somewhat aloof and can keep you guessing about why they even allow you in their presence.

Once you find a home that you’re excited about, don’t EVER show it — at least not around the homeowner or the homeowner’s agent (or the homeowner’s Nest Cam).

Maintain that cat-like aura of coolness, disinterest or, at the very least, neutrality.

The worst thing you can do is gush over the home, expressing your love for it and your overwhelming desire to own it – at any cost.

Nope, this is the time to be very cat-like and back off, as aloof as possible. When how you feel about the home is inscrutable to the homeowner, you’re in a stronger negotiating position.

Oh, one other thing your cat can teach you – when we win the battle for the home of your dreams you are allowed to purr in contentment

For the self-employed, April 15 holds no particular significance, income is often erratic (killing it one month to eating ramen for dinner the next), nobody sends them W-2s at year’s end and their shoebox filing system contains zero paycheck stubs.

If you make a living by driving people around in your personal car, delivering restaurant food, grocery shopping for others, renting out rooms or an entire home to vacationers, delivering packages or freelancing online, you are self-employed.

You are an independent contractor in what is commonly known as the “gig economy.”

While the freedom these vocations offer is amazing, they do come with some drawbacks. One of those you’ll meet up with is when you try to get a mortgage to buy a home.

The mortgage challenge for the self-employed

One of the large real estate portals reported that self-employed workers:

• Earn more than employees
• Have more cash on hand
• As a group, receive 40 percent fewer mortgage quotes than other homebuyers
• Apply for homes that cost 12 percent more, on average, than other borrowers
• Are “twice as likely as other borrowers to report a score of less than 680.”

While none of these factors either automatically qualify or disqualify gig economy workers hoping to get a mortgage, the low credit scores and lack of income documentation do present a challenge.

Deal with the credit score first

Regardless of how well you can document your income, a poor credit score will be your biggest obstacle in obtaining a mortgage.

The simplest way to raise your score is by paying your bills on time and by not applying for new credit. Then, consider the following:

• Pay down your debt (on credit cards, personal loans, etc.)
• Don’t close unused credit cards (they count in your favor)
• Dispute inaccuracies on your credit reports
• Keep credit card balances to 30 percent (or less) of your credit limit

Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website to learn how to order your free credit report.

Gather up the necessary documentation

While your accountant may tolerate that shoebox full of records, your lender will not. Documentation requirements vary, but you’ll typically need to provide the lender with the following:

• The past two years’ tax returns (with all schedules)
• A profit and loss statement (yes, even gig economy workers will need to supply one). Wells Fargo and Chase offer fill-in PDF profit and loss statements online and Dummies.com offers one that you can download and print.
• Bank statements (your lender will tell you how many are required. Submit all pages, including those that are blank).

These are the basic documents required; your lender may ask for additional information. Also, Fannie Mae guidelines are a bit different and you may be able to qualify with only the most recent tax return.

Additional considerations

Tax deductions are the holy grail for the self-employed because they reduce income and, thus, the amount of taxes owed.

This presents a conundrum when it is time to apply for a mortgage because the opposite is true: you want to show as high an income as possible.

If all else fails:

• Put off buying a home for the next two years and, during that time, cut back on the number of business expenses you write off.
• Save up a large down payment. This will lower the amount of the loan you’ll need to qualify for.
• Consider purchasing a less expensive home that will be easier to qualify for.

Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), co-sponsor of the Self-Employed Mortgage Access Act, claims that “as many as 42 million Americans — roughly 30 percent of the workforce — are self-employed or in the gig economy,” according to the staff at Bankrate.com.

Thankfully, the mortgage industry is waking up to this fact and easing requirements for some loans.

By the way, we aren’t mortgage or tax experts and urge you to consult with yours if you have any questions.

Naturally, the price of a home is top-of-mind when we talk about negotiating in a real estate deal. And, for some homebuyers, these negotiations are critical.

But, did you know that there are other ways to bargain with a home seller other than on price? The purchase agreement is full of haggling opportunities. Let’s take a look at five of them we deal with most often.

1. Repairs

Negotiating home repairs is something we are quite familiar with. After the home inspection, when the homebuyer receives the inspector’s report, negotiations often begin anew.

Understand, however, that no home is perfect; even newly-constructed homes can have problems. Don’t sweat the small stuff – save the negotiations for anything major that needs repair or replacement.

This is especially true if the problems are in one or more of the home’s major systems, such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing or with the roof or foundation.

We can negotiate for a price reduction, closing costs credit or for the repair work to be performed by the seller before closing. The first two options (price reduction or credit towards closing costs) are preferable, as they won’t typically delay the closing.

Plus, there is no way to guarantee the repair work, if performed by the seller’s contractor, will meet your standards.

2. Closing costs

With a mortgage comes a requirement to pay a down payment and closing costs. The latter includes all the costs of obtaining the loan, such as lender fees, notary fees and more.

While sellers are under no obligation to do so, many buyers negotiate with the seller to pay all or part of their closing costs.

It’s an easier pill for the seller to swallow if:

• Your offer for the home is at full asking price
• You intend to keep your request for repairs to a minimum. If the seller has to pay for a laundry list of requested repairs, he or she may not be amenable (or have the funds) to assist with your closing costs.
• You put some skin in the game as well, by paying for a portion of your closing costs

3. Personal property

Anything that isn’t permanently affixed to the home or land (real property) is considered the personal property of the homeowner. Personal property that we commonly negotiate over for our homebuying clients include:

• Appliances, such as refrigerator, washer, dryer
• Window coverings
• Chandeliers
• Portable out-buildings

Buyers, however, have negotiated for furniture, pool tables, artwork and even the family pet.

4. Closing date

The closing date – the day on which the home becomes yours – is negotiable. This is important to know for several reasons:

• If you are trying to time the closing of your current home to be simultaneous with the new home’s closing.
• You need more time to find another home
• You are relocating and need to be in your new city by a certain date

If your schedule doesn’t conflict with the seller’s this is often a successful negotiation.

5. Home warranty

Real estate agents have a love-hate relationship with home warranties. Some consider them useless while others love them for the peace-of-mind they offer homebuyers.

If a home warranty is something that you desire, it’s possible to ask the seller to provide you with one – at least for the first year of home ownership.

Basic coverage varies by region and company, but commonly includes coverage for:

• HVAC systems
• Kitchen appliances
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Roof leaks

While the above is only a partial list of commonly negotiated items in a home purchase, it outlines the ones we see most often.

Feel free to reach out to us if you have questions on this or any aspect of the home purchase process.