Served your country? Get a VA home loan.
Veterans Affairs Home Loans are privately issued but government-backed mortgages for active and retired military members—which means they have low or no down payments, and lower interest rates. Service Credit Union provides VA loans for our veteran members. They’re only for a primary residence, and your eligibility will depend on your credit score and income. Another advantage of a VA Loan compared to a conventional loan is that there is no monthly mortgage insurance.
Mortgage/Home Equity Rates
The displayed rates for conventional loans assume a loan amount of $250,000 for a single-family, owner-occupied purchase transaction with a down payment of 40% and a credit score of 740 or higher. VA rates assume a loan amount of $250,000 and no down payment. Conventional jumbo loans assume a loan amount of $548,251 and a 40% down payment. VA jumbo assumes a loan amount of $548,251, with no down payment. Payment examples do not include taxes or insurance premiums. Payment obligation will be higher.
A $500 credit towards closing costs at the time of closing will be applied for members with an ACH direct deposit into a Service Credit Union checking account and automatic payment of the mortgage from the Service Credit Union checking account for the term of the loan.
Before you start house hunting, you’ll want to put together a budget and calculate short and long-term costs to understand how much home you can afford. Upfront costs may include 0-20% for a down payment, 2-5% for closing costs and $200-600 for inspections. Ongoing costs include monthly mortgage payments, utilities, possible maintenance, and homeowners’ association or condo fees, if applicable.
Learn more about the homebuying process, and try out our savings calculator and many more tools to help you plan your savings goals here.
Ready with a price range, and all your financials in order? A prequalification letter from a mortgage provider will help expedite the homebuying process and let you know how much a financial institution may be willing to lend you. To apply, you’ll need to go through the standard mortgage application process, which includes questions about your income and employment, current debts, assets, and borrowing history.
Your prequalification letter will show how much you can afford to borrow, what your interest rate could be, and an estimate of your monthly payment based on assumed taxes and insurance. You may be able to lock in the rate you’ve been offered for up to several months while you’re shopping for a home, and your prequalification will help your offer stand out against other prospective buyers.
At Service CU, we’ll lock your rate for up to 90 days with no additional fee or rate adjustment.
How long does the process take?
We routinely process and close mortgage applications within 30 days. However, there are many variables that determine the length of the process, including how fast you respond to our requests for documentation.
What is your minimum credit score?
It depends on many variables, including the down payment amount, loan program, and property type. We do not have a published minimum credit score, however, if you are putting down less than 20%, and are not using the VA loan program, the minimum credit score is typically 620.
Do you do loans outside of NH/ME/VT/MA?
Yes, we are a national lender! We do mortgages in all states with the exception of Alaska, Texas, and Hawaii. Not all programs are available in all states. Construction loans are available only in NH and MA.
Will my loan be sold?
While it is possible that your loan will be sold (the standard Fannie Mae promissory note gives the lender the right to sell the loan), it is important to understand that we will still be servicing your loan. We generally do not sell our loans (there are some exceptions), and even if we do, you will still be making your payments to Service Credit Union and we will still be handling your escrow account (if you have one).
Do I get a discount for being a member and/or having automatic payments?
Yes; if you have a direct deposit of your net pay into a Service Credit Union checking account, and set up an automatic payment of your new mortgage from your Service Credit Union checking account, you will be offered a $500 credit toward closing costs.
Can I have a co-signer?
In certain circumstances, a co-signer is permitted. However, we will require that the occupant borrower be qualified from a credit and ability to repay perspective. Generally, we require a co-borrower vs. a co-signer. check the site A co-borrower has the same liability as to the primary borrower.
Do you offer bridge loans?
We do not have a specific bridge loan program. However, we may be able to achieve a bridge loan through the use of a home equity line of credit on the house you will be selling. This will depend on the amount of equity you have and your ability to qualify to carry the debt for your existing mortgage (if any), the home equity line of credit, and the mortgage on your new home.
