Get Started with Your VA Loan

Take the first step toward using your VA benefit. Submit a short inquiry and a VA loan specialist will contact you about purchase, construction, IRRRL, or cash-out options. You can also call (855) 956-4040. This is not a formal loan application and it is not a credit decision.

Get started with your VA loan inquiry

The inquiry asks for contact details and the loan path you want to discuss. A specialist follows up to review eligibility, entitlement, and next documents. Sending the inquiry is not a loan application. Any credit review comes at a later step. Most people finish in a few minutes.

By submitting, you consent to be contacted by National VA Loans and Stride Bank, N.A., including by phone, text, or email, about this inquiry. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Message and data rates may apply.

  • Not an application. This inquiry is not a loan application or a commitment to lend. A soft credit inquiry may apply at prequalification, and a full credit review, which may include a hard inquiry, happens if you apply.
  • About five minutes. The form is a conversation starter, not a full loan file.
  • Specialist follow-up. Someone from the National VA Loans team responds about the path you selected.

Loan paths you can ask about

  • VA home loans. Purchase financing for eligible veterans, active duty members, and some spouses, including $0-down options and no monthly PMI. Learn more at /va-home-loans.
  • VA construction loans. Build a primary residence with VA construction financing, including one-time close programs where available. Learn more at /va-home-loans/construction.
  • VA IRRRL. An Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan for an existing VA loan. Documentation is often lighter, but credit, income, and lender overlays can still apply. Learn more at /va-home-loans/irrrl.
  • VA cash-out refinance. Refinance and access home equity for repairs, debt payoff, or other allowed uses, subject to entitlement, appraisal, and underwriting. Learn more at /va-home-loans/cash-out.

VA loan benefits to confirm on your file

  • No down payment required. Available for many eligible purchase loans. It does not mean zero cash to close.
  • No monthly mortgage insurance. The VA funding fee is separate and is not the same thing as PMI.
  • Pricing and credit. Rates and credit standards are set by the lender, not by a single VA score cutoff.

Questions about Get Started with Your VA Loan

Who is eligible for a VA loan?

Veterans, active duty service members, National Guard, Reservists, and some surviving spouses may qualify. Eligibility is confirmed with a Certificate of Eligibility and is separate from lender approval.

Can I use a VA loan to build a home?

Yes. VA construction loans can finance a new primary residence, including $0-down options when you and the project qualify. Builder approval, plans, and inspections still apply.

What is a VA IRRRL?

The VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) is a streamlined refinance for an existing VA loan. It is used to reduce the rate or payment. It is not a cash-out loan.

How does a VA cash-out refinance work?

A VA cash-out refinance replaces the current mortgage and can let you take equity out, subject to entitlement, appraisal, occupancy, and underwriting. It is a new loan, not a line of credit.

Related pages

Start Your VA Loan Review | National VA Loans