What is a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
The certificate of eligibility (COE) is a form provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs that is required to receive a VA loan. Current military members, veteran members, and qualifying spouses interested in obtaining VA loans will need to apply for a COE and present it to a mortgage lender.
To receive a COE, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
- 181 days of service during peacetime.
- 90 days of service during wartime.
- Six years of creditable service in the Reserves/National Guard.
- Are a surviving spouse of a service member who passed away in the line of duty or passed from a service-related disability.
Applicants can go to the VA website, apply by mail, or request their mortgage lender apply on their behalf. The COE does not guarantee loan approval but simply establishes the eligibility to receive a VA loan.
There are five basic sections within a COE that aid mortgage lenders in knowing how much home an applicant can afford. The sections include entitlement codes, a funding fee, prior VA loans, an applicant’s VA loan entitlement amount, and additional conditions. The funding fee is 2.3% of the entire loan amount that goes directly to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
If you are a current military member, veteran, or a qualifying surviving spouse, a VA loan may be the right fit for you. Click here to learn about VA loans.
For more information, chat with us at callhallfirst.com or give us a call at 866-Call-Hall.
