Veterans United Mortgage Review 2026
Veterans United specializes in VA loans, which are mortgages guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). However, the company also offers conventional, FHA, and USDA loans for borrowers who don’t qualify for a VA loan.
See how we reached our verdict below.
- Specializes in VA loans
- Lots of online tools and an app for aspiring homebuyers
- 24/7 customer service over the phone
- Not much information online about the other types of loans it offers
- Doesn’t offer home equity loans or HELOCs
- Limited number of branches in only 17 states
Veterans United mortgage overview
Veterans United was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Columbia, Missouri.
- Areas of service: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.
- Digital service: Mostly online, with branches in 17 states
- Headquarters: 1400 Forum Blvd., Suite 18, Columbia, MO 65203
- Website: VeteransUnited.com
Veterans United rates and fees
Rates
Veterans United publishes today’s rates for all kinds of VA loans online. However, rates aren’t available for the other loan types it offers, such as FHA loans.
Compared to other large national mortgage lenders, Veterans United’s rates are competitive and, on average, came in around 0.12 percentage points below the average prime offer rate (APOR) in 2024. The APOR is a benchmark rate that captures what is, in effect, the lowest APR a bank is likely to offer in the current market.
By comparison, in 2023, Veterans United’s average rate was 0.15 percentage points above the APOR, meaning that the rates have become more competitive in the span of a year.
Fees
The average total cost of taking out a mortgage with Veterans United was $6,241 in 2024, according to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data. That amount includes origination fees, application and appraisal fees and other closing costs — and is lower than the average for other large national mortgage lenders ($6,861).
The VA allows Veterans United and other VA loan lenders to charge an origination fee of up to 1% of the loan amount. All VA loan homebuyers must also pay a VA Funding Fee, which goes to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The average origination fee charged by Veterans United in 2024 was $1,943, according to HMDA data. That’s lower than the average for all other large national mortgage lenders, which was $3,222.
The VA funding fee varies depending on the branch in which you served, whether you’re making a down payment, and whether it’s your first time using a VA loan. According to Veterans United, most first-time VA buyers with no down payment pay a VA funding fee of 2.15% of the loan amount. Buyers who receive VA disability compensation are exempt from paying the VA funding fee.
Veterans United’s Bundle Up & Save Big program offers a discount when you buy and sell with a Veterans United Realty agent and finance with a Veterans United home loan.
If you qualify, you’ll receive a loan level pricing adjustment equal to 25 basis points of the loan amount for each benefit (listing and purchasing). According to Veterans United, on a $200,000 home loan, that would be worth about $1,000. The value of the benefit goes up the higher your loan amount.
What types of mortgage loans does Veterans United offer?
Veterans United offers a variety of home loans including:
Veterans United does offer conventional loans, but since this lender focuses on VA loans, it doesn’t include many details about its conventional loan program on the website. However, conventional loans can have fixed or variable interest rates.
Conventional loan qualification requirements
- 3% minimum down payment
- You must pay private mortgage insurance (PMI) if your down payment is less than 20%
- 620 minimum credit score
- 45% maximum debt-to-income (DTI) ratio
Veterans United offers loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), including purchase, refinance, and cash-out refinance loans. FHA loans may have fixed or variable rates.
FHA loan qualification requirements
- 3.5% minimum down payment
- Up-front and monthly mortgage insurance required
- 580 minimum credit score (500 with a down payment of 10% or more)
- 43% maximum DTI ratio
Veterans United specializes in VA loans. The company also offers refinance loans, including VA cash-out refinances and interest rate reduction refinance loans (IRRRLs).
VA loan qualification requirements
- Available to all eligible active-duty military, National Guard and Reserve members, certain surviving spouses and veterans
- Typically no down payment required for borrowers with full VA loan entitlement
- No PMI required
- No minimum credit score set by VA loan requirements, but Veterans United requires at least a 620 credit score
For borrowers in rural areas, Veterans United carries loans backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
USDA loan qualification requirements
- 0% down payment options available for eligible borrowers
- Flexible credit score requirements
- The house must be in a designated rural area. Check if your location qualifies using the USDA eligibility map
- USDA loan requirements include an income cap that ensures these loans go to low- and moderate-income borrowers only
Veterans United offers VA jumbo loans. While Veterans United doesn’t share many details about its jumbo loan program online, these loans exceed the maximum loan limits in place with most other loan programs. Because they’re such large loans, they’re riskier to lenders. To limit their risk, jumbo loan lenders usually have stricter eligibility criteria.
Jumbo loan qualification requirements
- Same service requirements as for regular VA loans
- Minimum credit score of 620
Veterans United mortgage qualifications
| Credit score minimum | Conventional: 620FHA: 580 (500 with 10% or more down)VA: 620USDA: No minimum, 640 is standard |
| DTI ratio
Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio compares your monthly gross income to your monthly debt payments.
| Conventional: 45%FHA: 43%VA: 41%USDA: 41% |
| Down payment minimum | Conventional: 3%FHA: 3.5%VA: 0%USDA: 0% |
Don’t know your credit score? Get your free score on LendingTree Spring today.
Veterans United doesn’t disclose the exact minimum requirements it uses to approve or deny your application. However, based on nationwide data from 2024, we can say that over half of approved Veterans United borrowers seeking new purchase loans had a DTI ratio greater than 43%. That indicates the company is willing to work with borrowers who might not qualify for a conventional loan.
That same year, Veterans United denied nearly 24% of its mortgage applications. That’s near the middle compared to other large, high-volume lenders. For comparison, many large lenders have denial rates in the low teens up through the mid-thirties.
How to apply for a Veterans United mortgage
1. Choose your loan type
Navigate to VeteransUnited.com and click on the yellow “Check Your Eligibility” button.
2. Get prequalified
Prequalification allows you to provide some preliminary information and authorizes a loan officer to pull your credit scores and get a ballpark estimate of your income. This lets you see the mortgage rate and loan amount you’ll likely qualify for.
3. Submit a loan application
Completing a loan application will get you preapproved rather than just prequalified. Preapproval from Veterans United doesn’t lock in your rate or guarantee that you’ll get a mortgage, but you’ll get a preapproval letter, which real estate agents will want to see before showing you homes.
Find out more about how to apply for a home loan.
- Identification
- Tax documents
- Bank statement
- Pay stubs
- Debt and asset statements
- Gift letters (if you’re using gifted funds)
Is it safe to get prequalified with Veterans United?
Yes, it’s safe to get prequalified or preapproved with Veterans United. Although it involves a hard pull on your credit, it’s a necessary step and any effects on your credit score are temporary.
It’s always a good idea to get preapproved before you start shopping for homes because some realtors won’t show you homes and many sellers won’t take your offer seriously until you do.
Veterans United’s customer service experience
You can contact Veterans United 24 hours per day, seven days per week. This is a nice feature for military service members who might be trying to close on a home loan while deployed overseas.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 800-884-5560
How does Veterans United compare to other lenders?
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| LendingTree’s rating |
Expert review from LendingTree.
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Expert review from LendingTree.
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Expert review from LendingTree.
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| Minimum credit score | 620 | Mid-600s | Not specified |
| Minimum down payment | 0% to 3.5% | 0% to 3.5% | 0% to 5% |
| Rate spread
Rate spread is the difference between the average prime offer rate (APOR) — the lowest APR a bank is likely to offer any private customer — and the average annual percentage rate (APR) the lender offered to mortgage customers in 2024. The higher the number, the more expensive the loan.
| -0.12% | 0.28% | 1.16% |
| Loan products and programs |
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| Better for: | Active-duty military members, National Guard and Reserve members, surviving spouses and veterans. | Military borrowers who want an experienced VA loan lender. | Military borrowers and their families. |
Veterans United vs. Veterans First
Both Veterans United and Veterans First specialize in VA loans. Veterans United receives a higher rating from us because it publishes rates online and offers an online application process, while Veterans First doesn’t disclose rates or offer an online application.
Read more in our full Veterans First mortgage review.
Veterans United vs. Navy Federal Credit Union
Like Veterans United, Navy Federal also specializes in serving military members and their families. The credit union offers some loan products that Veterans United doesn’t, including home equity loans and lines of credit. However, it doesn’t offer USDA loans or FHA loans. Navy Federal loans also tend to have higher rates than Veterans United loans.
Read more in our full Navy Federal Credit Union mortgage review.
How LendingTree rated Veterans United Mortgage
LendingTree’s mortgage lender rating is based on a five-point scoring system that factors in several features, including digital application processes, available loan products and the accessibility of product and lending information.
LendingTree’s editorial team calculates each rating based on a review of information available on the lender’s website. Lenders receive a half-point on the “offers standard mortgage products” criterion if they offer only two of the three standard loan programs (conventional, FHA and VA). In some cases, additional information was provided by a lender representative.
Veterans United’s scorecard:
✅ Publishes rates online
✅ Offers standard mortgage products
⭕ Includes detailed product info online
✅ Shares resources about mortgage lending
✅ Provides an online application
Frequently asked questions
Veterans United offers an online tool where you can start the application process. It also has an app — available in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store — where you can track your loan progress and upload and sign documents.
Yes, Veterans United is a legitimate, VA-approved lender with a strong reputation for helping veterans and military families secure home loans. The company is well-regarded for its specialized expertise and 24/7 customer service.
You can view more info about Veterans United’s state licenses and registrations through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) website.
Yes, applying for a home loan with Veterans United will result in a credit inquiry, which can slightly impact your credit score. However, this is a standard part of the loan application process.
Veterans United home loans are reliable and beneficial for eligible homeowners, as the company offers competitive rates, zero-down-payment options, and personalized service tailored to the needs of veterans and military families.
The lender has a customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, with many customers praising its service, response time and user experience during the application process. It also has an A-plus rating from the Better Business Bureau.
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