Request Loan Guaranty Eligibility—Unmarried Surviving Spouses. If they are not receiving DIC, they will need to apply and provide a copy of their marriage license and the veteran’s death certificate. for Determination of Once you have all your documents, you can apply for your Certificate of Eligibility either online on the VA website, or request an application by mail from the VA. In some instances, veterans can get their COE through their lender by using the VA’s Web LGY system. Once you have your COE, you will need to look over your finances and monthly budget to determine how much you can afford to spend. Then, you will want to shop for a lender. Be sure to look for one that is familiar with and has made VA-backed loans. You may want to get pre-qualified with the lender before you begin shopping for your new home. Then, choose your real estate agent, and begin shopping for your new home. Once you find the home you want to buy, you will need to have a VA-approved appraiser appraise the home to make sure it meets property condition requirements and determine the appraised value of the home. This will help determine how much you can borrow to purchase the home. An appraisal is not the same as an inspection and although an inspection may not be required, it is always a good idea to have one to make sure there are no major defects or safety hazards in hiding. The lender will still need to approve you for a loan and will look at your income, credit history, and other assets such as savings, retirement accounts, and investments to determine if you qualify and how much they will lend you. While the VA does not require veterans meet a minimum credit score, the lender may have requirements, so be sure to shop around and find a lender that meets you where you are.
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