The term "veteran", for VA housing loan purposes, includes most past and current members of all branches of the military, members of the National Guard, reservists, and certain categories of spouses. To determine your status online go to http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/vba-26-1880-are.pdf, and apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), which any lender will require prior to processing a VA loan application.

Before shopping for a home, real estate agent or lender, potential borrowers are strongly encouraged to also:

1. review the VA Buying Process online at http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/purchaseco_buy_process.asp and “VA-Guaranteed Home Loans for Veterans”, also online at http://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/homeloans/VA_Guaranteed_Home_Loans.pdf
2. review the information on the VA Loan Guaranty Home Loan Program web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/index.asp
3. contact your local VA Regional Loan Center. A complete listing of Regional Loan Centers is available online at http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/contact_rlc_info.asp.