The amount of time it takes for a VA mortgage approval varies depending on the amount of volume the lender has at that moment. It also depends on the complexity of the loan and how quickly, you as the borrower, can obtain all of the necessary documents.
Full mortgage approval can take anywhere from one to five weeks, depending on how complete and organized your paperwork is when submitted to the bank.However, our country’s economic crisis has resulted in tightened lending guidelines and longer processing and approval time-lines for all loans including VA mortgages.
While there are a few explanations as to why the entire process is now taking as much time as it does, the simplified reason is that there are now more underwriting guidelines and restrictions on the mortgage industry today.
Fortunately, there are ways that veterans and military families can ensure that their VA mortgage approval process will go as quickly as possible:
1. Keep Yourself Organized
It’s a good idea to keep a well-organized folder of all the documents that you will need to send to your loan officer; this will ensure you aren’t scrambling at the last minute to find your required paperwork. You should also keep records here of any messages or documents you receive from your loan officer.
2. Fully Understand Your Benefits
You should now have a good understanding of your benefits and VA home loans. Ask your lender any questions you might have.
3. Send Requested Documents ASAP
As obvious as this one may seem, it is often a problem. Be sure to send requested documents as soon as possible to keep the VA loan process moving along.
4. Ask Questions As They Come Up
If you have questions or concerns, ask your lender right away. Don’t wait until the very end of the process to ask, or else you risk causing a slowdown.
5. Do Your VA Lender Shopping Early
The sooner you select your VA lender the sooner the process can begin, and the sooner you can be at closing.
6. Work With A VA Loan Specialist
If you work with someone who has been through the VA loan process many times before, there will be far fewer errors and setbacks. The choice is obvious: work with an experienced VA lender.
7. Be Available
Make your hours of availability as flexible as you can. There will be questions that arise throughout the course of the process, and the faster you communicate with your lender, the faster your VA loan approval process will be. If you will be unavailable for a period of time (for example, current military personnel going into the field) let your VA loan officer know in advance so there are no surprises.
8. Be Able To Communicate Through Email
The majority of the loan process can be done without extensive phone conversations. Also, if your lender has your data saved on their computer, there will be reduced chances of having information lost.
9. Stay Updated
Ask your lender to routinely keep you informed of where you are in the VA approval process.