Veterans Housing Benefits
We invite you to call any or all of these governmental agencies to receive more information regarding your housing benefits you have earned by serving your country. Additional information and links follow if you would like to research your benefits independently.
Washington State Housing Finance Commission
This Washington based commission offers first time homebuyer assistance and special limited loan packages to Veterans. This is a great place to start, especially if you are a first time homebuyer. Free classes and consultation are available.
Main Phone: 206-464-7139
Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs
Veterans are eligible for low interest loans and more flexible down payment requirements. You should contact them for more information and recommended lenders before seeking independent financing.
360-725-2200
1-800-562-2308
TDD: 360-725-2199
Washington State Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project
If you or someone you know is a Veteran and is currently homeless, please review this information.
United States Department of Veteran Affairs
Check out your benefits, limits and qualifications along with applications and documentation you will need from the Veterans Benefits website. Some resources and frequently asked questions follow
Home Loan Guarantee program 1-800-827-1000
WSHFC House Key Veterans Program
House Key Veterans is a down payment assistance, second mortgage loan program with a 3.00% interest rate and a ten-year loan term for veterans who have served our country. House Key Veterans combines with the House Key State Bond first mortgage loan program.
- Who is eligible?
Persons receiving an honorable discharge or who have received a discharge for medical reasons with an honorable record; members and honorably discharged former members of the Washington National Guard and Reserve; and never remarried spouses and dependent children of deceased Veterans. Borrowers must be first-time homebuyers or buying in a targeted area.
Borrowers must meet the acquisition cost and income limits for the House Key Program first mortgage.
To be eligible for a House Key Veterans Loan, you must not exceed the following income:
- Clark/Skamania Counties: $72,000
- King/Snohomish Counties: $86,800
- Kitsap/Thurston Counties: $74,500
- All Other Counties: $71,900
Borrowers must attend a Commission-sponsored homebuyer seminar prior to reserving funds under the House Key Program. Cash back to borrowers is not allowed.
- How much can you borrow?
Eligible households may qualify for a maximum loan amount of up to $10,000.
A House Key participating loan officer can help you determine an acquisition price you can afford, how much cash you will need to close, and how much you can borrow on a House Key Veterans loan.
- Who are the Participating Lenders in House Key Veterans?
See House Key Participating Lenders who have been helpful to first-time homebuyers.
- Questions about the House Key Veterans Program?
Contact Karen Carlson at 206.287.4413 or toll free in WA 800.767.4663, Ex 413
- Have you contacted the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs to discuss benefits?
Please visit http://www.dva.wa.gov or call 1-800-562-2308
United States Department of Veteran Affairs
Links and Information
- About the Loan Guaranty Service
The VA Loan Guaranty Service is the organization within the Veterans Benefits Administration charged with the responsibility of administering the home loan program. See an independent evaluation of the Loan Guaranty program here: Final Report | Final Report Appendices - Link To Online Videos for Veterans
Short videos provide information on the VA Home Loan process. - Pamphlets on the VA Home Loan Program
Online copies of VA Home Loan Pamphlets. - Home Ownership Education for First Time Buyers
Valuable information for first time home buyers from the Ginnie Mae Home Ownership Center. - Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to questions most frequently asked about he VA Home Loan program. - Information on Specially Adapted Housing for Disabled Veterans
Information on the Specially Adapted Housing program for certain seriously disabled Veterans. - VA Regional Loan Centers
Addresses, telephone numbers and websites of our Regional Loan Centers. - Contact VA Loan Guaranty Service
E-mail, phone numbers and website addresses for the Loan Guaranty Service - Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loans
Have interest rates fallen since you obtained your VA loan? Do you have an Adjustable Rate VA loan that you want to convert to a fixed rate loan? The IRRRL program, also called the VA streamlined refinancing program, may be for you. No appraisal or underwriting is required and a certificate of eligibility is not necessary. - If You Have Trouble Making Your Payments or Facing Foreclosure
If you have a VA loan but are having trouble making your mortgage payments, it is very important that you take steps to avoid a foreclosure. VA may be able to help. - Information for Elderly Home Owners
Information for Elderly Home Owners covers Reverse Mortgages, Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loans, and Home Equity Fraud. - VA Direct Home Loans for Native American Veterans Living on Trust Lands
VA direct home loans are available to eligible Native American Veterans who wish to purchase or construct a home on trust lands.
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project
HVRP is a proven, successful program that gets homeless veterans off the street and back to being productive members of society. WDVA provides HVRP-Urban services to Veterans in the Puget Sound Region of King, Pierce, Thurston, and Kitsap Counties. HVRP-Rural services are provided to ten counties in Eastern Washington.
The HVRP offers a structured, individually designed case management plan to assist veterans become employable and secure. Program Services include:
- Immediate needs – food, clothing, transportation, and access to shelter;
- Outreach to homeless veterans providers;
- Employability needs and skills assessment;
- Job readiness services, including transitional housing assistance, basic skills training, therapeutic work, résumé development and employment opportunity referrals; and
- 90, 180, and 270-day job retention follow-up.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for participation under HVRP, an individual must be a veteran and homeless as defined:
- The term "veteran" means a person who served in the active US military, naval, or air service and who were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. Reference 38 USC 101 (2)
- The term "homeless or homeless individual” as defined in the Homeless Comprehensive Act of 2001 (HVCAA, Public Law 107-95)includes persons:
- Who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence;
- Whose primary nighttime residence is either a supervised public or private shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations, or a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutional; or
- Living in a private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
(Inadequate nighttime residence examples include: sleeping in cars, under bridges, in tents, etc. Inadequate nighttime residence does not include living with relatives or friends.)
