VA loans for National Guard and Reserve members

The service paths for Guard members

VA's eligibility page says National Guard members meet the minimum service requirement if they served:

• At least 90 days of non-training active-duty service under Title 10, or
• At least 90 days of active duty including at least 30 consecutive days, with a DD214 showing activation under 32 U.S.C. sections 316, 502, 503, 504 or 505, or
• 6 creditable years in the National Guard and continue to serve, or
• 6 creditable years in the National Guard and were discharged honorably or placed on the retired list.

The second path matters for members called up by their state under federal funding, such as for disaster response, as long as the DD214 shows one of the listed Title 32 sections.

The service paths for Reserve members

For Reserve members, VA lists:

• At least 90 days of non-training active-duty service, or
• 6 creditable years in the Selected Reserve and continue to serve, or
• 6 creditable years in the Selected Reserve and were discharged honorably or placed on the retired list.

A creditable year is a year that counts toward retirement. Your unit or your retirement points statement shows how many you have.

If you fall short

VA explains that you may still qualify if you were discharged early for certain reasons, including hardship, the convenience of the government, an involuntary reduction in force, certain medical conditions or a service-connected disability. You can apply and VA will review your records.

The documents for each situation

VA's guide to requesting a Certificate of Eligibility lists what each group needs:

The statement of service for current members should show your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, the date you entered duty, total creditable years, any lost time and the name of the command providing the information.

How the funding fee applies

Most VA borrowers pay a one-time funding fee, which can be paid at closing or added to the loan. VA's current chart applies the same purchase rates to veterans, active-duty service members and National Guard and Reserve members:

You do not pay the fee if you receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability, are eligible for it but receive retirement or active-duty pay instead, or are an active-duty member who received a Purple Heart and provides evidence on or before closing, among other exemptions on VA's page. If you have a pending disability claim, ask about it before closing; VA also explains how refunds work if compensation is awarded later.

Getting the certificate

You can request a COE online through VA, or your lender can request it for you through VA's system. If VA cannot confirm your service from its records, you will be asked for the documents above, so have them ready to upload. Start early, especially if you need your unit to prepare a statement of service.

Once you have the COE, the rest of the process is the same as for any VA borrower: a VA-approved lender checks credit and income, VA orders an appraisal, and the home must meet VA's minimum property requirements.

Entitlement and loan size

VA does not set a maximum loan amount for borrowers with full entitlement, though lenders still check that you can afford the payment. If you have used your benefit before and not restored it, your remaining entitlement may limit how much you can borrow with no down payment. The entitlement guide linked below explains the arithmetic.

The bottom line

Guard and Reserve members can earn the VA home loan benefit through qualifying activation or through six creditable years, whether still serving or honorably discharged. Match your record to the right path, gather the documents VA lists for it, and request your COE before you shop. The funding fee is the same as for other veterans, and many members with service-connected disabilities pay none.