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Olmert: Iran threat may be cooling
April 30th, 2012
06:33 PM ET
In his first sit-down interview in years, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is revealing and controversial speaking with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.
@camanpour on Twitter
RT @AmanpourCoPBS: “It is systemic racism to say that a sex crime is not racist.” -George Ta@GeorgeTakeia@harihari https://t.co/VhICQI9sDr
RT @AmanpourCoPBS: “We were terrorized--that is the history of America, as I know it,” says George Takei of growing up Japanese-American in…
In Cuba, some towns have only two hours of running water every five days. Dutch photographer Sanne Derks has spenttwitter.com/i/web/status/1…bo
What are some of the steps we can do to quell our anxieties during this difficult time?
"Any kind of grounding litwitter.com/i/web/status/1…WN
Anxiety and depressive disorders have reportedly increased during the pandemic. Psychologist Christine Runyan saystwitter.com/i/web/status/1…2k
There are only 469 days left in Ahmadinejad's final term.
Not really worth starting WWIII over.
The Green party protests in Iran, the largest protests in the history of the Islamic Republic,
were the seminal moments in the "Arab Spring."
I imagine progressives in Iran will feel even more empowered to pursue Liberty than they were
three years ago. Also, while Iran was harsh on the protesters, only 72 were killed. Compared to
Tiananmen square where the Chinese massacred up to 4,000. And in Syria where over 8,000 have
already died. Perhaps the transition in Iran will not be so bloody. I hope not. A Transiton there is inevitable.
But going to war in the last days of an ignorant holocaust denier is not wisdom. There are people
right here in America who deny the holocaust. Is Israel going to threaten to go to war against us for it?
The VA loan is a $0 down payment mortgage option available to Veterans, Service Members and select military spouses. VA loans are issued by private lenders and guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The VA home loan was created in 1944 by the United States government to help returning service members purchase homes without needing a down payment or excellent credit. This historic benefit program has guaranteed more than 22 million VA loans to help veterans, active duty military members and their families purchase homes or refinance their mortgages.
Today, the VA mortgage is more important than ever. In recent years, lenders nationwide have tightened their lending requirements in the wake of the housing market collapse, making the VA loan a lifeline for Veterans and active Military homebuyers, many of whom find difficulty when faced with tough credit standards and down payment requirements.
Military homebuyers have access to one of the most unique and powerful loan programs ever created. See how the VA Loan compares to a traditional home mortgage:
To be eligible for a VA Loan, veterans, active duty service members, National Guard members and reservists must meet the basic service requirements set forth by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Spouses of military members who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability may also be eligible.
It's ultimately up to the VA to determine eligibility for the home loan program, but prospective borrowers can get a good idea by looking at the VA's basic eligibility guidelines.
How to Apply for a VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
While you don't need your VA Certificate of Eligibility in hand to start the loan process with Veterans United, this certificate is a very important part of your loan application. Your COE verifies that your length and character of service make you eligible to use the VA home loan benefit.
You can apply for a VA Loan Certificate of Eligibility three different ways:
Apply through a VA approved lender
Apply online through the VA’s eBenefits portal
Apply by mail with VA Form 26-1880
You can ask your Veterans United Loan Team to obtain your COE on your behalf. Speak with a VA Loan Specialist to get your COE today. The process takes minutes to complete with proof of your military service and ensures your home financing moves forward without delays.
If you prefer to do the work yourself, VA Loan applicants can contact the Veterans Administration directly and fill out a Certificate of Eligibility (VA Form 26-1880).
VA Loan Income Requirements
Homebuyers interested in the VA Loan aren't required to reach any kind of income threshold to use their home loan benefits; however, borrowers are expected to have stable, reliable income that will cover monthly expenses – including their new mortgage payment.
Additionally, the VA requires that borrowers maintain a certain amount of income left over each month after all major expenses are paid. The excess is meant to cover typical family needs, such as food, transportation and so forth and is referred to as residual income. Residual income is a large reason why the VA Loan maintains one of the lowest foreclosure rates of all major lending options.
By enforcing residual income requirements, the VA increases the chances of its borrowers earning sufficient income to meet all financial obligations, and also ensures borrowers have a cushion in the event of an emergency.
Additional Eligibility Requirements
Although the VA determines the guidelines for those who are eligible for the VA Loan benefit, private lenders who finance the home purchases have an additional set of criteria a potential borrower must satisfy, including debt, income and credit requirements
When you apply for a VA Loan, your Mortgage Specialist from Veterans United will pull your credit score from the three leading credit agencies, as well as examine your debt-to-income ratio.
Finally, a veteran applying for a VA Loan must not have been discharged under dishonorable conditions.
How to Apply for a VA Loan
The VA loan process typically takes 30 to 45 days once you’re under contract on a home, although every buyer’s situation is different. Applying for a VA loan doesn’t obligate you in any way to a particular lender or to moving forward with the homebuying process.
Here’s a look at the four basic steps to applying for a VA home loan:
Familiarize yourself with the broad VA Loan eligibility requirements above
Contact a VA-approved lender like Veterans United Home Loans and start your VA Loan application
Obtain your Certificate of Eligibility through your lender or on your own
Finalize your loan application and provide all necessary paperwork to your lender, including W-2s, tax returns and recent bank statements
Questions about whether you qualify?
Our Home Loan Specialists are available 24/7 to answer any questions you have about the VA Loan Program. Give us a call at 1-800-884-5560 or get started online.
Learn about the many advantages of the VA Loan in our next section.