8 Modules • 42 Lessons • 8 Quizzes • 100% Free

Course Syllabus

Everything you need to go from VA loan awareness to VA loan confidence. Self-paced, no expiration, built by a veteran who's closed over 1,200 VA loans.

8 Modules
42 Lessons
8 Quizzes
Free Always
Self-Paced No Expiration
1

Module 1: The VA Loan Advantage

Why It Exists & Who It's For · 5 lessons + quiz

Understand why this benefit was created, what makes it one of the most powerful home financing tools in the country, and the myths that keep veterans from using it.

Lessons
  1. 1 Welcome and Why This Course Matters
  2. 2 What Is a VA Loan and Why Was It Created?
  3. 3 VA Loan vs. Other Loan Types: What Makes It Different
  4. 4 The 5 Biggest Myths About VA Loans
  5. 5 Can I Use My VA Loan More Than Once?
  6. ✓ Knowledge Check Quiz
Key Terms Covered
VA Loan Entitlement PMI Common myths
2

Module 2: VA Loan Eligibility

Who Qualifies and How to Prove It · 6 lessons + quiz

Find out exactly who qualifies, how to get your Certificate of Eligibility, and the nuances around property types, occupancy, and co-borrowers.

Lessons
  1. 1 Do I Qualify for a VA Loan? (includes Guard & Reserve rules)
  2. 2 Getting Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
  3. 3 What Types of Properties Can You Buy With a VA Loan?
  4. 4 Occupancy Rules: Who Must Live in the Home and When
  5. 5 Can I Buy With My Spouse or Someone Else?
  6. 6 What Happens If I'm Deployed or Relocating?
  7. ✓ Knowledge Check Quiz
Key Terms Covered
Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Guard & Reserve Eligibility Occupancy Requirement Surviving Spouse Eligibility
3

Module 3: Money Matters

How VA Loan Financing Works · 7 lessons + quiz

The real costs of a VA loan — and the costs you don't have to pay. Funding fees, seller concessions, loan limits, and residual income explained.

Lessons
  1. 1 What Does a VA Loan Really Cost?
  2. 2 Understanding the VA Funding Fee
  3. 3 How Much Money Do I Need to Buy a Home With a VA Loan?
  4. 4 How to Ask the Seller to Pay Your Closing Costs
  5. 5 VA Loan Limits and Zero Down Rules
  6. 6 Residual Income and Why the VA Cares About It
  7. 7 How Child Care Expenses Affect VA Loan Approval
  8. ✓ Knowledge Check Quiz
Key Terms Covered
VA Funding Fee Seller Concessions VA Loan Limits Residual Income BAH
4

Module 4: Credit, Income & Underwriting

Getting Approved · 6 lessons + quiz

VA underwriting is different — and more forgiving. Learn the real requirements for credit, income, and debt ratios, including second chances through manual underwriting.

Lessons
  1. 1 Minimum Credit Score Requirements for a VA Loan
  2. 2 How Lenders View Your Credit Report
  3. 3 Using Disability, BAH, BAS, and Part-Time Income
  4. 4 Debt-to-Income Ratios (DTI) on VA Loans
  5. 5 Self-Employed, Recently Separated, or Retired?
  6. 6 Manual Underwriting and Second Chances
  7. ✓ Knowledge Check Quiz
Key Terms Covered
Credit Score (VA Minimum) Manual Underwriting DTI Disability Income Compensating Factors
5

Module 5: Applying Like a Pro

What to Expect and How to Prepare · 4 lessons + quiz

The decisions you make before you apply matter more than you think. Pre-approval, lender selection, and setting yourself up for the strongest possible position.

Lessons
  1. 1 How to Get a VA Loan Pre-Approval That Actually Means Something
  2. 2 What Happens During the Loan Application?
  3. 3 Retail Lender, Mortgage Broker, or Credit Union?
  4. 4 How to Choose the Right VA Lender
  5. ✓ Knowledge Check Quiz
Key Terms Covered
Pre-Approval Mortgage Broker Retail Lender NMLS
6

Module 6: Buying a Home With a VA Loan

Step-by-Step · 7 lessons + quiz

From timeline to closing day — appraisals, inspections, the VA escape clause, and why working with a VA-savvy realtor matters more than you think.

Lessons
  1. 1 The VA Homebuying Timeline
  2. 2 VA Appraisal: What It Is and What It's Not
  3. 3 Why You Need a VA-Savvy Realtor (Tidewater, Escape Clause & Property Rules)
  4. 4 What Happens If the Appraisal Comes in Low?
  5. 5 VA-Specific Inspections You Might Need
  6. 6 The Home Inspection: Don't Skip It
  7. 7 The VA Escape Clause Explained
  8. ✓ Knowledge Check Quiz
Key Terms Covered
VA Appraisal Minimum Property Requirements Tidewater Initiative VA Escape Clause Low Appraisal VA-Savvy Realtor
7

Module 7: After You Close

What's Next · 4 lessons + quiz

Your VA benefit doesn't end at closing. Understand entitlement restoration, loan assumptions, and your refinancing options.

Lessons
  1. 1 What to Expect After You Close
  2. 2 Using Your VA Loan Benefit Again (Restoring Entitlement)
  3. 3 VA Loan Assumptions: How Someone Else Can Take Over Your Loan
  4. 4 Refinancing With a VA Loan (IRRRL and Cash-Out)
  5. ✓ Knowledge Check Quiz
Key Terms Covered
Restored Entitlement One-Time Restoration VA Loan Assumption IRRRL Cash-Out Refinance
8

Module 8: Advanced Uses & Wealth-Building Strategies

3 lessons + quiz

Go beyond the basics. Multi-unit properties, condos, and strategies for using your VA benefit as a long-term wealth-building tool.

Lessons
  1. 1 Buying a Multi-Unit Property With a VA Loan
  2. 2 Can I Buy a Condo With a VA Loan?
  3. 3 Using Your VA Benefit to Build Wealth
  4. ✓ Knowledge Check Quiz
Key Terms Covered
Multi-Unit Property VA-Approved Condo Bonus Entitlement

Who This Course Is For

✓ Veterans (all branches, all eras)
✓ Active duty service members
✓ National Guard members
✓ Reserve members
✓ Surviving spouses with eligibility
✓ First-time and repeat home buyers
✓ Veterans who've been told they "don't qualify"
✓ Anyone who wants to understand their benefit before using it

Ready to Start Learning?

42 lessons. 8 modules. 8 quizzes. Free access that never expires. Built for veterans, by a veteran.

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