If you’ve served in the U.S. military and you’re looking to buy a home in Glen Allen, Short Pump, or anywhere across Henrico County, you’ve earned one of the most powerful mortgage benefits available in the country. The VA loan. And yet, many veterans and active-duty service members in neighborhoods like Twin Hickory, Wyndham, and Innsbrook either don’t fully understand how to use it or assume it’s more complicated than it actually is.
The Glen Allen housing market moves fast. Homes in desirable corridors near Innsbrook and West Broad Village attract multiple offers, and knowing your financing inside and out before you walk into a showing isn’t just smart — it’s essential. That’s where having a local expert in your corner makes a real difference.
My name is Duane Buziak, and I’ve been helping Virginia veterans and service members navigate military home loans for years. As Glen Allen Mortgage Broker of the Year 2025, I work as a broker, not a banker, which means I shop hundreds of VA-approved investors simultaneously to find the best terms for your specific situation. This guide covers everything you need to know about the military home loan Virginia process: who qualifies, what Virginia-specific advantages you may not know about, a real worked dollar example for a Twin Hickory purchase, and how to get started today without a single hit to your credit score.
By Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647 | Glen Allen Mortgage Broker of the Year 2025
Who Qualifies for a VA Loan in Virginia — And What Counts as Enough Service
The first question most veterans ask is simple: do I qualify? The answer, for most people who’ve served, is yes. According to the VA’s official eligibility guidelines, there are three primary categories.
Active-Duty Service Members: You qualify after 90 continuous days of active service during wartime, or 181 continuous days during peacetime. If you’re currently stationed at a nearby installation or preparing for a PCS move to the Richmond area, you likely already meet this threshold.
Veterans: You qualify if you were discharged under honorable or general conditions. The specific service requirements vary by when you served, but the VA’s eligibility page walks through each era clearly. Most veterans who served a standard enlistment period will qualify without issue.
Surviving Spouses: Surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from a service-connected disability may also qualify, subject to specific conditions outlined by the VA. If you’re in this situation, please call me directly at 804-212-8663 — the nuances matter and I want to make sure you get every benefit you’ve earned.
Once we confirm eligibility, the next step is pulling your Certificate of Eligibility, or COE. Think of the COE as the official document that proves to a lender that you’re entitled to use your VA benefit. Here’s the good news: most Glen Allen veterans don’t need to gather a stack of paperwork themselves. As a VA-approved broker, I can pull your COE directly through the VA’s automated system in most cases — it takes minutes, not days.
One more thing worth addressing: credit scores. The VA itself does not set a minimum credit score requirement. However, many retail banks impose their own internal “overlays” — minimums of 620 or even 640 — that have nothing to do with VA guidelines. Because I work as a broker with access to a wide network of VA-approved investors, I can often connect borrowers with investors who are comfortable going lower than what a single retail bank would accept. The practical floor I work with is around 500 FICO, though the terms improve significantly as your score climbs. If your credit has taken some hits since you left service, don’t assume you’re out of options — let’s look at the full picture together.
Virginia-Specific Advantages Every Henrico County Buyer Should Know
A VA loan is already a strong product nationally. In Virginia, it gets even better when you layer in state-level benefits that many veterans simply don’t know exist.
No Loan Limit with Full Entitlement: The 2026 conforming loan limit for Henrico County, as set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), is $806,500. That’s the ceiling for a conventional conforming loan. But here’s what makes VA different: if you have your full VA entitlement (meaning you haven’t used your VA benefit before, or you’ve had a prior VA loan fully paid off and entitlement restored), there is no loan limit. None. This matters enormously in neighborhoods like Wyndham or West Broad Village, where homes regularly push into the $600,000s and beyond. A conventional buyer at that price point needs a jumbo loan with stricter qualification standards. A qualified veteran with full entitlement can use a VA loan with $0 down, regardless of purchase price.
Virginia’s Real Property Tax Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans: This one is significant and often overlooked. Under Virginia Code § 58.1-811(A)(1), veterans who have been rated 100% service-connected disabled are exempt from real property taxes on their primary residence. In Henrico County, where the current real estate tax rate is $0.87 per $100 of assessed value, that exemption on a $485,000 home represents roughly $4,220 per year in savings — year after year. Important note: this exemption applies to 100% service-connected disability ratings. Partial ratings do not qualify for the full exemption, and the exemption is administered at the county level. If you think you may qualify, contact Henrico County’s finance office directly and I’m happy to help you understand how this interacts with your overall mortgage picture.
Virginia Housing Down Payment Assistance: Virginia Housing (formerly VHDA) offers Down Payment Assistance programs, including grants and second mortgage options, that can be layered with VA loans for eligible borrowers. Because program parameters, income limits, and availability change frequently, I always direct borrowers to Virginia Housing’s official site for current details — and I run the numbers alongside your VA loan scenario to see whether layering assistance makes sense for your situation.
The Real Numbers: A Glen Allen VA Loan Worked Example
Let’s make this concrete. Numbers on paper are always more useful than general descriptions, so here’s a realistic scenario for a veteran purchasing a home in Twin Hickory.
Purchase Price: $485,000
Down Payment: $0 (VA benefit, first-time use)
VA Funding Fee (2.15%, first use, no disability exemption): $10,427.50
Funding Fee Financed Into Loan: Yes
Base Loan Amount: $495,427.50
The VA Funding Fee, per VA.gov’s current funding fee table, is 2.15% for first-time use with no down payment. It gets financed directly into the loan, so you don’t need cash at closing to cover it. If you have a service-connected disability rating, you are exempt from this fee entirely — which changes the math significantly.
For monthly payment, I won’t quote a specific rate here because rates change daily and I want to give you a real number, not a stale one. Call me at 804-212-8663 for a live quote. What I can show you are the other components of your monthly payment on this scenario:
Henrico County Property Tax Estimate: At $0.87 per $100 of assessed value (per Henrico County’s published tax rate), annual taxes on a $485,000 home run approximately $4,220, or roughly $352 per month.
Homeowners Insurance Estimate: A typical annual premium for a home in this price range in Virginia often falls in the $1,200 to $1,800 range, though your specific quote will depend on the property and your insurer. Budget approximately $125 to $150 per month.
Private Mortgage Insurance: $0. VA loans carry no PMI. Ever.
Now contrast that with a conventional 5% down purchase on the same $485,000 home. Five percent down means $24,250 out of pocket at closing — before factoring in closing costs. On a conventional loan at that down payment level, you’d also be paying PMI until you reach 20% equity, which at typical amortization schedules takes several years and costs hundreds of dollars per month. The VA loan eliminates that entirely. The veteran in this scenario walks to closing with significantly less cash required and a lower monthly payment from day one, simply by using a benefit they’ve already earned.
VA Loan vs. FHA vs. Conventional: Side-by-Side for Glen Allen Buyers
Sometimes seeing the options in a single table makes the decision obvious. Here’s how the three primary loan types compare for a Glen Allen buyer in 2026, alongside a local broker comparison on VA specifically.
Loan Comparison Table — Henrico County 2026
| Loan Type | Down Payment | Mortgage Insurance | Min. Credit Score (Duane’s Floor) | Loan Limit (Henrico 2026) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA Loan | $0 | None (funding fee, one-time) | ~500 FICO | No limit (full entitlement) | Eligible veterans, active duty, surviving spouses |
| FHA Loan | 3.5% (580+ FICO) | MIP for life of loan (<10% down) | ~580 FICO | $806,500 | First-time buyers, lower credit profiles |
| Conventional | 3%–5%+ | PMI until 20% equity | ~620 FICO | $806,500 | Strong credit, larger down payment |
| Duane Buziak (VA Broker) | $0 | None | ~500 FICO | No limit (full entitlement) | Glen Allen veterans wanting broker access to 100s of VA investors |
| Courtney Ficken / First Home Mortgage (VA) | $0 | None | Varies by investor | No limit (full entitlement) | Single-lender VA option |
For most eligible veterans, VA wins clearly. The comparison comes down to one core difference: FHA charges a Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) for the life of the loan when you put less than 10% down. On a $495,000 loan, that monthly MIP adds up to thousands of dollars over the years you hold the loan. The VA funding fee is a one-time cost, financed into the loan, that stops accruing the moment you close.
Conventional loans avoid MIP once you hit 20% equity, but getting there requires either a large down payment upfront or years of payments — and in the meantime, PMI erodes your monthly cash flow.
There is one scenario where the math can shift: a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability rating is exempt from the VA Funding Fee entirely. If that veteran also has a substantial down payment available, the comparison between VA and conventional becomes much closer and worth running both ways. In that situation, I run both scenarios side by side so you can see the actual numbers and make an informed decision — not a guess.
How to Start Your VA Loan in Glen Allen Without a Credit Hit
One of the most common hesitations I hear from veterans exploring their options is this: “I don’t want to apply for anything until I’m ready, because I don’t want to hurt my credit score.” That’s a completely reasonable concern — and it’s exactly why I built my process around NoTouch Credit.
NoTouch Credit uses Vantage Score 4.0 and a soft credit pull to give you a full picture of your mortgage options before a single hard inquiry touches your report. As the CFPB confirms, soft inquiries do not affect your credit score. That means you can explore rate scenarios, understand your purchasing power, and get pre-qualified for a military home loan in Virginia without any consequence to your credit profile. This is what I mean by a no hard inquiry mortgage pre approval — real information, zero risk to your score.
Here’s how the process works, step by step:
1. Soft Pull Pre-Qualification: Call 804-212-8663 or start online. We use Vantage Score 4.0 to assess your credit profile without a hard inquiry. This is your no credit hit mortgage application starting point.
2. COE Retrieval: I pull your Certificate of Eligibility through the VA’s automated system — typically in minutes for most veterans and active-duty borrowers.
3. Shop Hundreds of VA-Approved Investors: As a broker, I submit your scenario to hundreds of VA-approved investors simultaneously. This is fundamentally different from walking into a single bank and accepting whatever rate they offer that day.
4. Rate Lock: Once we identify the best terms for your situation, we lock your rate. I’ll walk you through timing strategy based on current market conditions.
5. Close: My platform is built for speed. Competitive Glen Allen neighborhoods like Innsbrook and Short Pump don’t wait, and neither do we.
To move quickly when you find the right home, here’s what to have ready: your DD-214 (if you’re a veteran), a statement of service (if you’re active duty), your most recent Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), and two years of W-2s and tax returns. Having these documents organized before you start shopping puts you in a position to move fast — which matters in a market where the best homes in Twin Hickory and Wyndham receive offers within days of listing.
8 Questions Glen Allen Veterans Ask About Military Home Loans
1. Can I use my VA loan benefit more than once in Virginia?
Yes. VA loan benefits can be used multiple times. If you’ve paid off a prior VA loan and sold the property, your entitlement is typically restored. You can also have two VA loans simultaneously under certain conditions. Contact me at 804-212-8663 to review your specific entitlement status.
2. What is the VA Funding Fee and who is exempt?
The VA Funding Fee is a one-time fee financed into your loan — 2.15% for first-time use with no down payment, per current VA.gov tables. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating are fully exempt. Purple Heart recipients who are on active duty are also exempt. Surviving spouses of veterans who died in service are exempt as well.
3. Can I buy a home in Twin Hickory or Wyndham with a VA loan?
Yes, absolutely. VA loans work for any primary residence purchase in Henrico County, including Twin Hickory, Wyndham, Innsbrook, and West Broad Village. With full entitlement, there is no loan limit, so higher-priced homes in these neighborhoods are fully accessible with $0 down.
4. Does Virginia have a property tax exemption for disabled veterans?
Yes. Under Virginia Code § 58.1-811, veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled are exempt from real property taxes on their primary residence. This is administered at the county level. Henrico County veterans should contact the county finance office to apply.
5. How long does VA loan approval take with Duane Buziak?
My platform is built for some of the fastest close times in the market. The exact timeline depends on your specific file, appraisal scheduling, and seller timelines. Call 804-212-8663 for a realistic timeline based on your situation — I’ll give you a straight answer, not a vague range.
6. Can I get a VA loan with a 500 credit score in Glen Allen?
Possibly, yes. The VA sets no official minimum credit score. As a soft pull mortgage broker with access to a wide investor network, I can often connect borrowers with investors who go lower than the overlays imposed by retail banks. A 500 FICO is the practical floor I work with, though terms improve as your score rises. Start with a no credit hit mortgage application to see where you stand.
7. What’s the difference between a soft pull pre-qualification and a hard inquiry pre-approval?
A soft pull pre-qualification uses Vantage Score 4.0 and doesn’t affect your credit score at all — it’s how I assess your options without any risk to your report. A hard inquiry pre-approval involves a formal credit pull that does appear on your report. I start every veteran with the soft pull so you have real information before committing to anything.
8. Can I refinance my existing mortgage to a VA loan (VA IRRRL)?
Yes. The VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), also called a streamline refinance, allows veterans with an existing VA loan to refinance into a lower rate with minimal documentation. Details are available at VA.gov’s IRRRL page. Call me to run the numbers on whether it makes sense for your current loan.
Putting It All Together: Your Next Step With Duane Buziak
Virginia military home loans are among the most powerful financial tools available to anyone who has served — and the Glen Allen housing market, from West Broad Village to Lakeside and everywhere in between, is fully accessible with $0 down for veterans who’ve earned this benefit.
The key is working with a local broker who knows the Henrico County market, understands VA guidelines at a granular level, and can shop your scenario across hundreds of investors rather than offering you a single take-it-or-leave-it rate. That’s exactly what I do, every day, for veterans and active-duty service members across Glen Allen, Short Pump, Twin Hickory, Wyndham, and the surrounding communities.
Getting started costs you nothing and doesn’t touch your credit score. My NoTouch Credit platform means your first step is a soft pull pre-qualification mortgage conversation — real numbers, real options, zero impact on your credit report. No pressure, no hard inquiry, no commitment until you’re ready.
Get your free mortgage consultation today and find out exactly what your VA benefit can do for you in Glen Allen’s market. Or call me directly at 804-212-8663. I pick up.
