You served your country.
Now let your benefit serve you.
$0 down payment. No PMI. Competitive rates. Larry Steinway has helped hundreds of active-duty service members and veterans turn their VA entitlement into a home of their own — and he understands BAH, PCS orders, and the realities of military life.
Takes 2 minutes · No credit impact · Confidential
A loan benefit built specifically for those who served.
The VA loan is the most powerful homebuying benefit in America — and most active-duty buyers leave money on the table because they don't fully understand how to use it. Here's what your service has earned you.
Zero Down Payment
Up to 100% financing on your primary residence. No need to drain your savings or wait years to build a down payment — start owning now.
No Private Mortgage Insurance
Conventional loans with under 20% down require PMI — often $150–$300/month. VA loans skip it entirely. That's pure monthly savings, forever.
Competitive Interest Rates
VA loans consistently offer rates lower than conventional financing — backed by the federal guarantee that reduces lender risk.
BAH Counts as Income
Your Basic Allowance for Housing qualifies as gross income for VA loan calculations — meaning you can typically afford more home than civilian guidelines suggest.
Reusable Entitlement
Your VA benefit isn't one-and-done. PCS to a new duty station? You can often restore your entitlement and use it again on your next home.
Flexible Credit Standards
VA guidelines are more forgiving than conventional. Lower minimum scores, more flexibility on debt-to-income, and real understanding of military finances.
No credit pull · No commitment · Just clarity
I treat your VA benefit like the privilege it is.
I'm Larry Steinway, Regional Manager and VP of Residential Lending at New American Funding. For 30+ years I've guided borrowers through every kind of mortgage situation — but VA loans are personal to me.
Active-duty service members face challenges most lenders don't take time to understand. PCS orders that move up your closing date. BAH that civilian underwriters mishandle. Deployment timelines that complicate paperwork. I've built my process around all of it.
When you work with me, you get a lender who has actually shepherded a Certificate of Eligibility through the VA portal, who knows what a Tidewater letter looks like during appraisal, and who will pick up the phone when you have a question at 9pm because tomorrow is the offer deadline.
How the VA loan actually works.
VA Loans Explained — From COE to Close
Larry Steinway · New American Funding
From eligibility check to keys in hand.
Most VA loans close in 30–45 days. Here's exactly what we do — and what I handle for you.
Eligibility & COE
We confirm your eligibility and pull your Certificate of Eligibility through the VA portal. Most COEs come back same-day.
Pre-Qualification
We review your LES, BAH, and credit profile to issue a pre-qualification letter so you can shop with confidence and write strong offers.
Offer & VA Appraisal
Once you're under contract, we order the VA appraisal and manage Minimum Property Requirements. I navigate any Tidewater issues directly with the appraiser.
Underwriting & Close
Final underwriting, clear-to-close, and signing. We coordinate with PCS schedules so you close before — or during — your move.
See what your monthly payment could look like.
Run real numbers on your VA loan scenario. Adjust price, rate, and funding fee to see how BAH stacks up against your payment.
Service members who got the keys.
"I was active-duty Navy with PCS orders to Great Lakes and 45 days to close. Larry pulled my COE in two hours and had us cleared-to-close in 27 days. Zero down. He understood our timeline like he'd been through it himself."
"First-time homebuyer, E-5, and I thought my savings would be a problem. Larry walked me through how my BAH counted, how the VA funding fee worked, and got us into a house in Skokie with literally $0 out of pocket at closing."
"Two other lenders told me my 660 score was too low for the rate I wanted. Larry got me approved on a VA loan with a rate almost a full point lower than what they quoted. He answered texts at 10pm during my deployment leave."
VA loan questions, answered straight.
Do I really put $0 down on a VA loan?
Yes. The VA loan allows up to 100% financing on your primary residence with no down payment requirement, as long as the home appraises at or above the purchase price. You'll still have closing costs (which can often be rolled in or paid by the seller), but no down payment is required.
Will my BAH count toward qualifying for the loan?
Absolutely. BAH is treated as gross qualifying income for VA loans — and because it's tax-free, we can sometimes "gross it up" by 25%, increasing your qualifying power further. This is one reason active-duty buyers often qualify for more home than civilians at the same base pay grade.
What is the VA funding fee and can it be financed?
The VA funding fee is a one-time charge that helps keep the program running for future veterans. For first-time use with $0 down, it's typically 2.15% of the loan amount. Yes — it can be financed into your loan so you don't pay it out of pocket. If you receive VA disability compensation, the funding fee is waived entirely.
How does the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) work?
The COE confirms to lenders that you're VA-eligible. You don't need to chase it down yourself — I pull it directly through the VA's lender portal, usually within hours. For active-duty, I'll need a current Statement of Service. For veterans, your DD-214. That's it.
What happens to my loan if I get PCS orders mid-process?
PCS orders are part of military life — and we plan for them. If your closing date needs to accelerate, I prioritize your file. If your PCS sends you elsewhere, your VA entitlement can typically be restored after you sell or refinance the original property, letting you use the benefit again at your new duty station.
What credit score do I need for a VA loan?
The VA itself doesn't set a minimum credit score. Most lenders look for 580–620 to start, but VA guidelines are more flexible than conventional. I work with active-duty borrowers across a wide credit spectrum — and if your score isn't where it needs to be yet, I'll tell you exactly what would move it.
You earned this benefit.
Let's put it to work.
Two minutes to see what you qualify for. No credit pull. No commitment. Just a real picture of what your VA benefit can do for you right now.
Takes 2 minutes · No credit impact · Confidential
