Families with children, recent graduates, first-time buyers, and many others share one goal in the United States housing market: an ease of homeownership access. And who doesn’t? Owning a house is a symbol of stability and security for your future. Even for those who have served the country and are back in daily life. If you’re a veteran —or still on duty— and looking for a place of your own, here’s a quick guide to:
- What to look for when reaching out to an organization for VA homeownership
- 10 organizations that help veterans buy a house
- Comparison chart
What to look for
With just a quick internet search, you can find plenty of information regarding government programs and nonprofit organizations offering housing services and assistance to veterans. It may feel overwhelming at first, so take your time to go through it and make your own list considering the following:
- What type of assistance does these programs or organization offer? Most of them aim home buyers, but there are more services available besides affordable housing and financial assistance: home-building assistance, housing counseling and homelessness. You can also check the organization’s mission and values to have a better understanding of their focus.
- Is it a government program, nonprofit organization or a lender? This way you will know the funding it uses and adjust your expectations depending on your needs. It is also a good idea to ask about the organization’s reputation and partnerships, as well as other veteran’s opinions and stories.
- If seeking financial assistance, ask for the type of financing offered. It could be a VA home loan, refinance options or non-down-payment assistance. However, don’t forget that not all of them provide free housing, so you would like to ask for any hidden costs.
- The devil’s on the details and with so much information available, it’s easy to overlook them. Remember to ask if the organization offers housing counseling and education to ensure you’re making well-informed decisions. In addition, ask for transparency of information and a track record you can check to not miss anything.
- No matter how appealing a program organization may look: always compare the application requirements. You must be sure that you meet all the requirements, so you don’t waste your time and effort.
Most impactful programs and organizations for VA
Below there’s a chart with some of the best organizations and programs for veterans. As you can see, the variety amongst organizations and programs may vary —from federal programs as the VA-HUD Supportive Housing and private organizations offering financial assistance as NewDay Home, to non-profit organizations aiming for injured veterans like HFOT.
Comparison
| Organization or program | Type of support | Type of assistance | Eligibility | Notes | |
| U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | Federal | Financial housing assistance | Service requirements and discharge status | Offers competitive interest rates, and often no down payment. | |
| VA-HUD Supportive Housing | Federal | Financial assistance and support services | Homeless or high-risk veterans | Focuses on rental support and services. | |
| Homes For Our Troops | Nonprofit | Building and donation of customized homes | Severely injured veterans (post 9/11) | Provides mortgage-free homes adapted for disabled people; qualification process might be long. | |
| Gary Sinise Foundation (R.I.S.E. Program) | Nonprofit | Home building | Severely injured veterans and families | Limited eligibility for mortgage-free customized homes. | |
| NewDay Home | Lender | Financial housing assistance | Veterans, service members and their spouses | VA approved with a personalized service and fast closing. | |
| Affordable Homeownership Foundation | Nonprofit | Low-cost housing and counseling | Veterans, disabled individuals and low-income families | Provides certified housing counselors and secures affordable housing through national resources. | |
| Volunteers of America | Nonprofit | Housing units and services | Veterans and low-income population | Largest nonprofit organization offering comprehensive services for veterans, mentoring and specialized programs. | |
| Swords to Plowshares | Nonprofit | Housing advocacy and solutions | Veterans with financial and housing insecurity | Eligibility options for all discharge types; founded by Vietnam veterans. | |
| Homes for Heroes | Savings | Real estate savings services | U.S. military and law enforcement amongst others | Grants access to specialized real estate agents and lenders; it has no hidden fees. | |
| Veteran Bridge Home | Nonprofit | Financing and counseling | Veterans and active-duty members | Quick support and high satisfaction rates. | |
In conclusion
Today, veterans have more support for access to homeownership. You can now choose between a refinance, VA-loan or services available by a nonprofit program —but remember think clearly your goals, keep your feet on the ground when you create your expectations, and analyze what the different programs have to offer. Then you will be ready to choose the one that’s best for you.