If you serve in one of the military’s Reserve Components or in the National Guard, you’ve likely got a nice blend going. You have the ability to maintain a civilian life while still protecting the country — and accessing the benefits that come with that service. That could include eligibility for VA loans, or mortgages backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

That said, just signing up for the Reserves or National Guard doesn’t mean you have immediate access to these loans. You have to serve enough time to be eligible. To make matters more complicated, things like inactive duty training and state-only activations might not count toward the service requirement. 

So, do Reservists and National Guard members qualify for VA loans? Potentially. To help you find out if you’re specifically eligible, let’s take a closer look at the service requirements here. 

Understanding VA loan service requirements

No one gets instant access to VA-backed mortgages right when they sign up for service. No matter where or how you serve, you need to meet a minimum time requirement. You essentially have to earn your access to these loans and the benefits they offer, including the potential for a 0% down payment. 

Active-duty military members can typically meet the requirement with 90 days of continuous service. But if you choose a Reserve Component or the National Guard, the lessened intensity of service can change things. You may need to serve for a longer time in specific ways to get VA loan eligibility. 

VA loan service requirements for Reserve members

If you serve in a Reserve Component, you can potentially meet the requirement in a 90-day window. The trick is that you need to have 90 days of service that’s both non-training and active-duty. 

Even if you haven’t hit that 90-day threshold, you can still qualify if you have six creditable years in the Selected Reserve and you:

• Continue to serve or
• Were discharged honorably or
• Were placed on the retired list

VA loan service requirements for National Guard members

The requirements for National Guard members are somewhat similar to those that apply to Reservists, but there’s even more nuance here. You can also qualify for a VA loan with 90 days of service, but those days need to be either:

• Non-training active-duty Title 10 service or
• Active-duty service with at least 30 consecutive days under qualifying Title 32 orders (Sections 316, 502, 503, 504, or 505 on your DD214)

Alternatively, National Guard members also have the six-year qualification threshold. You can usually get a VA loan if you’ve served six creditable years and you:

• Continue to serve or
• Were discharged honorably or
• Were placed on the retired list

Exceptions to these rules

If you can’t tick any of the above boxes, you may still be eligible for a VA loan. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a few exemptions. You may still qualify if you were discharged for:

• A service-connected disability
• Hardship
• Involuntary reduction in force
• Some medical conditions

There are also some exemptions that more rarely apply to situations like yours, including discharge for the convenience of the government or early out. 

Confirming your VA loan eligibility

The VA has specialists who can look over your service record. They can then help you determine if you’re eligible for a VA loan. To reach them, you can call the VA Loan Guaranty Service at (877) 827-3702. They’re available by phone from 8 am to 6 pm ET every weekday. 

Alternatively, you can submit eligibility questions using the Loan Guaranty support portal. If you haven’t made an account there before, you’ll need to set that up first. 

If you’re pretty certain that you can get a VA loan, you can also skip directly to applying for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). This is the document lenders need in order to originate a VA loan for you. 

Sometimes, your service record provides enough information that the VA can automatically generate a COE for you. If not, you can still apply for the COE online. Then, someone from the VA’s team will review your record and make a determination about your eligibility. 

Either way, you’ll need to log into your VA.gov account to move forward. The VA has a link to take you directly there on their COE request page. Scroll down and click the blue button that says “Sign in to start your request.”  

What National Guard and Reserve members should know about VA loans

If you can get a COE, you have access to VA loans and the range of benefits that come with them. That includes:

• The potential for a 0% down payment (in other words, the ability to buy a house with no money down)
• Lower-than-average mortgage interest rates
• No mortgage insurance
• VA-set caps on how much you can pay for things like lender fees

Plus, the VA doesn’t just back purchase loans. If you already have a mortgage, you can potentially refinance into a VA loan with a cash-out refinance. (You don’t necessarily have to take cash out. This is just the only way to get into a VA loan with a refi if you don’t already have a VA loan.)

Service-related eligibility for a VA loan doesn’t mean you can automatically get one, though. You’ll need to find a lender that’s willing to work with you, and you’ll need to be able to show that you can afford the loan. We have a guide that walks through the steps to get a VA loan if you want more information here.

Once you feel ready to move forward, you’ll need to find your lender. Every lender doesn’t necessarily have approval to offer VA loans. To make it easier, you’ll want to start your hunt somewhere you’ll only see financial institutions with VA backing. We keep an active list of VA lenders and their current average mortgage rates to help.  

The loan officers that work for these lenders can also be a resource to you. They can help you figure out if you’re eligible for a VA loan and can even request a certificate of eligibility on your behalf. Still, you don’t want to get locked into one lender unless you’re sure they’ll offer you the most competitive interest rate. Start by checking your eligibility with the VA, then compare lenders to make sure you’re getting the best deal.