VA Loans: A Powerful Benefit That’s Often Overlooked

by | Jun 9, 2025 | VA Loans

The VA home loan is one of the strongest financing options available — but surprisingly, it doesn’t get used nearly as often as you’d expect. In early 2025, only about 15% of all new mortgages were VA loans. That means the vast majority of eligible veterans are still using more expensive or less flexible options. This exemplifies the VA Loan as a powerful benefit that’s often overlooked!

How VA Loans Stack Up in Performance

When it comes to late payments, VA loans actually perform better than you might think.

  • Conventional loans had a delinquency rate around 2.7%
  • VA loans were just over 4.6%
  • FHA loans were much higher — over 10.6%

So while VA loans don’t beat conventional in this category, they’re significantly stronger than FHA loans. And when veterans do fall behind, VA has better built-in protections to help them stay in their homes.

VA Assumptions Are on the Rise — If Your Lender Knows What They’re Doing

In 2022, only a few hundred people took advantage of VA’s assumable loan benefit. Fast forward to 2023, and that number jumped to over 2,000. Why? Because rates went up — and buyers wanted to assume older, lower-rate VA loans. The problem is, many lenders don’t even offer this option or know how to handle it.

VA Foreclosures: What’s Happening Now

The VA used to offer a special program called VASP to help veterans avoid foreclosure during tough times. That program ended in May 2025, and there’s no replacement yet. That makes it even more important for veterans to work with a loan officer who understands VA loss mitigation and can help structure a deal properly from the beginning.

The Bottom Line: Why You Need a VA Specialist

Most loan officers treat VA loans like any other mortgage — but they’re not the same. Here’s what can go wrong if your lender doesn’t specialize in VA:

  • You could miss out on waived fees you’ve earned through your service
  • You could be told you don’t qualify, even when you do
  • You might pay more out-of-pocket because the lender doesn’t understand VA limits on fees
  • You could lose negotiating power, especially when sellers don’t understand how VA offers work

We Do VA Differently

At Creekside Mortgage, we don’t just “offer” VA loans — we live and breathe them. From residual income calculations to understanding how to structure multi-unit purchases, we’re specialists. We’ve seen how the VA loan changes lives when it’s used correctly.

If you’re a veteran or active duty service member thinking about buying a home — or even selling a home with a low-rate VA loan — make sure your lender actually knows what they’re doing. You’ve earned this benefit. Let’s make sure you use it the right way.