Publisher: American Veteran Mortgage Corporation. Editorial update: October 1, 2026. How these guides are prepared · Company verification
VA Loan Requirements · California and Florida
VA borrower and property requirements
Know what lenders review before you apply.
VA eligibility is an important starting point, but loan approval also depends on credit, income, debts, occupancy, property and lender requirements.
Educational guidance only · Full application and lender review required
See what a lender reviews
Review benefit, financial and property requirements, then use the optional checklist if helpful.
Reviewing military income and assignment changes?
Coordinate reporting, income, signing, housing costs and the intended move-in date before committing to a closing calendar.
Service and COE
Confirm eligible service and Certificate of Eligibility.
Borrower qualification
Review credit, income, debts and residual income (income left for family living costs after the expenses counted in VA's loan review).
Property and occupancy
Confirm main-home and appraisal (a professional estimate of the property's value for the loan review) requirements.
The Complete Picture
VA eligibility is one requirement not the entire approval.
The VA home loan benefit can support qualified borrowers, while lenders still verify ability to repay and the property must meet program standards.
Requirements can vary with loan purpose, lender standards and the facts of the application. Review your Certificate of Eligibility, finances and property with a qualified mortgage professional.
Reviewed by American Veteran Mortgage Corporation • Updated September 17, 2026 • Licensing information
Important
A COE is not a loan approval.
It documents VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) loan eligibility. The lender’s review for loan approval, appraisal, occupancy (how you use the home, such as living there as your main home), property and lender requirements still apply.
Build your educational requirements checklist.
Answer four general questions. Do not enter sensitive personal or financial information.
Six areas commonly reviewed for a VA loan.
Service eligibility and COE
Confirm qualifying service and obtain a Certificate of Eligibility. The COE does not guarantee loan approval.
Credit history
VA does not set one universal minimum score, but lenders may apply credit standards and review the full profile.
Income and employment
Document stable, reliable income that can reasonably continue, subject to program and lender review.
Debts and residual income
Lenders review recurring obligations, debt ratios and income remaining after major monthly expenses.
Primary-residence occupancy
VA-backed purchase loans generally require qualifying occupancy. Timing and exceptions require review.
Property appraisal and condition
An eligible property must meet VA minimum property requirements (VA's basic property standards for safety, soundness and sanitation) and lender standards; appraisal is not a home inspection.
Documents that may support the review.
Eligibility and identity
- Certificate of Eligibility or service records
- Government-issued identification
- Prior VA loan information, if applicable
Income, assets and property
- Records supporting pay, benefits or other income the lender can count
- Asset statements when required
- Purchase contract, insurance and property information
Send documents only through American Veteran Mortgage’s approved secure process—not through this checklist.
VA program rules and lender review work together.
VA Program
Establishes the guaranty framework.
VA guidance addresses eligibility, entitlement (the VA benefit amount available to support a lender’s loan guaranty), occupancy, appraisal and minimum property requirements.
Lender Review
Determines whether the complete loan qualifies.
The lender verifies credit, income, assets (money and other resources you own), debts, residual income, property, disclosures and program compliance.
Send documents only through AVM’s approved secure process not through this checklist.
A clear five-step VA loan review.
1
Confirm eligibility
Obtain or verify the COE.
2
Apply
Provide complete, accurate information.
3
Document
Verify income, assets and debts.
4
Review property
Complete appraisal and required checks.
5
Underwrite
Resolve conditions and receive a decision.
Requirements in California and Florida.
California VA Loans
Review local property values, insurance, taxes, eligible property types and lender documentation.
Florida VA Loans
Review insurance availability, wind or flood considerations, property condition and lender documentation.
Send documents only through AVM’s approved secure process not through this checklist.
Frequently asked questions.
What are the basic requirements for a VA loan?
A borrower generally needs qualifying military service and a COE, acceptable credit and income, sufficient residual income, qualifying occupancy, and an eligible property that meets appraisal and lender requirements.
Is there a minimum credit score for a VA loan?
VA does not set one universal minimum credit score, but lenders may establish their own credit standards and review the complete credit profile.
Does a Certificate of Eligibility guarantee approval?
No. A COE documents VA loan eligibility. Credit, income, debts, residual income, occupancy, property, appraisal and lender requirements still apply.
Must a VA-financed home be a primary residence?
VA-backed purchase loans generally require qualifying occupancy as a main home. Timing and exceptions should be reviewed for the individual situation.
Example: three files answer three different questions
Decision example: If a buyer has a COE and sufficient cash but an appraisal raises a property concern, the next question is how the lender and seller will address that concern—not whether service eligibility disappeared.
Primary source: VA: COE and loan process. Source linked for this illustration; no transaction-specific review is implied. Examples are educational; actual eligibility, costs and terms require lender review.
Open the printable checklist
VA Loans in Florida checklist
Use this blank worksheet to record what you have verified and what still needs review. Keep your completed copy private; this page does not collect your notes.
- Ask which service, income, asset and debt records the lender still needs.
Source or document: __________________
Question / person to ask: __________________
Needed by: __________________ - Confirm intended use of the home, property documents and any appraisal/repair questions.
Source or document: __________________
Question / person to ask: __________________
Needed by: __________________ - Keep sensitive records in the approved secure process; this worksheet does not submit documents.
Source or document: __________________
Question / person to ask: __________________
Needed by: __________________
Sources to check
Before relying on the result: Use current official guidance and the records relevant to your question. This worksheet does not verify your facts or determine eligibility, approval, costs or timing.
Documents depend on how you earn income
Ask for the records relevant to your situation rather than assuming one checklist fits everyone. The lender decides which income can be counted and what verification is needed.
When an official website is unavailable, use the appropriate agency directory or contact the office responsible for the record.
- Employee income: pay statements and W-2 forms may help verify earnings and employment.
- Self-employment or irregular income: tax returns, business records and additional income documentation may be requested.
- Retirement or benefit income: ask which award, payment or account records support the income being considered.
Upload requested records through the approved secure process. For a mortgage covered by Loan Estimate requirements, verification documents cannot be required as a condition of providing that estimate.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Verify the rules with official sources.
American Veteran Mortgage summarizes mortgage information for education. Transaction-specific requirements and current agency guidance control.
Source-check dates appear beside the statements they support. An editorial update does not mean every rule was reverified.
Questions to resolve before your next step
Does one credit score tell me whether I qualify?
A credit score does not establish approval. Ask which requirements come from the program and which are additional lender standards, sometimes called overlays. The lender also reviews income, debts, payment history, how the home will be used and the proposed property. Do not treat a score mentioned online as an approval threshold for every lender.
How is residual income different from debt-to-income?
Debt-to-income compares counted monthly debt payments with qualifying monthly income. Residual income concerns the amount left for living expenses after the obligations and deductions used in the applicable review. They answer different questions. Ask the lender how each is calculated for your household; neither measure alone establishes approval.