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What is a Certificate of Eligibility(COE)?

The COE is a formal document that certifies that the borrower has a VA entitlement and is eligible to participate in the program.

How do i obtain a Certificate of Eligibility(COE)?

 Normally, the COE is obtained by your lender directly, but if you would like obtain it on your own:

VA Loan Eligibility Center
PO Box 100023
Decatur, GA 30031
Phone # (888) 768-2132
 

 

What does the entitlement on my COE represent?

An entitlement is the amount of money the Veterans Administration will guarantee on a loan. 

 

If I am qualified to purchase a home up to $879,750, why is the entitlement on my COE only $36,000? 

It’s completely normal for a Certificate of Eligibility to say the Entitlement is $36,000.  The key is the bonus entitlement, and how it ties back to the county. The general rule is a Veteran can obtain a VA home loan up to 4 times the amount of the available basic and/or bonus entitlement.

The “basic” entitlement available to each eligible Veteran is $36,000 on loans of $144,000 or less. Every eligible Veteran also receives “bonus” entitlement that is considered in excess of the $36,000 basic entitlement. Bonus entitlement kicks in only for loans over $144,000. Bonus entitlement is calculated by taking the annual Freddie Mac conforming loan limits for counties($879,750 for San Diego), multiplying them by 25% and then subtracting the basic entitlement of $36,000.

Example: ($879,750 x 25% = $219,937) - $36,000 = $183,937 bonus entitlement.

Generally,  an entitlement of $36,000 on the COE translates to being able to purchase a home valued up to the county Fannie Mae Loan Limit without having to make a down payment. 

 

 

 

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