GIG LINE
By Marsha M. Brown
Only weeks ago while I was issuing a veteran his I. D. Card the subject came up about his recent purchase of a home in Nags Head. That provoked me to ask him if it was his primary home he had bought or strictly as an investment property. When he told me it was his permanent residence, I asked if he had utilized his VA loan eligibility for financing and to my surprise he said yes. The reason I was ‘surprised’ is because as a Realtor myself I’ve come across very few buyers over the years that utilized their VA loan eligibility for a permanent residence mortgage and because many local lenders had not processed countless VA loans for clients. So, naturally, I was interested in how he interpreted his overall experience of late.
In years past the few friends or family that had acquired their mortgage through the VA voiced discontent about the tedious paperwork and having to cross one hurdle after another. To be honest, the complaints we heard discouraged us from using Billy’s Certificate of Eligibility so we went the conventional loan route like most people. But this veteran said once he found the house he wanted, he proceeded using his VA eligibility and that the process went through very well with no problems to an uneventful close in only thirty days. That was great news! He also said the paperwork was minimal and that the entire process was really easy. And when I asked him if he had to present his VA Certificate of Eligibility to apply, I understood him to say his DD-214 was the most important document he was required to provide.
See how important that DD-214 is? Again, it was the primary document that that veteran needed for acquiring his home loan. (Remember folks…if you have misplaced yours or you need help getting a replacement, you can contact our Veteran Service Officer Rhonda Creef at (252) 475-5604 to make an appointment to meet with her on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and she’ll help you file for a copy. In addition, if you have misplaced or lost your Certificate of Eligibility you can ask Rhonda for that help too or request a copy of it yourself online at www.va.gov . In the SEARCH field type in: VA FORM 26-1880 Request for Certificate of Eligibility.
So in essence, I learned that day that perhaps the paperwork and process in general have improved when a veteran seeks a home loan through the VA…music to my ears. In particular, I was really happy to hear about that veteran’s positive experience for the reasons I just explained but also to know that he was happy with his interest rate and that he’s now enjoying a beautiful home that he’s proud of. Good for him!
Now the reason I brought this subject up today is two fold. First, I wanted to remind all of the veterans in Dare County (or eye shot of GIG LINE) that as a veteran who has been HONORABLY discharged, you too might want to consider investigating a VA loan for your permanent residence. Maybe you’ve always used conventional means to buy your home in the past …maybe you’ve outgrown the home you bought years ago…maybe you could buy a home that has all the features you and your family would love even now…to enjoy for the rest of your life. Maybe…you’re thinking you’re too old to even contemplate buying a new house. Want to know what I say to that? If you’re in good health thank the good Lord first…and if you’re an older veteran…yippee and thank the good Lord again…then seek to accomplish your dreams…and whether its about a house or a boat or an RV to travel in with your ‘sweetie pie’…I say roll on!! You deserve to be happy…don’t you? As a veteran you and your family have sacrificed a lot for all of us. Long stints away from home, deployment to dangerous areas, extended separations from the ones who rock your world and that you love with all your heart…it was hard, wasn’t it? Give yourselves a break for a change. Be content…live your life to its fullest. Don’t let age, grief, loneliness or anything else stand in your way. And no, I’m not trying to sell a house or a mortgage…I’m just trying to sell you on the idea that if benefits are available to you through the VA because you served our country…then why not embrace them, accept them and be thankful whether its VA health care, a VA backed mortgage or a local discount Veterans I.D. Card…why wouldn’t you?
Lastly on that subject, if you’re interested in possibly buying a new or different home, contact your personal Realtor and or lender first to see how they can help you. If you don’t have a real estate agent or lender currently, let me know and I’ll be happy to share the name of the mortgage lender who processed the recent veteran loan I talked about.
Newsflash! Guess what?
Commander Clarence Lewis of the American Legion Fort Raleigh Post 26 asked me to let you all know that the Legion Post (where the V.F.W. also meets) located behind T-Tops, west side of the by-pass at 302 W. Lake Dr., Kill Devil Hills, N.C. 27948 (will-at- some-point-in-time-in-April) be open for veterans to fellowship five days a week between the hours of 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (comprised of two – 2 hour shifts from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM).With veteran interest increasing both among local veterans themselves and the general pubic overall, Legion members wanted to open the Post to welcome all veterans to come and enjoy the opportunity to meet, talk and have some coffee together…ISN’T THAT G-R-E-A-T?
I can tell you all first hand that both the American Legion Fort Raleigh Post 26 and the V.F.W. Outer Banks Post 10950 are vamping up to find even more ways to better serve fellow veterans and their families in Dare County. The gentlemen are all working together to support not only their relative organization but each other’s organization all for the good of our veteran men and women.
And not only that…but organizations all over Dare County seem to rethinking their approach to supporting our veterans and its as if everybody has lined up for the ole ‘shot in the arm’ these days! My suggestion to anyone reading this GIG LINE? If you own or manage an organization, company or workplace on the Outer Banks and you don’t already have a policy in place to support our veterans in some way…its time to get on board! Please don’t be left in the dust! We have holidays fast approaching that will remind us of our veterans beginning on: Memorial Day, Monday – May 26th; Independence Day – Friday, July 4th and Veterans Day – Tuesday, November 11th. Come on folks! Get in the red, white and blue spirit! Plan how you and or your place of business will ‘strut your stuff’ and show our vets (and visitors to the Outer Banks) just what the men and women who have served and currently serve our country mean to you!
In the meantime, be happy, be safe and be proud! As Americans, you have the right and the privilege to be all those things! God bless America! Moments of Silence at our Veteran Memorial Sites, apple pie and fireworks, military salutes…yep…it’s what we are and it’s where we need to be again if we left that post! Agree with me? Then lets stand together for ‘America the Beautiful’, the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ and to all who have worn the most honorable uniform ever…those of our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. We love you all!
Schedule for obtaining your Veteran I.D. Card for April is as follows: each Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Dare County Administrative Building, Rm. 142. Please don’t forget your DD-214 and Driver’s License or proof of local address. Write to us through editor@giglineheroes.com any time you have a question or if we can be of help. GIG LINE is about you…for you…and because we love you. Stay tuned!