VA Loan Eligibility in 2025: Who Qualifies and How to Get Your COE

If you're a veteran, service member, or surviving spouse and you're considering buying a home in Southern California, the VA loan could be the key to getting there with no down payment, no PMI, and flexible credit guidelines. But before you start house hunting, there’s one essential question to answer: Do you qualify for a VA loan? And once you do — how do you prove it? Let’s break it down.

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VA Loan Eligibility in 2025: Who Qualifies and How to Get Your COE

By Glenn Siaumau and Nicole Thompson-Stockmoe | S2 Mortgage
VA Loan Specialists Serving All of Southern California

If you're a veteran, service member, or surviving spouse and you're considering buying a home in Southern California, the VA loan could be the key to getting there with no down payment, no PMI, and flexible credit guidelines.

But before you start house hunting, there’s one essential question to answer: Do you qualify for a VA loan?
And once you do — how do you prove it?

Let’s break it down.

Who Qualifies for a VA Loan in 2025?

Eligibility is based on military service history and, in some cases, family status. Here's a quick breakdown of who may qualify:

1. Active-Duty Service Members

You may be eligible if:

  • You’ve served at least 90 consecutive days on active duty during wartime, or
  • At least 181 days during peacetime

2. Veterans

You qualify if:

  • You were honorably discharged
  • You served the required minimum active-duty time (usually 90 days wartime or 181 days peacetime)

3. National Guard and Reserve Members

  • At least 6 years of service, or
  • 90 days of active-duty service (with at least 30 days consecutive), including under Title 10 or 32 orders

4. Surviving Spouses

Unmarried surviving spouses of veterans who died in service or from a service-connected disability may also qualify.

Not sure if your service history qualifies? We can help review it and confirm — often in minutes.

What Is a COE — and Why It Matters

The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is a required document that confirms you’re eligible to use a VA home loan. It’s issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and tells your lender that you’ve earned this benefit based on your military service or status as a qualifying surviving spouse.

While you don’t need the COE to begin the pre-approval process, you’ll need it to officially move forward with a VA loan.

Most lenders — including S2 Mortgage — can help retrieve your COE instantly through the VA’s online portal, often in just minutes.

Your COE also tells us whether you’re exempt from the VA funding fee, which applies to most VA loans. If you’re receiving VA disability benefits, you may be exempt — which could save you thousands of dollars in upfront costs.

If you’re unsure whether you qualify, or if you’ve had trouble getting your COE in the past, we’ll walk you through the process from start to finish.

How to Get Your COE

There are three ways to request your Certificate of Eligibility:

1. Through a VA-Approved Lender

This is the fastest and easiest method.
At S2 Mortgage, we can usually retrieve your COE in minutes through the VA’s direct system — no paperwork required.

2. Online at VA.gov

You can log into your VA.gov account and apply through the eBenefits portal.

3. By Mail

In more complex cases (older service records, surviving spouses), you may need to submit VA Form 26-1880 with backup documentation.

We’ll help determine which route is best for your situation and take care of as much as possible on your behalf.

What Documents Might You Need?

Depending on your service history or family status, you may need:

  • DD-214 (for veterans)
  • Statement of Service (for active-duty or Guard/Reserve members)
  • NGB Form 22 or 23 (for National Guard)
  • Marriage and/or death certificate (for surviving spouses)

We’ll guide you step-by-step — even if you’re unsure where to start.

Real Client Example

A Marine veteran in Riverside thought he didn’t qualify because he had never deployed.
We helped him confirm eligibility, retrieve his COE, and get pre-approved — all in the same day.
He’s now under contract on a home with zero down.

Don’t Disqualify Yourself — Let’s Check

Every week, we talk to veterans who assume they aren’t eligible — but they are.
If you’ve served, it’s worth checking. The benefit is yours, and it could save you thousands.

Ready to Get Pre-Approved and Pull Your COE?

Whether you’re actively looking or just exploring your options, we can help confirm your eligibility, request your COE, and start your VA loan pre-approval — all in one conversation.

We specialize in VA loans throughout Southern California — from Los Angeles and San Diego to Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange County.

Let’s make sure your hard-earned benefit is working for you.

Call or text:

  • Glenn Siaumau: 562-999-6347
  • Nicole Thompson-Stockmoe: 619-540-0559

Email: glenn@s2mortgage.com | nicole@s2mortgage.com
Website: www.s2mortgage.com

As a U.S. Navy Veteran and a Marine Corps Surviving Spouse, we’re deeply committed to helping fellow military families achieve homeownership with expert guidance and personalized care.

If someone in your circle is considering buying, selling, or refinancing, we’d be honored to serve them.
Can we count on you to introduce us?