Chris is an award-winning former journalist with 15 years of experience in the mortgage industry. A national expert in VA lending and author of “The Book on VA Loans,” Chris has been featured in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and more.
Updated on August 9, 2023 Veterans: Check your $0 down eligibility today! Expert Reviewed At a GlanceVerification of Employment (VOE) is essential for VA lenders to see that you have a reliable source of income and can make your mortgage payments. Guidelines will vary by lender and borrowers should be aware that some employment scenarios can disrupt the VA loan process.
For potential homebuyers who are still working, VA lenders will need to verify your employment situation before closing your loan.
Verification is at the heart of the mortgage process. Lenders want to see that you have a steady income and make sure your employment status hasn't changed as your loan closing approaches.
While it isn't terribly common, some prospective borrowers lose or change jobs between getting preapproved and receiving a “clear to close.” Lenders want to make sure you're still in a position to make mortgage payments on time every month. Any change to your employment or income situation is serious and could potentially derail your VA loan.
Guidelines and policies regarding Verification of Employment (VOE) can vary by lender. The good thing is there are a couple of ways lenders can verify employment: verbally or with a formal written document. Typically, VA lenders will look at:
For many borrowers with a single and consistent income stream, a Verbal Verification of Employment (VVOE) can suffice. This can be accomplished with a phone call between the lender and a representative from your employer.
At Veterans United, we typically complete a VVOE no more than ten calendar days before closing for all hourly, salary and commission-income borrowers.
For self-employed VA loan borrowers, we will usually do the following within 30 days of closing:
Borrowers must understand the date they sign the note is considered the closing date and should keep the VOE in mind as they move through the mortgage process. Some jobs and employment scenarios can pose unique hurdles.
For example, lenders can run into difficulty verifying employment for teachers who want to close on a loan during a holiday break or over the summer. Speak with your loan officer if the nature of your work might make it more challenging to contact your employer.
There are times when lenders will conduct a full, written verification of employment. At Veterans United, we typically seek a full VOE if the borrower qualifies with multiple types of income or if there's a discrepancy regarding the borrower's dates of employment.
We may also require a full Verification of Employment for borrowers who receive handwritten paystubs or pursue a loan while on temporary leave from work.
Depending on the lender, guidelines and policies on future income and employment can vary. Generally, lenders might be able to work with this situation if the new income starts within 30 days of closing. But they would need to take a deeper look at your overall situation to determine potential options.
The verification process is a bit different for prospective homebuyers still actively serving in the military. Several different forms may be needed, and additional types of effective income may be accounted for.
To verify active military employment, VA lenders will require a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) instead of a VOE, which contains the same basic financial information. Active duty members can acquire their LES online by using the MyPay portal.
Base pay counts as stable and reliable as long as the service member isn’t within a year of release from active duty. Lenders can also include a service member’s Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) as effective income and occassionally other military allowances — clothing, flight pay, combat pay and more — provided they’re verified and expected to continue.
Service members within a year of their release from active duty or the conclusion of their contract term can present a unique challenge.
If your discharge date falls within 12 months of the anticipated date of your loan closing, the lender has to take a few extra steps to satisfy the VA. It makes sense, considering there may be uncertainty regarding the type of job and income that awaits the recently discharged Veteran.
Given those potential question marks, lenders typically have to document at least one of the following five elements, if not more:
Talk with your loan officer immediately if your employment situation changes during the loan process.
Jobs gaps or changes to your employment won't automatically stall your mortgage plans, but lenders will need to take a closer look to assess your ability to repay the loan.
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Chris Birk is the author of “The Book on VA Loans: An Essential Guide to Maximizing Your Home Loan Benefits.” An award-winning former journalist, Chris writes about mortgages and homebuying for a host of sites and publications. His analysis and articles have appeared at The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, ABC News, CBS News, Military.com and more. More than 300,000 people follow VA Loans Insider, his interactive VA loan community on Facebook.
About Our Editorial Process
Veterans United is recognized as the leading VA lender in the nation, unmatched in our specialization and expertise in VA loans. Our strict adherence to accuracy and the highest editorial standards guarantees our information is based on thoroughly vetted, unbiased research. Committed to excellence, we offer guidance to our nation's Veterans, ensuring their homebuying experience is informed, seamless and secured with integrity.
The VA funding fee is a governmental fee required for many VA borrowers. However, some Veterans are exempt, and the fee varies by VA loan usage and other factors. Here we explore the ins and outs of the VA funding fee, current charts, who's exempt and a handful of unique scenarios.
Can Your Mortgage Be Denied After Preapproval? Updated on April 15, 2024It is possible for you to get denied for a home loan after being preapproved. Find out why this may happen and what you can do to prevent it.
