Housing
Get a VA home loan Certificate of Eligibility
The COE is the federal housing benefit. Homeowners, wind, and flood insurance are civilian policies you still shop. I do not sell USAA.
01
See if your service qualifies
Active duty has day-count rules. Recut from VA.gov: National Guard can qualify with 90 days of non-training Title 10, or 90 days including 30 consecutive under 32 USC 316, 502, 503, 504, or 505, or six creditable years. Federal Reserve uses the six-year path or 90 days of non-training active duty. State Active Duty does not count. The COE application is the test.
02
Request the COE on VA.gov
Login.gov or ID.me. Many lenders can pull it too. Take it to a VA-approved lender, not a random Facebook broker.
03
Budget the civilian policies separately
Homeowners insurance, wind, flood, and a military clause in a lease are not the VA guaranty. Shop them. SCRA can help an existing mortgage while you serve.