Texas Veteran Housing & Home Loans Guide

Table of Content:

Texas Veteran Home Benefits
Texas VA Home Loans
VA Home Loan Refinancing Options in Texas
Texas VA home loan lenders, VA loan calculator Texas & VLB home improvement loan
VLB vs VA Home Loan - Which is Better?
Texas Veteran Housing and Home Loans FAQs

Texas offers some of the strongest housing support systems for Veterans in the country through a combination of federal VA programs and state-backed VLB benefits.

These Texas Veteran home benefits come with easy accessibility, financial advantages, and there are a variety of options available for VA home loans in Texas, such as buying a home, refinancing, purchasing land, or applying for home improvement funds.

If you are a Veteran interested in learning more about Texas Veteran housing programs, this guide will help you understand eligibility, application steps, and how to choose the right program for your needs, depending on your goals.

Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and sit back while you enjoy an easy-to-read overview of VA housing benefits in Texas that understands your concerns and will help make complex loan options more approachable.

Texas Veteran Home Benefits

Here is the big picture overview of Texas Veteran housing programs, including VA-backed home loans, state housing assistance, and home renovation grants for disabled Veterans.

This guide gives the links to state and federal housing programs, application forms, and eligibility requirements for VA housing benefits in Texas.

VA Loan Eligibility in Texas

The Veterans Affairs (VA) gives a guarantee for loans if you are eligible due to active military service, if you are a Veteran, and also for a qualified spouse. If you get a VA loan, you do not need to have a down payment, and private mortgage insurance (PMI) is not required because the loan is guaranteed by the US government.

Here is the link to the information on Federal VA programs that provide your Texas Veteran home benefits.

You can find out if you have VA loan eligibility in Texas by getting a certificate of eligibility (COE) from the VA based on your record of military service, status of discharge, and any income-earning and credit history requirements of a lender offering a VA home loan in Texas.

You must have a COE to get any VA housing benefits in Texas. Here is the info about how to request a COE. That is your first step.

Texas Veteran Housing Programs

The state of Texas has its own programs to support Veterans, which include home loans from the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB), home improvement loans from the Texas Veterans Home Improvement Program (VHIP), and home renovation grants (which do not have to be paid back) for disabled Veterans, such as the Housing for Texas Heroes (H4TXH) grants and other VA disability housing grants.

There is also emergency assistance from the Veteran Housing & Utility Assistance Program for rent/mortgage payments, utilities, and home repairs.

Texas VA Home Loans

Here are more details for VA home loans in Texas, covering VA loan eligibility in Texas, the application process, approved lenders, and updated VA loan limits in Texas for 2026. Learn about the key benefits, including no down payment, flexible credit requirements, and no private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirements.

The eligibility requirements for VA home loans include having a COE from the VA that is based on your history of military service, an honorable discharge, meeting the minimum requirements for credit score/income level, and intending to use the loan to buy your primary residence.

If you have a full entitlement, there is no down payment and no limit on the amount you can borrow as long as you meet the appraisal value for the property and the credit and income requirements of the lender. Having a full entitlement means you have not used your VA benefit, or you have already paid a VA home loan in full.

The key benefits are no down payment, no private mortgage insurance (PMI), flexible credit underwriting standards, and competitive interest rates.

For the Texas VLB program, you must have residency in the state and have active military or Veteran status. If you have a qualifying disability rating, you may qualify for a deduction on interest for the loan.

Here are the steps for the application process for a VA loan:

Get a COE by applying through the lender or directly with the VA.
Get pre-approval from a qualified VA-lender.
Find a property you want to buy to live in as your primary residence.
The VA appraises the property.
The lender does the loan underwriting.
Go to the escrow/title office to sign the final documents and close on the loan.

VA Home Loan Refinancing Options in Texas

Texas Veterans can refinance their existing VA home loans through options that streamline refinance for Veterans, such as the VA IRRRL in Texas, which is an Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) or another option is VA refinance in Texas to change from a variable-rate to a fixed-rate loan. Learn when refinancing makes sense, your potential savings, and how to find VA-approved lenders.

A VA IRRRL refinances your existing VA-guaranteed mortgage into a new VA loan with better terms, so you may lower your interest rate and monthly payment or perhaps change from an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed-rate mortgage.

The streamline process requires less paperwork, it is fast and easy to accomplish, and you may not need a new appraisal or a new income verification. Refinancing makes sense if interest rates have dropped enough and you plan to live in the home long enough to get the savings on the monthly payment that would be greater than the closing costs of the refinancing.

One disadvantage is that in Texas, you are not allowed to take any cash out with the refinancing. Under Texas homesteading law, you cannot take cash out with a refinancing. If you need cash out of the refinancing, you have to get a regular loan in Texas, not a VA refinance in Texas.

Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) Loans & Programs

The Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) programs offer Veterans land loans in Texas, VLB loans in Texas to buy a home, and home improvement loans. Learn eligibility criteria, loan limits, interest rates, and how Veterans can apply through the VLB website for Veterans land loans in Texas. VA home loans, Veterans land loans in Texas, and VA refinance in Texas offer unique advantages, such as low fixed rates and state-backed support.

The VLB land loan program allows loans up to $150,000 (fixed-rate 30-year term) with a minimum 5% down payment to buy rural or recreational land. The land must be at least one acre and have usable road access. You can own land through this VLB program in addition to having a VA home loan or a VA home improvement loan.

Here is the link to the application form for the VLB Certification of Eligibility for a home loan or a home improvement loan.

Once you have confirmed your eligibility, here is the link to the other forms you may need for a Texas VLB home loan to buy a home, a Texas VLB home loan to make renovations and improvements, or a Texas VLB home loan to make a qualified land purchase to build a new home.

Texas VA home loan lenders, VA loan calculator Texas & VLB home improvement loan

Lenders must be approved by the VA and participate in the VA home loan program. Lenders must follow the VA loan requirements. Any VA-approved lender in Texas can help you.

Here is a list of top VA home loan lenders in Texas and a VA home loan calculator for Texas vets to help them estimate monthly payments for a Texas VA home loan.

Here is more information on the Texas VLB Home Improvement Loan program, including Texas VLB home loan credit requirements, eligible improvements, and application steps.

The Texas VLB Home Improvement Loan program is an alternative to a home improvement loan from VA home loan lenders in Texas. The loan amount can be up to $50,000 for a two to 20-year term. There is no down payment required, but you have to pay closing costs that may include flood certification and title search.

Eligible improvements include renovations, upgrades for energy efficiency, and structural repairs. Work must be according to the building codes standards, and you need a contractor. You cannot start the work until the loan closes. Examples of eligible improvements include roof repair or replacement, HVAC installation or repair, kitchen or bathroom upgrades, accessibility improvements, and energy-efficiency work.

If you have a disability rating from the VA of 30% or higher, you qualify for a discount on the interest rate.

You can start your application on the VLB website – Texas VLB loan information and application.

The application requirements include:

Texas driver’s license or ID
Social Security number
Proof of income and employment
DD214 or military service documentation
Property purchase contract
Insurance declarations
Supporting documents

The Texas Veterans Land Board allows you to buy a home with no down payment at competitive rates, own land with a small down payment, and improve an existing home with a VA mortgage.

VLB vs VA Home Loan - Which is Better?

Here is a comparison of the VLB Home Loan and other VA home loan programs to help Texas Veterans determine which option best fits their needs. Learn the benefits of a VLB home loan or a VLB home improvement loan. Consider the pros and cons of each VA home loan type, eligibility differences, interest rates, and repayment terms. Use our handy checklist to help you choose the right program with the best VA home loan benefits for your circumstances.

Here is a chart to compare a VLB Home Loan vs. a Federal VA Home Loan

Feature / Program	Texas VLB Home Loan	Federal VA Home Loan
Purpose	Buy or refinance a primary residence in Texas	Buy or refinance a primary residence anywhere
Who Runs It	Texas Veterans Land Board	U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Down Payment	low or none	None (with full entitlement)
Interest Rates	Competitive (state-subsidized)	Competitive; may vary by lender
Credit Requirements	Required	Required
Can be Combined	Yes – with VA loan for blended financing	Yes – can be blended with VLB
Property Location	Texas only	Anywhere in U.S.
Best For	Texas vets who want state perks and flexible terms	Veterans seeking nationwide VA benefits

Checklist for a Texas Veteran Home Benefits

Here are some questions to answer:

Are you purchasing land, an existing home, or making home improvements?
Do you meet the Texas residency requirement for VLB programs?
Is your goal lower monthly payments or a state-backed fixed rate?
Are you eligible for VA benefits through military service or surviving spouse status?
Have you compared interest rates and loan caps for both programs?

Federal VA Home Loan

Eligibility

☐ Confirm qualifying military service and honorable discharge
☐ Request your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA
☐ Home will be your primary residence
☐ Confirm VA loan entitlement

Financial

☐ Review credit score
☐ Calculate your debt-to-income ratio
☐ Budget for closing costs and VA funding fee
☐ Check if you qualify for exemption

Property

☐ Meet minimum property requirements
☐ Condo is VA-approved
☐ Home is 1–4 units and owner-occupied

Texas-Specific Veteran Benefits

Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB)

☐ Verify Texas residency and Veteran eligibility
☐ Review programs offered by the Texas Veterans Land Board
☐ Compare VLB interest rates vs standard VA loan rates
☐ Check disability rating for interest-rate discounts

Texas Vet Home Loan Program

☐ Property is located in Texas
☐ Will be your primary residence
☐ Determine if loan can be combined with VA underwriting
☐ Confirm purchase price limits (if applicable)
☐ Review income and credit underwriting standards

Texas Veterans Home Improvement Program (VHIP)

☐ Own and occupy the home in Texas
☐ Improvements are eligible
☐ Obtain contractor estimates
☐ Confirm loan amount and interest rate
☐ Verify lien position and equity requirements

Texas Veteran Land Loan

☐ Minimum acreage of one acre
☐ Prepare minimum down payment (5%)
☐ Verify land use rules
☐ Confirm utilities and access requirements
☐ Plan future construction loan separately

Property Tax & Ongoing Savings

☐ Check Texas property tax exemption eligibility
☐ File homestead exemption with county appraisal district
☐ Apply disability-based property tax reductions (if applicable)
☐ Confirm surviving spouse benefits (if applicable)

Free Guidance

☐ Texas Veterans Commission for counseling
☐ Get help with benefit applications and documentation
☐ Ask about local county-level Veteran housing programs

Final Steps

☐ Compare VA vs Texas Vet vs blended loan options
☐ Confirm interest rate lock and term
☐ Review appraisal and inspection reports carefully
☐ Verify no prepayment penalties
☐ Keep copies of all benefit approvals and closing documents

Optional Home Protection for Texas Veteran Homeowners

While VA and VLB programs help you purchase, refinance, or improve a home, they do not cover future system or appliance breakdowns after closing.

Some Texas Veterans choose to add a home warranty plan to help manage unexpected repair costs for HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical components, or major appliances.

We currently make a Texas home warranty offer available for Veterans who want to explore additional home protection options.

Texas Veteran Housing and Home Loans FAQs

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about a VA home loan in Texas:

Question: What is a VA home loan?

Answer: A mortgage or home improvement loan guaranteed by the Veterans Affairs Department of the US government.

Question: Who is eligible?

Answer: Eligibility is based on military service and discharge status or a qualified surviving spouse.

Question: What property qualifies?

Answer: Any primary residence.

Question: What is the down payment?

Answer: Zero with full entitlement.

Question: Is mortgage insurance required?

Answer: No

Question: What is a certificate of eligibility (COE)?

Answer: A VA document proving you qualify for a VA loan

Question: Can I use a VA loan more than once?

Answer: Yes, if you paid off the VA loan.

Question: Can I refinance a VA loan?

Answer: Yes

Question: Can Texas Veterans combine VLB and VA benefits?

Answer: Yes

This guide shows the importance of using both VA and VLB benefits strategically and encourages Veterans to compare programs before applying. Texas provides extensive support with Texas Veteran housing programs for homeownership, refinancing, land purchases, and home improvements. The best choice for your circumstances depends on a Veteran’s financial situation and long-term plans.

Be sure to use a VA home loan calculator for Texas, explore links to official information about VA housing benefits in Texas, and contact accredited lenders or VLB representatives for personalized guidance.

The good news is that Texas Veterans have multiple pathways toward stable and affordable homeownership.

Explore other texas veteran resources

Below you’ll find a complete breakdown of Texas veteran benefits and support programs available in 2026. These categories cover everything from VA compensation, healthcare, education, housing, and employment, to financial assistance, legal help, family benefits, and exclusive veteran discounts. Each section links to detailed guides designed to help veterans, service members, and families understand eligibility, application steps, and how to access the support they’ve earned.