Veterans earned housing benefits. Why aren't they using them?

Eligible veterans have access to a range of housing benefits for their service – including VA loans with no down payment required and VA housing assistance programs – that can help streamline their path to homeownership.

However, a recent Rocket Mortgage survey of more than 1,100 active-duty service members, veterans, and their spouses suggests many people aren’t taking full advantage of the VA housing benefits they’ve earned. 

“A big reason so many veterans leave housing benefits on the table is simple: They don’t know what they’re entitled to,” says Richard Ryan, a certified Nevada veterans advocate for the Nevada Department of Veterans Services.

These awareness gaps, along with perceived stigma around VA loans, may be keeping many qualified veterans from using the housing benefits to which they’re entitled. To increase access to homeownership, it’s critical for veteran home buyers to understand what’s driving these gaps – and how to bridge them.

Key takeaways:

• 59% of active-duty or retired service members and their spouses say they know about VA loans, but less than half (48%) of survey respondents had used or planned to use one to buy a home.
• Just 16% are familiar with state-specific veteran housing resources.
• Misconceptions about eligibility requirements often keep qualified veterans from accessing VA loans and other housing assistance programs.
• While many veteran housing benefits are underused, that may be changing as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has seen a 20% year-over-year increase in VA loan usage.

Housing assistance programs for veterans

VA loans, which are offered by private lenders but backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, often help veterans get into a home faster. 

“The VA loan is almost always the best option for veterans because it's zero down, there's no PMI [private mortgage insurance], and depending on the market, limited closing costs,” says Nat Martin, a 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran and global resilience coach and speaker who used a VA loan in 2019 to buy her Georgia home.

In addition to VA loans, many other housing resources are available to eligible veterans. They include:

• Veterans Housing Alliance (VHA). The VHA is a nonprofit that offers home buyer grants and education workshops for veterans.
• Transition Assistance Program (TAP). In collaboration with multiple government agencies, TAP offers educational resources and tools to help prepare service members and their families for a transition to civilian life. This includes a course led by VA advisors on the different benefits and services that veterans have earned.
• Homes for Heroes. This nationwide program offers significant savings for veterans who are buying or selling a home.
• Disability housing grants for veterans. These grants offset the cost of adapting a home to the unique needs of those with service-related disabilities. For example, the Home Improvements/Structural Alterations (HISA) grant provides up to $6,800 for veterans to make medically necessary improvements, such as construction of ramping to improve access to their home.
• Good Neighbor Next Door. This program by the Department of Housing and Urban Development offers single-family homes in revitalization areas for 50% off the list price to eligible buyers. While this program isn’t specific to veterans, it’s another avenue that makes home buying more affordable.
• State offerings. Some states also have local housing assistance programs. For example, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s Ohio Heroes program offers discounted mortgage rates to eligible veterans.

While these resources help educate veterans about housing benefits and provide assistance, the Rocket Mortgage survey found they are underutilized. For example, just 2 in 5 veterans (41%) have or will take advantage of the VHA, and only one-third (37%) say they had used or planned to use TAP. About 8% of respondents don’t plan to use any of these resources at all.

Unaware of and underutilizing veterans benefits 

While the majority (81%) of veterans started or will start their home loan research online, just 18% say searching for military-related benefits is their primary motivator.

That means awareness around veteran home buying resources can differ depending on the program. Nearly 3 in 5 veterans (59%) know about VA loans, but less than half are aware of the other housing benefits mentioned in the Rocket Mortgage survey. Just 16% are familiar with the resources specific to their state, for example.

Though VA loans can provide more favorable terms for eligible service members, veterans, and their spouses compared to other types of mortgages, only 48% of respondents had used or plan to use a VA loan to purchase a home.

Both Ryan and Martin say this isn’t surprising due to eligibility confusion and how veterans view their service.

“The most common misconception I hear from veterans is, ‘those benefits aren’t for me,’” says Ryan, who served in the U.S. Army as a military intelligence analyst. “A lot of people believe that if they weren’t in combat or never deployed to a combat zone, they don’t qualify. That’s simply not true. These benefits are for anyone who served honorably, and that includes National Guard and Reserve members who completed qualifying periods of active duty.”

Martin says military members are focused on their service – not the veterans benefits they’ll get because of it.

“When you join the military, the mantra is ‘mission first,’” she says. “We don't think of ourselves. We think of the mission.”

Misconceptions about housing benefits persist

Pete Kasperowicz, a spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs, says there are many myths about veterans home buying benefits.

“Common misconceptions include beliefs that VA-guaranteed loans are only for first-time home buyers or that they require a high credit score,” he says. “Others might think they can't use the benefit if they have previously used it, or that the process is overly complicated compared to conventional loans.”

Misconceptions like these leave some veterans benefits untapped, Kasperowicz says.

Other common myths around VA loans can hurt qualified veteran home buyers, including:

• Longer closing times. In reality, Kasperowicz says closing times for VA-guaranteed home loans are competitive with conventional loans, with most home loans closing in 30 days.
• Longer appraisals. VA appraisal timelines and costs are comparable to other loans, Kasperowicz says. Typically, VA appraisal timelines average less than 7 business days, depending on the state and local appraiser availability. The VA also evaluates appraisal fees to ensure costs are competitive, and its appraisal program allows buyers to use external sources to reduce appraisal timelines.
• Confirming eligibility takes too long. A lender can obtain a veteran borrower’s Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in just 1 day, according to the VA. A COE is an official document from the VA that confirms a borrower qualifies for a VA loan based on their duty status and service history. In 2015, obtaining this document used to take 26 days, so the process has dramatically improved.

Seller stigma around VA financing

Seller stigma is another reason veterans might avoid taking advantage of veteran-specific housing resources.

Some sellers and their real estate agents assume VA loans or state-specific veteran housing benefits come with more red tape, and longer appraisals and closing periods. In a competitive housing market with lots of buyers, many of whom have conventional loans, veterans also may believe their path to homeownership will be harder with a VA loan.

“There are still a lot of misconceptions about VA loans among sellers and real estate professionals. Some of those myths are outdated, some are just wrong, but they can discourage veterans from using a benefit they’ve earned,” Ryan says.

According to Redfin, just 7% of all mortgaged home buyers in the U.S. used a VA loan in December 2025. The silver lining is that these myths aren’t stopping veteran home buyers: The share of VA loans among mortgaged buyers has increased slightly year over year.

“There has been a noticeable increase in engagement as veterans leverage VA-backed loans more effectively,” Kasperowicz says. “For instance, there was a 20% increase in the amount of VA home loans guaranteed in FY2025 compared to FY2024. VA also processed a total of 98,393 in loan volume (fiscal year-to-date), which reflects a 5.4% increase compared to the same period last year.”

Veterans turn to peers, military networks for resources

Martin says veterans who live near a military base can go to the housing services office to get more information about the home buying process, financial counseling services, or connections to vetted local resources like Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs).

Organizations like Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion also offer helpful information on housing resources. However, these organizations are mostly made up of older veterans, Ryan says, so younger veterans often don’t feel connected to them.

That doesn’t reflect the overall strength of the veteran community. Another valuable source of information for veterans is fellow veterans.

“Most veterans learn about VA home loans and housing resources through word of mouth. We tend to rely on each other for referrals because we’re a loyal community, and that peer‑to‑peer trust is strong,” Ryan says.

The bottom line: Awareness can help veterans take advantage of housing benefits

There’s still more work to do to educate both sellers and veteran home buyers about the advantages of VA loans and other housing benefits. Addressing misinformation about veteran housing assistance programs can reduce some of the stigma around them and help veterans take full advantage of the benefits they’ve rightfully earned.

“Veterans who are eligible for housing benefits but unsure how to start need to remember one thing: You earned this benefit through your service. It’s not a gift, and you shouldn’t hesitate to use it,” Ryan says.

Methodology

Rocket Mortgage surveyed 1,139 American adults age 18 and older who are active-duty or retired service members of the U.S. armed forces, or their spouses, to assess their knowledge around veteran home buying resources. The survey was conducted online in January 2026.

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Rocket Mortgage is a VA-approved lender, not endorsed or sponsored by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.