VA loan limits for 100% financing in Orange County, CA will be higher in 2018, jumping from the 2017 limit of $636,150 up to a new limit of $679,650. This is a fairly significant increase that will help Orange County Veterans buy or refinance homes in Orange County, where homes prices increased in 2017 and seem to be continuing to go up.

Orange County, CA is considered a “high cost” county in California, along with Los Angeles county. Buying a home in Orange County has been challenging as home inventory has not kept up with the number of buyers wanting to purchase a home. And while being able to buy a home for $679,650 with no down payment may sound too good to be true, it is possible for eligible Veterans and Active Duty military.

Orange County has one of the largest populations of Veterans in the country, but many Veterans don’t realize they are eligible for the VA loan program.

Although $679,650 will help Veterans in Orange County, what happens when the purchase price is above the Zero Down limit? The obvious, but incorrect, answer is the down payment would need to cover the difference between the purchase price and Zero Down limit. But the Jumbo VA Loan program is better than that. A down payment of only 25% of the difference between the purchase price and the loan limit is required. For example, if the purchase price is $779,650, or $100,000 above the Zero Down limit, the down payment would only be $25,000. The VA loan would be $754,650. That is a great deal for Veterans who can afford a higher priced home.

The increased loan limits do not only effect purchase transactions. They also effect those who want to refinance into a new VA loan to pull cash out. Over the last few years there are many Veterans who bought homes and now would like to pull cash out for home improvements (or to cover debt that has built up on credit cards). The increased limits make it easier for those who were previously right at the 100% loan limit, especially when property values have also increased.

The first step in figuring out how the new loan limits can benefit you is to contact a VA loan specialist located in Orange County, CA. The VA program is unique, and working with a local VA loan specialist who understands what it takes to get a VA loan closed quickly on a high priced home (Single Family or VA approved Condo) is beneficial for the Veteran. The VA loan officer should be able to provide multiple loan scenarios with specific details on the numbers involved in a refinance or purchase.