This list is for veterans, active-duty service members, and homeowners in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia who are deciding between a broker and a large direct lender for a VA loan. Providers are judged on minimum FICO, loan shelf, credit-check process, fee structure, and who each one suits. By Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647. Duane is an independent broker, so he is not neutral, and he says so up front. Where a competitor does something better, this article says that too. Duane’s own pre-qualification, NoTouch Credit Pull, is a soft credit pull mortgage check: it estimates your options without a hard inquiry, so it does not touch your score the way a standard pre-approval can.
Quick Comparison of the Five VA Loan Providers
- VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak: veterans with credit below 620 or complex income; quote-based; shops 500+ wholesale lenders at a 500 FICO floor on VA loans, with a soft-pull start.
- Veterans United: veterans with 620+ credit who want a VA-only specialist; quote-based; the deepest VA-only focus on this list.
- Rocket Mortgage: digitally comfortable borrowers with solid credit; quote-based; the most self-serve online application here.
- Movement Mortgage: veterans scoring 580 to 619 who want a branch relationship; quote-based; a lower VA floor than Veterans United among the direct lenders listed.
- NFM Lending: veterans who want a local-office loan officer; quote-based; a local-office model (confirm details on its site).
1. VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak
VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak is an independent mortgage brokerage licensed in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. A broker does not fund loans from its own balance sheet. It places each file with whichever of 500+ wholesale lenders offers the best fit, which is the structural difference from every other provider here. VA itself sets no minimum credit score; each investor sets its own overlays (extra credit rules on top of VA’s). Duane Buziak shops those overlays, which is how veterans down to a 500 FICO can have options. That is a floor for some investors, not a promise of approval.
What you get
- Wholesale access to 500+ lenders, so one file can be compared across many rate sheets and overlay sets instead of one.
- VA cash-out refinancing up to 100% LTV, plus FHA, USDA, Conventional, DSCR/Non-QM, Bank Statement, and ITIN programs for files that do not fit a standard VA box.
- NoTouch Credit Pull, a soft-pull pre-qualification that gives mortgage pre approval without hard pull, so you can see options before any inquiry hits your report.
- Free DIY credit improvement resources for veterans who are close to a better tier.
- The Total Cost Ecosystem, covering title, realtor, and insurance savings, and a zero-kickback policy.
Duane also runs a “Dare to Compare” challenge: you bring a competing Loan Estimate and see how a broker-shopped quote stacks up, line by line. Setup is light. You start with the soft pull, send income and entitlement documents, and Duane coordinates with the chosen investor, title, and insurance partners.
The limits are real. A broker does not underwrite or service in-house, so final conditions and overlays depend on the investor chosen, and they vary loan by loan. Veterans who want one company handling everything under one roof may prefer a direct lender. Fees are broker-negotiated and shop-able rather than fixed, so ask for a written estimate. No-out-of-pocket closing options exist on some files but depend on the loan.
Pricing: quote-based. Cost moves with credit tier, loan size, down payment, and the investor selected.
Best for: Veterans with credit below 620 or complex income who want multi-investor shopping.
2. Veterans United
Veterans United is a large direct lender built around VA loans. Credit where it is due: no other company here matches its VA-only focus, and a team that handles VA files all day knows entitlement, appraisals, and the VA’s rules well. It funds and processes loans in-house, which gives one point of contact and fewer handoffs.
The trade-off is the shelf. Veterans United publishes a 620 FICO minimum (confirm current terms on its site), so a borrower at 580 or 600 is generally outside its standard guidelines, and you get only that one company’s pricing. Because a single company sets its own rates, there is no side-by-side investor comparison inside the process. Based on its published information as of October 2026, it also has no online chat and does not offer renovation loans, so a veteran planning repairs would need a different product elsewhere.
- VA-loan specialization, so loan officers see your situation (entitlement, second use, certificate of eligibility) often.
- In-house processing, so the same company handles your file from application to closing.
- A 620 FICO minimum, which tells you quickly whether you qualify at the standard tier.
- Veteran-focused loan teams, which many borrowers value for communication.
Integrations are mostly company-owned home-buying resources; verify the current list. Setup is a standard full application, and a loan officer team runs it day to day. It does not suit borrowers under 620, self-employed borrowers needing bank statement programs, or investors.
Pricing: quote-based. Origination fees and rates move with credit, loan amount, and down payment; verify current origination fees as of October 2026. The VA funding fee applies the same everywhere.
Best for: Veterans with 620+ credit who want a single VA-specialist company from start to close.
3. Rocket Mortgage
Rocket Mortgage is a national direct lender and the most self-serve option on this list. You can complete the application, upload documents, and track your loan online and in its mobile app, and for a borrower who dislikes phone calls that is a real advantage. Its VA loan is one product on a single company’s shelf.
The cost of that convenience is the credit process. By the plan’s research, a hard pull comes before you see real numbers. A hard inquiry is a full credit check recorded on your report, while a soft pull is not. For a veteran still building credit, taking that inquiry before knowing whether the numbers work is a downside, though a single mortgage inquiry in a shopping window is usually treated as one by scoring models.
- A fully online application that lets you move at your own pace without a loan officer.
- Direct lender processing, so documents and decisions stay within one company.
- A single product shelf, which keeps choices simple but limits comparison.
- Account and mobile app tools for tracking status (verify current features).
Integrations are its own app and account tools; verify what is current. Setup is quick for well-documented salaried borrowers. It does not suit veterans with thin credit, self-employment income, or anyone who wants rates compared across investors. Rocket does not publish a VA-specific credit floor that this article could verify, so ask before applying.
Pricing: quote-based; see its website. Rate and fees move with credit score, loan amount, down payment, and market conditions.
Best for: Digitally comfortable veterans with solid credit who want to apply entirely online.
4. Movement Mortgage
Movement Mortgage is a direct lender with branch-based loan officers. Its main edge on this list is a lower VA credit floor than Veterans United: the research puts it at 580 (verify current), which opens the door for veterans between 580 and 619 who would fall short elsewhere among direct lenders.
The process is more traditional. There is no standalone pre-approval step, so a full application and a hard pull come first, then a loan officer works with you. That suits borrowers who want a person guiding them, and it is less comfortable for people who want to see numbers before committing to a credit inquiry.
- A 580 FICO floor on VA loans, giving more room than a 620 standard (verify current).
- Direct lender funding, so one company handles underwriting and closing.
- Branch-based loan officers who can be met in person.
- A hard pull at application, which is the cost of getting an official answer.
Integrations and partner tools should be checked on its website, as they change. Setup runs through the branch loan officer, who manages the file day to day. It does not suit veterans below 580, those who want pricing compared across multiple investors, or borrowers who want to avoid any inquiry until they know their numbers. As with the other direct lenders, you see one company’s rate sheet.
Pricing: quote-based; see its website. Credit score, loan size, and down payment move the price.
Best for: Veterans scoring 580-619 who prefer a branch relationship to comparing investors.
5. NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a direct mortgage company that originates VA loans through local loan officers. Its distinguishing feature, to be confirmed against its site, is that local-office model: you work with someone in your area rather than a national call center or an app.
This entry carries the most open questions on the list. Its minimum FICO, fee structure, and VA loan terms were not verified for this article, so treat any number you see secondhand with caution and ask its loan officers directly. Like the other direct lenders, it works from a company-controlled shelf, so there is no multi-investor price comparison inside the process.
- Local loan officers, so you get face-to-face help with a VA purchase or refinance.
- VA loan origination, with current minimums to be verified before you apply.
- A company-controlled loan shelf, which simplifies the process but narrows your options.
Integrations and partners are unverified, so check its website. Setup and day-to-day handling sit with the local loan officer, and you should expect a standard full application. It does not suit veterans who need a confirmed low-credit floor, want soft-pull pre-qualification, or need non-QM programs such as bank statement or DSCR loans. Confirm eligibility with a loan officer before you spend time on an application.
Pricing: see its website. Expect credit, loan amount, and down payment to drive the price; the unverified fee structure is worth asking about early.
Best for: Veterans who want a local-office relationship and have confirmed eligibility with its loan officers.
Which Provider Fits Which Veteran
For credit below 620, Duane Buziak at VA Loans Pro is the structural fit: Veterans United’s published floor is 620, and Movement’s 580 still leaves one rate sheet. For self-employed borrowers or investors, the Bank Statement and DSCR/Non-QM programs sit only on the broker side of this list. For a 620+ veteran who wants a VA-only company from start to close, Veterans United is a strong choice, and Duane would say so. For digital-first borrowers with solid credit, Rocket is the most self-serve. Movement suits the 580 to 619 borrower who values a branch, and NFM suits someone who wants a local office, once its terms are confirmed.
A soft pull mortgage broker like Duane can run options before any inquiry, so you can compare before you commit. Learn more about our services
Side-by-Side Comparison: FICO Minimum, Provider Type, Loan Shelf, Fees, and Credit Pull
Each entry below follows the same fields. Competitor fee details are as of October 2026 and should be verified with each company.
- VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak: FICO minimum 500 on VA loans (investor dependent, not guaranteed); provider type: independent broker; shelf: 500+ wholesale lenders across VA, FHA, USDA, Conventional, DSCR/Non-QM, Bank Statement, and ITIN; fees: broker-negotiated and shop-able; credit pull: soft pull via NoTouch Credit Pull to start.
- Veterans United: FICO minimum 620; provider type: direct lender; shelf: single VA-specialty company shelf; fees: origination fee on the higher side (verify as of October 2026); credit pull: verify with the company.
- Rocket Mortgage: FICO minimum varies, no public VA-specific floor; provider type: direct lender; shelf: single company shelf; fees: quote-based, see its website; credit pull: hard pull before real numbers.
- Movement Mortgage: FICO minimum 580 on VA loans (verify current); provider type: direct lender; shelf: single company shelf; fees: quote-based, see its website; credit pull: hard pull at application.
- NFM Lending: FICO minimum unverified; provider type: direct lender; shelf: single company shelf; fees: unverified, see its website; credit pull: verify with the company.
Two points keep the comparison fair. A broker with 500+ wholesale lenders has more leverage than a single rate sheet, not less. Duane Buziak was ranked #114 nationally in the Scotsman Guide’s top originators and named VA Broker of the Year for 2024-2025, so brand recognition is not a reason to assume a smaller operation is a weaker one. In return, large direct lenders offer one-company simplicity and, in Veterans United’s case, deep VA focus that a broker cannot replicate in-house.
Worked Example: What the Funding Fee Does to Your Loan
The VA funding fee is a one-time charge that helps keep the program running, and every provider collects the same one. Per VA.gov, first-use with $0 down is 2.15%, and veterans receiving disability compensation are exempt. Suppose a $400,000 purchase with no down payment: 2.15% is $8,600, which is usually added to the loan. With 10% down ($40,000), the loan is $360,000 and the fee drops to 1.25%, or $4,500. Subsequent use with zero down is 3.3%, per the same VA page. Because the fee is identical, the real price differences come from rate, origination charges, and third-party fees.
For a state-level reference, the FHFA sets the 2026 conforming loan limit (verify the current figure, $832,750 for most counties in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia). VA loans with full entitlement have no loan cap, so the limit matters mainly for conventional alternatives and for veterans with remaining entitlement.
Eight Questions Veterans Ask When Choosing a VA Loan Provider
What is the minimum credit score for a VA loan in 2026?
VA sets no minimum credit score; each investor sets its own. Veterans United publishes 620, Movement’s VA floor is reported at 580, and some wholesale investors accessible through a broker go down to 500.
Can I get a VA loan pre-approval without a hard credit pull?
Yes, some brokers can. NoTouch Credit Pull from VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak is a no hard inquiry mortgage pre approval step that estimates your options with a soft pull, while many direct lenders require a hard pull first.
How does a VA loan broker get better rates than Veterans United or Rocket Mortgage?
A broker compares many wholesale rate sheets for your file, so it can select the investor whose pricing and overlays fit best. A direct lender can only offer its own, and no broker can promise a specific rate.
What is the VA loan funding fee in 2026 and how is it calculated?
The first-use fee is 2.15% of the loan with $0 down, per VA.gov. It falls with a larger down payment, rises to 3.3% for subsequent use with zero down, and is waived for veterans receiving disability compensation.
Can I get a VA loan with a 500 credit score?
Possibly, depending on the investor. VA does not set a minimum, and some wholesale investors will consider a 500 FICO, but approval depends on income, debt, residual income, and the file overall, and it is never guaranteed.
How does NoTouch Credit Pull work for a VA loan pre-approval?
It uses a soft credit pull, which does not appear as a hard inquiry on your report. Duane Buziak reviews that information to show likely programs and costs, and a hard pull comes only once you decide to move forward.
What is the VA loan limit in 2026?
There is no VA loan limit if you have full entitlement. County limits only apply when you have reduced entitlement, such as after a prior VA loan not yet restored, so confirm your remaining entitlement with your certificate of eligibility.
What is the difference between a VA loan broker and a direct VA lender like Veterans United?
A broker shops your file across many wholesale lenders, while a direct lender funds and services loans from its own single shelf. Veterans United brings deep VA focus and in-house processing; a broker brings investor choice and a lower credit floor on some files.
This article is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rates, fees, and program rules change, and approval depends on individual qualification, so consult a licensed professional before deciding. Competitor details were compiled as of October 2026 and should be verified with each company. Equal Housing Opportunity.
About the author: Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, is the broker behind VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak (Coast2Coast Mortgage LLC, NMLS #376205). He is a Scotsman Guide Top Originator (#114 nationally), VA Broker of the Year for 2024-2025, and a UWM PRO ELITE 2025 producer, with 1,400+ five-star reviews and licensing in VA, FL, TN, and GA. Read more on the About page.