A veteran weighing another provider against VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak is really asking who deserves trust, and a brand name or a star rating will not answer that. Seven checks will, and they work on any provider, including us. I am Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, and I am a broker, not a direct provider with one product shelf. That means a 500 FICO floor on VA loans and access to 500+ wholesale investors, so your file gets priced against many options instead of one rate sheet. Run the same checks on me that you run on everyone else.
1. Verify the NMLS License Before Anything Else
Every mortgage originator in the U.S. must be licensed, and the public record shows who is allowed to work with you in your state. A website can print any number it wants. The registry is the only proof, which is why this check comes first.
Suppose a buyer in Tennessee searches Duane Buziak’s individual number, NMLS #1110647, and the company number for Coast2Coast Mortgage LLC, #376205. The buyer confirms that both show active authorization in Tennessee before uploading a single pay stub. Doing the same for Florida, Georgia, or Virginia takes about two minutes.
- Go to NMLS Consumer Access and search by name or number.
- Check the individual originator and the sponsoring company separately.
- Confirm the status is active and that your state appears under authorized states.
- Read the employment history and any regulatory actions or disciplinary history.
The common mistake is trusting a license number printed in a footer or on a social profile without looking it up. Numbers get mistyped, expire, or belong to someone else. Also check that the person and the company match: an originator should be sponsored by the company named on your paperwork.
What to measure is simple: an active license in the state where the property sits, and a public record with no unresolved actions. If either fails, stop here.
2. Ask for the Credit Score Floor in Writing
The VA does not set a minimum credit score. Minimums come from provider overlays, the extra rules a provider layers on top of VA guidelines. That is why two providers can give opposite answers on the same file.
For example, imagine a veteran at 590 FICO who is declined by a provider with a 620 floor and assumes VA loans are out of reach. A broker with a 500 floor can still review that file, though approval always depends on the full picture: income, residual income, debt ratios, and property. The decline said something about one provider’s overlay, not about the veteran’s eligibility.
Email each provider and ask one question: what is your minimum FICO score on a VA purchase and on a VA refinance? Then lay the answers next to what is publicly known. Veterans United works from a 620 minimum and is a VA-focused direct provider. Movement Mortgage’s VA minimum is 580. Rocket Mortgage does not publish a VA-specific floor. VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak works to a 500 FICO floor, which is a review threshold, never a promise of approval.
The pitfall is treating a single decline as the final word. Ask the provider whether the decline was an overlay or a VA rule, then ask someone with a lower floor.
What to measure: a written minimum score from every provider you contact, for both purchase and refinance. A verbal “we can probably do it” does not count.
3. Count How Many Lenders Are Actually Shopped for You
A direct provider prices your loan from its own rate sheet. A broker submits the same file to many wholesale investors, and each one has its own pricing, fees, and overlays. Duane Buziak shops 500+ wholesale investors, which gives a borrower more leverage, not less: if one investor’s overlay blocks your file, another’s may not.
Imagine one profile sent to several investors. One has the lowest rate but heavy fees, another has a slightly higher rate with lower costs, and a third will not accept the file at all. The fee and overlay differences, not the headline rate, decide the winner. That is the comparison a single shelf cannot produce.
| Provider | FICO Min (VA) | Provider Type | Loan Shelf | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak | 500 | Independent broker | 500+ wholesale investors | Broker-negotiated, shop-able |
| Veterans United | 620 | Direct provider, VA-focused | Single shelf | Origination fee on the higher side |
| Movement Mortgage | 580 | Direct provider | Single shelf | Set by the provider; hard pull at application |
| Rocket Mortgage | No public VA floor | Direct provider | Single shelf | Set by the provider; hard pull at application |
Size and polish are fair things to weigh. Duane Buziak ranks #114 nationally on the Scotsman Guide Top Originators list and was named VA Broker of the Year for 2024 to 2025, and the soft-pull tool in strategy 4 covers the digital experience. Large direct providers have real strengths in scale and brand reach, and you should weigh those too.
Ask each provider how many investors they price and what happens if their best option does not fit. Then use Dare to Compare, our pricing challenge in which you bring a current written quote and we price the same scenario against it. The mistake is judging a broker against one direct provider on rate alone. Compare fees and overlays too.
What to measure: the number of investors priced and the lowest total cost across all quotes.
4. Insist on a Soft Pull Before You Commit
Many providers pull your credit at application, which puts a hard inquiry on your report. A soft credit pull mortgage review lets a provider see your profile without that mark. NoTouch Credit Pull is our version: a soft-pull pre-qualification, with no hard inquiry, that shows where you stand before any credit hit is recorded. It differs from a standard pre-approval because nothing is reported to the bureaus as a lending inquiry.
Suppose a buyer is comparing three providers. Starting each one with a hard pull would stack up inquiries. Starting with a mortgage pre approval without hard pull keeps the report clean while the buyer decides, and the hard pull happens once, with the chosen provider.
- Ask each provider: does your pre-qualification use a soft pull or a hard pull?
- Start with a no hard inquiry mortgage pre approval path such as NoTouch Credit Pull.
- Hold full applications until you have compared numbers and picked a provider.
- Confirm in writing when a hard pull will be required.
Credit scoring models generally treat multiple mortgage inquiries inside a short window as one, but the window varies by model, so do not lean on it. The common mistake is submitting a full application just to see numbers. Movement and Rocket both run a hard pull at application, so find out where each provider’s soft-pull option ends.
What to measure: hard inquiries on your report before you pick a provider. The target is zero.
5. Compare Loan Estimates Line by Line With Real Numbers
The Loan Estimate is a standardized three-page form, so it is the one fair way to compare providers. The CFPB’s Loan Estimate explainer walks through each section. Advertised rates are not standardized, which is why they mislead.
Here is an illustration. On a $400,000 loan, 6.25% gives principal and interest of about $2,462.87 a month. At 6.00% it is about $2,398.20. That is a $64.67 monthly gap, or roughly $23,281 over 30 years ($64.67 x 360). But if the 6.00% quote carries two extra points, that is $8,000 up front, and the break-even is about 124 months ($8,000 / $64.67). Sell or refinance before then and the lower rate cost you money.
- Request Loan Estimates the same day, for the same loan amount, loan type, and lock period.
- Compare Section A origination charges, then the APR and any lender credits.
- Add the VA funding fee, which is a separate line.
- Calculate break-even months for any quote that buys down the rate.
The mistake is picking the lowest advertised rate without comparing points and fees. What to measure is total cost over your expected hold period, not just the monthly payment. If you expect to move in five years, a 124-month break-even is a bad trade.
6. Quiz Them on the VA Mechanics That Save You Money
A provider who does VA loans every day should answer fast and specifically. Generic answers are a warning, because VA-specific knowledge is where the dollars are.
Take a veteran with a service-connected disability rating who is told to budget a funding fee. Veterans receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability are generally exempt. On a $400,000 first-use purchase with no down payment, the fee would be 2.15%, or $8,600 ($400,000 x 0.0215). An exempt veteran who is not told pays that for nothing. Fee percentages vary by down payment and by first or subsequent use, so check the current table on VA.gov’s funding fee page as of today.
Prepare four questions and check every answer against VA.gov:
- How do you obtain my Certificate of Eligibility, and what does it show? See the VA’s COE page.
- Am I exempt from the funding fee, and how do you verify that?
- How does second-tier entitlement work if I still have a VA loan or used entitlement before?
- What are my options on an IRRRL and on a cash-out refinance, including how far a cash-out can go?
Loan limits are a good state-specific test. The FHFA’s 2026 baseline conforming limit is $832,750, and in high-cost areas such as Northern Virginia the ceiling is $1,249,125 (FHFA, 2026). A veteran with full entitlement has no VA loan limit, but the conforming limit still shapes the down payment when entitlement is reduced. A provider should explain that cleanly.
The mistake is accepting a generic answer and paying a fee you may be exempt from. What to measure: specific, correct answers that match VA.gov guidance.
7. Check How They Get Paid and What Others Say
Compensation shapes advice. A broker is paid either by the borrower or through the investor, and either way the amount should be disclosed in writing before you commit. Duane Buziak operates a zero-kickback policy, and the same standard should apply to anyone you consider.
Imagine a buyer who asks two providers for a compensation breakdown. One returns an itemized figure with each charge explained. The other says “it’s built into the rate” and nothing more. The second answer is not proof of bad intent, but it leaves the buyer unable to compare.
- Ask for total compensation in writing, whether borrower-paid or investor-paid.
- Read recent reviews, especially what people say about post-closing handling: servicing transfers, corrections, and callbacks.
- Look for the same praise or the same complaint repeating across many reviews.
- Verify any award by checking the issuing organization’s current list, not the badge on the site.
The common mistake is leaning on a star rating or an unverified badge. A 4.9 average from a handful of reviews tells you less than a long record of detailed ones. Duane Buziak cites 1,400+ five-star reviews, a #114 Scotsman Guide ranking, and VA Broker of the Year 2024 to 2025, and you should verify those the same way you would anyone’s.
What to measure: a clear written compensation disclosure and a consistent pattern of positive reviews that includes post-closing experiences.
Questions veterans ask when sizing up a VA loan broker
What is the minimum credit score for a VA loan in 2026?
The VA sets no minimum credit score; each provider sets its own overlay. Veterans United uses 620, Movement 580, and VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak reviews files down to a 500 FICO, with approval never guaranteed.
Can I get a VA loan with a 500 credit score?
It is possible to have a 500 FICO file reviewed, but approval depends on income, debt ratios, residual income, and the property. Duane Buziak’s 500 FICO floor means the review can start, not that the outcome is promised.
Can I get a VA loan pre-approval without a hard credit pull?
Yes, through a soft-pull path. NoTouch Credit Pull is a soft-pull pre-qualification with no hard inquiry, so you see where you stand before any inquiry hits your report.
How does NoTouch Credit Pull work for a VA loan pre-approval?
It uses a soft credit pull to review your profile without a lending inquiry. You get an early read on options, and a hard pull happens only once you choose to move forward.
What is the VA loan funding fee in 2026 and how is it calculated?
It is a percentage of the loan amount that depends on down payment and first or subsequent use. As of this writing, a first-use purchase with under 5% down is 2.15%, which is $8,600 on $400,000; confirm current rates on VA.gov.
What is the VA loan limit in 2026?
Veterans with full entitlement have no VA loan limit. The FHFA’s 2026 baseline conforming limit of $832,750 matters when entitlement is reduced, and high-cost areas such as Northern Virginia go up to $1,249,125.
How does a VA loan broker get better rates than a direct provider?
A broker prices your file with many wholesale investors instead of one rate sheet. Duane Buziak accesses 500+, so a high fee or restrictive overlay at one investor does not set your terms.
What is the difference between a VA loan broker and a direct provider like Veterans United?
A broker is independent and shops many investors, while a direct provider funds loans from its own single shelf. Veterans United is VA-focused with a 620 minimum; Duane Buziak is a broker with a 500 FICO floor.
Which checks to run first, and where to take the results
Start with the three that cost nothing and can rule a provider out: the NMLS lookup, the written credit floor, and the soft-pull question. A failed license or a floor above your score ends the conversation in minutes, with no credit impact. Then request Loan Estimates from whoever remains and compare them line by line, which is where the real money difference shows up. Save the VA mechanics quiz and the compensation questions for your final two.
Apply every check to VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak as hard as you apply it to anyone else. Bring a current quote and we will price it against 500+ wholesale investors. Learn more about our services
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rates, fees, and program rules are subject to change, and nothing here is a guarantee of approval or a specific rate. Consult a licensed professional about your situation. Equal Housing Opportunity.
About the author: Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647 (Coast2Coast Mortgage LLC, NMLS #376205), is a VA loan broker serving veterans in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. He is a Scotsman Guide Top Originator (#114 nationally, $51.2M), a VA Broker of the Year for 2024 to 2025, and holds 1,400+ five-star reviews. Read more about Duane Buziak.