Veterans and military buyers who ask which offers more business flexibility, Movement or VA Loans Pro, are really asking which setup bends to their credit, income, and timeline. Movement is a direct lender with its own single product shelf and in-house servicing. VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak is an independent brokerage with a 500 FICO floor and access to 500+ wholesale lenders.
This article is written by Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647. It gives you seven tests you can run on any mortgage company, Movement included, using documents and questions rather than marketing claims. Some tests favor a direct lender’s strengths, and I flag those where they apply. Run all seven and you will know which structure fits your file.
1. Test the Credit Score Floor First
The VA does not set a minimum credit score. It guarantees a portion of the loan, and the investors who fund the loan decide what score they will accept. Those internal rules are called overlays: requirements stricter than the VA’s own guidelines. Movement publishes a 580 floor for VA loans, and Veterans United, another direct lender, publishes 620. Those numbers describe one company’s shelf, not the VA program.
For illustration, imagine a veteran with a 540 score after medical collections that followed a deployment injury. That veteran falls below Movement’s 580 and Veterans United’s 620. A broker can submit the same file to wholesale investors with lower overlays, and Duane Buziak works with a 500 FICO floor where an investor accepts the file.
How to apply the test:
- Ask each company for its written VA minimum score, not a verbal answer.
- Request a review through NoTouch Credit Pull, our soft credit pull mortgage process. It checks your credit without a hard inquiry, unlike a standard pre-approval that dings your report on day one.
- Gather residual income figures (what you have left monthly after taxes, debts, and living costs, which the VA uses alongside debt-to-income ratio) and your DTI documents.
The mistake to avoid: assuming a low floor means approval, or that the VA itself requires 620. A 500 floor only means some investors will look at the file. Residual income, DTI, and recent payment history still decide the outcome, and nobody can promise approval.
What to measure: how many options each company returns at your actual score, and the rate and fee spread among them. One option at 580 versus several at 540 tells you more than any advertised floor.
2. Compare Broker vs. Direct Lender Structure
A direct lender funds loans with its own capital and prices them from one rate sheet. A broker takes one application and places it with whichever wholesale investor fits best. The difference matters most when something goes wrong, because a single shelf has no second door.
Consider an illustration. A file is declined by one investor because of an overlay on recent late payments. A broker re-submits the same file to another investor that does not apply that overlay, and the borrower does not fill out a new application. At a direct lender, that same decline usually ends the conversation, or you start over elsewhere.
In fairness to Movement, the direct model has real strengths: one company handles origination and servicing, and you deal with a single point of contact. A broker’s advantage is leverage across investors, not a claim that direct lenders are worse.
How to apply the test: ask each company how many investors will price your file, and whether you will see more than one quote. Ask what happens if the first investor declines.
The mistake to avoid: treating all companies as if they price the same way. A direct lender quotes its own price. A broker quotes a market. Those are different questions, so put them to each company separately.
What to measure: the count of distinct investor quotes you receive, and the gap between the best and worst. A wide gap shows what a single shelf may be costing you. A narrow gap is useful information too, because it tells you the market is tight for your profile.
3. Check How Wide the Loan Shelf Really Is
A VA loan is the right tool for many veterans, but not for every property or every income type. Flexibility means a company can pivot to FHA, USDA, conventional, or Non-QM (loans that qualify borrowers by methods outside standard agency rules) when VA does not fit. VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak offers VA, FHA, USDA, conventional, DSCR/Non-QM, bank statement, and ITIN programs.
For illustration, imagine a veteran who owns a rental property and wants to buy a primary home. The primary purchase goes through VA with little or nothing down. The next rental purchase uses a DSCR loan, which qualifies on the property’s rent against its payment rather than on personal income. One shelf covering both beats two companies and two sets of paperwork.
How to apply the test:
- List your real scenarios: primary home, rental, second home, self-employed income, a past credit event.
- Ask each company which product covers each scenario, and get the answer in writing.
- Ask what they do when a VA file fails on credit or property condition.
The mistake to avoid: choosing on VA rate alone and ignoring fallback products. A slightly lower VA rate is worth little if the file cannot close, or if your next purchase needs a product the company does not carry.
What to measure: the share of your scenarios a company can fund. If you have four scenarios and one company covers two, that is 50%. Compare the percentages, not the brochures.
4. Use Soft-Pull Pre-Qualification to Shop Without Penalty
Every hard inquiry can lower a score slightly, and for a borrower near an investor’s cutoff, a few points matter. NoTouch Credit Pull is Duane Buziak’s soft pull mortgage broker process: a review of your credit that shows up as no hard inquiry, so you can see your options before any formal application. That is a no credit hit mortgage application step, and it is how you can get a mortgage pre approval without hard pull on your report at the preview stage.
For illustration, a veteran compares three paths by soft pull: VA with a 0% down payment, FHA, and a conventional loan with a larger down payment. All three are previewed with no hard inquiry. Only after choosing does a hard pull occur, once.
How to apply the test:
- Ask for a soft pull review and confirm what it covers.
- Get written confirmation of the exact point at which a hard pull would occur.
- Ask each competitor about its policy. As of publication, our understanding is that Movement pulls credit at application and does not offer a standalone pre-approval, so confirm that directly with them.
The mistake to avoid: submitting multiple full applications to compare, which can trigger several hard pulls. Credit scoring models often group mortgage inquiries made within a short window, but do not rely on that without asking each company.
What to measure: the hard inquiries on your report before you choose. The ideal number is zero until you commit.
5. Match Income Documentation to How You Actually Earn
If you run a business, drive for a platform, or earn commissions, your tax return may understate what you actually bring in after write-offs. A standard VA file relies on tax returns and pay history. Bank statement programs, which are Non-QM and not VA loans, qualify you from deposits instead.
Here is a labelled illustration with simplified rules; program rules vary by investor. Suppose a self-employed veteran averages $9,000 per month in business deposits. A bank statement program might apply a 50% expense factor, giving qualifying income of $4,500 per month ($9,000 x 0.50). The tax return shows net profit of $30,000 per year, or $2,500 per month.
Using a simplified 41% debt ratio, assume $400 in existing monthly debts and $350 for taxes and insurance, with a 6.5% rate. On $4,500, total debt capacity is $1,845, leaving about $1,095 for principal and interest, which supports a loan near $173,000. On $2,500, capacity is $1,025, leaving about $275, which supports roughly $43,000. The documentation method changes the answer by a factor of four.
How to apply the test:
- Gather 12 to 24 months of business bank statements, your business license, and two years of tax returns.
- Ask each company to qualify you under VA and under a bank statement program.
- Compare the qualifying income and the pricing difference, since Non-QM rates usually run higher.
The mistake to avoid: using only tax returns after heavy write-offs without exploring alternatives. The opposite error is also real: a bank statement loan is not automatically better if a VA loan can qualify you.
What to measure: your qualifying monthly income under each method, and the resulting maximum purchase price.
6. Compare Fees, Pricing Control, and Closing Costs
A rate quote without fees tells you little. Direct lenders set their own origination charges and third-party fee choices. A broker can shop both the rate and the fees across investors. Duane Buziak uses two tools here. Dare to Compare is a pricing challenge: you bring a competing Loan Estimate and see how it stacks up. The Total Cost Ecosystem looks at title, realtor, and insurance costs alongside the loan, and no-out-of-pocket closing options may be available depending on the deal.
Start with the funding fee, which is set by the VA, not the company. Per the VA funding fee page, a first-use purchase with 0% down carries a 2.15% fee. On a $400,000 loan, that is $400,000 x 0.0215 = $8,600. Veterans with an eligible service-connected disability rating are exempt; verify current rates on VA.gov as of publication.
How to apply the test:
- Request a Loan Estimate from each company on the same day, so rates reflect the same market.
- Compare Section A (origination charges), Section B (services you cannot shop for), and Section C (services you can shop for) line by line. The CFPB’s Loan Estimate guide explains each section.
- Ask which fees the company can negotiate or waive.
The mistake to avoid: comparing rates but ignoring fees and points. A lower rate bought with discount points may cost more over your actual time in the home.
What to measure: APR and total closing costs across the Loan Estimates. APR folds many fees into one comparable number.
7. Plan for Life Changes: Refinance, Cash-Out, and Entitlement
Military life rarely stays still, so check whether a company can serve your next move, not just this purchase. Three terms matter. An IRRRL is the VA’s interest rate reduction refinance, a streamlined refinance of an existing VA loan. A VA cash-out refinance can reach 100% loan-to-value under VA rules, though investors vary on their own limits. Second-tier entitlement is the remaining portion of your VA benefit that you can use for another loan while the first remains in place.
For illustration, a service member is PCS’d from Virginia to Georgia. They keep the first home as a rental and use remaining entitlement for a second VA purchase. That requires a company licensed in the destination state and comfortable with entitlement math. Duane Buziak works across Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia.
Loan size matters too. Per FHFA’s conforming loan limit data, the 2026 baseline limit is $832,750, with higher limits in high-cost counties such as parts of Northern Virginia. Full-entitlement VA borrowers generally have no VA loan limit, but the limit still shapes conventional comparisons and remaining-entitlement calculations.
How to apply the test:
- Check your remaining entitlement on your Certificate of Eligibility.
- Ask about licensing in any state you may move to.
- Review down payment assistance eligibility; programs have their own score minimums and terms, so ask for current specifications.
The mistake to avoid: assuming entitlement is permanently used after the first VA loan. It can often be restored or partially available.
What to measure: whether the company can serve your next three likely moves: a refinance, a relocation, and a second purchase. Note that a repeat-use funding fee can be higher, 3.3% for 0% down per VA.gov as of publication.
Side-by-Side: Published Basics for Four Companies
Each entry below covers FICO minimum, lender type, loan shelf, and fees. Figures reflect publicly stated positions as of publication, so confirm with each company.
- VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak: 500 FICO minimum where an investor accepts the file; independent broker; 500+ wholesale lenders across VA, FHA, USDA, conventional, DSCR/Non-QM, bank statement, and ITIN; fees are broker-negotiated and shop-able.
- Movement: 580 FICO minimum for VA; direct lender; single shelf with in-house servicing; fees set by the company.
- Veterans United: 620 FICO minimum; direct lender; single VA-specialty shelf; origination fee on the higher side.
- Rocket: no public VA-specific floor; direct lender; single shelf; fees set by the company.
The broker model is more leverage, not less: many wholesale lenders to shop versus one rate sheet. NoTouch Credit Pull gives digital parity for a preview without a hard pull. Scotsman Guide ranked Duane Buziak #114 among top originators nationally, and he was named VA Broker of the Year for 2024 and 2025. Movement’s real edges are its single point of contact and servicing in-house.
Where to Start: Credit Floor, Soft Pull, Then Income
Run the credit floor and soft pull tests first, because they decide which doors are open and cost you nothing. Move to income documentation second, since that changes your buying power most. Compare fees third, using same-day Loan Estimates. The structure, shelf, and life-change tests then break any ties.
If your score is above 620 and your income is plain W-2 pay, a direct lender like Movement may serve you well, and a quick comparison will confirm it. If your credit is rebuilding or your income is irregular, a broker’s range of options matters more. Learn more about our services from VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum credit score for a VA loan in 2026?
The VA sets no minimum credit score; investors set their own. Movement publishes 580 and Veterans United 620, while VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak works down to 500 FICO where an investor will accept the file. Approval is never guaranteed.
What is the difference between a broker and a direct lender?
A broker places your loan with one of many wholesale investors, while a direct lender funds from its own single shelf. A broker can re-route a declined file, and a direct lender may offer in-house servicing.
Does mortgage pre-approval hurt my credit?
A hard-pull pre-approval can lower your score slightly. NoTouch Credit Pull is a soft pull, so it shows no hard inquiry, and a hard pull comes later only when you commit.
What are the VA loan options for self-employed borrowers?
Self-employed veterans can qualify with tax returns under standard VA rules or with bank statements under a Non-QM program. Bank statement loans use 12 to 24 months of deposits, but they are not VA loans and may carry higher rates.
How do Movement’s fees compare with a broker’s?
Movement sets its own fees as a direct lender, while a broker can shop fees across investors. The reliable way to compare is same-day Loan Estimates, checking Sections A, B, and C.
Can I do a VA cash-out refinance to 100% loan-to-value?
VA rules allow cash-out refinances up to 100% of value, but investors often set lower caps, and some use 90%. A broker can look for investors that offer the higher limit.
Who is exempt from the VA funding fee?
Veterans receiving VA disability compensation, and some others, such as eligible surviving spouses, are exempt. Check the VA funding fee page for current rules.
Can I use my VA loan benefit a second time?
Yes, if you have remaining entitlement or restore it. Your Certificate of Eligibility shows what is available, and repeat use carries a higher funding fee unless you are exempt.
Disclaimer: This article is educational, not financial or legal advice. Rates, fees, and program rules are subject to change, and no rate or approval is guaranteed. Consult a licensed professional. Duane Buziak NMLS #1110647, Coast2Coast Mortgage LLC NMLS #376205. Equal Housing Opportunity.
About the author: Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, is the broker behind VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak. He is ranked #114 nationally by Scotsman Guide’s Top Originators ($51.2M), was named VA Broker of the Year for 2024 and 2025, and has earned 1,400+ five-star reviews.