Veterans weighing VA Loans Pro against Movement Mortgage are choosing between two structures: an independent broker that shops 500+ wholesale lenders with a 500 FICO floor, and a single-shelf direct lender with a 580 FICO floor on VA loans (as of November 2026; confirm current terms with Movement). The right answer depends on your credit, income documentation, and total cost, not on whose advertising you have seen more often.
I’m Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, and I work VA files in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. The seven strategies below are ordered so you can eliminate options early, and I’ve tried to be fair to Movement, because for some borrowers it is the better fit.
1. Start with your credit score, because the FICO floors differ
Many veterans assume the VA sets a minimum credit score. It does not. The VA guarantees a portion of the loan, and each investor sets its own score minimum and extra rules. That is why floors differ: Movement publishes 580 on VA loans, Veterans United is at 620, and VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak places files down to 500 FICO through wholesale investors that accept that profile. A 500 floor is a possibility, not a guarantee; approval still depends on the whole file.
Illustration: a veteran at 548 FICO with medical collections falls below Movement’s 580 floor. A broker can look for an investor that accepts that profile, while a single-shelf company can only say no or ask you to rebuild first.
- Pull your free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and note your middle score, since mortgages generally use the middle of three.
- Ask each company for its VA minimum score in writing, plus any overlays on collections or recent lates.
- Use the NoTouch Credit Pull to confirm where you stand. This is our soft credit pull mortgage pre-qualification: it estimates your options without a hard inquiry, unlike a standard pre-approval that dings your score.
The common mistake is assuming a low floor means low pricing. A 500 floor tells you whether you can qualify; it says nothing about the rate. Score and price are separate questions.
Measure success by whether you end up with a written eligibility answer from each company and a pre-qualification that left your reports untouched.
2. Decide whether you want one shelf or 500+ wholesale lenders
A direct lender funds loans with its own guidelines and its own rate sheet. A broker is licensed to submit your file to many wholesale investors and compare them. An overlay is a rule an investor adds on top of VA minimums, such as a higher score for borrowers with recent late payments. Overlays vary widely, so one investor’s “no” is often another’s “yes.”
Illustration: a file is turned down by one investor’s overlay on recent late payments. Through a broker, it is re-routed to another investor without a new application or a second credit pull. With a single shelf, the same overlay is the end of the road.
Put these questions to each company:
- How many investors will actually see my file?
- Who sets the overlays, and can you show me which ones applied to me?
- Who will service the loan after closing, and is it commonly sold?
The common mistake is treating a broker and a direct lender as the same kind of company. Neither is automatically better. A direct lender gives you one point of control; a broker gives you leverage and choice. Also note the watch-out on my side: a broker’s result depends on the investor chosen, so ask to see the competing options that were priced.
Measure the number of investor options priced for your file and which overlays, if any, removed options. A broker that cannot show you more than one priced option is not using the advantage.
3. Use a soft pull before any hard inquiry hits your credit
A hard inquiry is recorded on your credit report when a company pulls your full file for a credit decision. A soft pull is not. A no hard inquiry mortgage pre approval lets you see likely terms before you commit to anything. NoTouch Credit Pull, our soft-pull pre-qualification, works this way: it gives a reliable estimate of your eligibility and pricing range without the formal pull a standard pre-approval requires. It is how a soft pull mortgage broker answers “where do I stand?” without a no credit hit mortgage application.
Illustration: a buyer compares NoTouch Credit Pull results against a direct lender’s quote. Only once she has picked a path does she authorize a hard pull, and only one company ever gets it.
- Request a soft-pull pre-qualification from the company you are considering.
- Review the estimated rate range, fees, and any conditions it flags.
- Authorize the hard pull only after you choose, since underwriting needs it eventually.
The common mistake is authorizing hard pulls at several companies in different weeks. Scoring models generally treat mortgage inquiries inside one shopping window as a single inquiry, but the window varies from roughly 14 to 45 days by model, according to the CFPB’s mortgage shopping guidance. Spread pulls out and you may pay for it in points. Ask Movement directly whether its process requires a hard pull at pre-approval, since procedures change.
Measure the number of hard inquiries on your reports on the day you go under contract. Ideally it is one cluster, not several.
4. Compare the real cost: rate, origination fees, and the funding fee
The VA funding fee is the same no matter which company you use, so it is the baseline for both. As of November 2026, VA.gov lists 2.15% for first-time use with zero down on a purchase, 3.3% for subsequent use with zero down, and lower percentages with 5% or 10% down. Veterans receiving VA disability compensation are generally exempt. Confirm your own status before you do any math.
Worked illustration on a $400,000 zero-down purchase, first use, not exempt: the fee is $400,000 × 2.15% = $8,600. Financed, the loan becomes $408,600. At an illustrative 6.00% on a 30-year term, principal and interest is about $2,450 a month. At an illustrative 6.50%, it is about $2,583. That half-point costs about $133 a month, or roughly $11,160 over seven years. These rates are examples, not quotes.
The fee stays fixed while the rate, points, credits, and third-party fees move. The common mistake is comparing only the rate. A lower rate bought with points, or a lender credit that hides a higher rate, can cost more over your real holding period.
- Check the current funding fee on VA.gov and confirm exemption status.
- Request itemized fees from each company, including origination, points, and credits.
- Estimate how long you will keep the loan, then compare total dollars over that period.
Measure total cost over your expected holding period in dollars, not monthly payment alone. I do not quote fee averages here because they depend too heavily on file and market.
5. Run a side-by-side quote comparison on the same day
Quotes only compare if the inputs match. Rates move daily, so two Loan Estimates from different days measure the market, not the companies. Our Dare to Compare challenge works from this principle: you bring a competing Loan Estimate, and we review origination charges and APR line by line against ours.
Use the same day, the same credit score, the same loan amount, the same property, and the same lock period. The CFPB’s Loan Estimate guide shows where each item sits. Section D is total loan costs, the cleanest figure for comparing fees.
Here is a structure for filling in your own comparison. Rows for VA Loans Pro and Movement reflect published figures as of November 2026; verify them in writing.
| Company | FICO Min (VA) | Lender Type | Loan Shelf | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak | 500 | Independent broker | 500+ wholesale lenders; VA, FHA, USDA, Conventional, DSCR/Non-QM, Bank Statement, ITIN | Broker-negotiated and shop-able; compare on the Loan Estimate |
| Movement Mortgage | 580 | Direct lender | Single shelf | Set by the company; compare on the Loan Estimate |
| Veterans United | 620 | Direct lender | Single VA-specialty shelf | Set by the company; compare origination charges |
| Rocket Mortgage | No public VA-specific floor; confirm in writing | Direct lender | Single shelf | Varies; compare on the Loan Estimate |
Two points keep the comparison honest. First, a broker’s independence means more leverage, not less: one file, hundreds of rate sheets. Second, a big brand name is not the same as a better price. For context, Duane Buziak is ranked #114 nationally on the Scotsman Guide Top Originators list and was named VA Broker of the Year 2024-2025.
The common mistake is comparing quotes from different days or with different points. Measure the gap in total closing costs (Section D) and in APR across the estimates.
6. Match the loan type to your situation, not the company’s shelf
A company with one shelf will tend to steer you toward the products it has. Better to pick the program that fits your finances first, then find who offers it on the best terms.
Illustration: a veteran who already used a VA loan on a home they still own may have remaining entitlement, the amount of VA guarantee still available to you. Second-tier entitlement can let them buy again without selling. A self-employed buyer whose tax returns understate income may do better with bank statement documentation than with a VA loan that requires conventional income verification.
- Request your Certificate of Eligibility through VA.gov, which shows your entitlement.
- Check how much entitlement remains if you have an existing VA loan.
- List the candidates: VA, FHA, USDA, Conventional, and Non-QM, including DSCR for investment property.
- Ask about down payment assistance available in your state. Dynamo and Turbo DPA have their own score and combined loan-to-value rules, and they do not pair with every loan type, so confirm eligibility before counting on them.
For loan size, the FHFA’s 2026 conforming baseline is $832,750 for one-unit homes in most counties of Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia, higher in designated high-cost areas such as parts of Northern Virginia. It governs Conventional loans, while VA loans with full entitlement have no set cap.
The common mistake is defaulting to VA without checking whether entitlement, income documentation, or DPA stacking points to a different structure. Measure cash needed at closing and monthly payment across each candidate program.
7. Give credit where it’s due: when Movement Mortgage may be the right fit
Movement is a real option, and some borrowers should choose it. A direct lender handles processing, underwriting, and funding under one roof, which can mean simpler communication and a single point of accountability.
Illustration: a W-2 borrower at 720 FICO with clean documentation, who wants one team to handle the process end to end, may be well served by Movement. Credit is not a barrier for this person, so the broker’s lower floor adds little, and what remains is price and comfort.
Score yourself on three questions:
- Credit: Is your score above 620 with no recent derogatory items? A single shelf works. Below 600, or with collections or late payments, choice matters more.
- Income type: W-2 income fits any shelf. Self-employed, 1099, or investor income often needs Non-QM options.
- Control versus choice: Do you want one team in charge, or competing offers on your file?
Then get quotes from both. The common mistake is choosing on brand familiarity or advertising instead of a written quote. Measure which option wins on total cost and fit once both Loan Estimates are in hand. If Movement wins, take the win.
Where to start: your FICO floor, a soft pull, then same-day Loan Estimates
Do these three in order. Check your middle FICO score against each company’s written floor, because that eliminates options fastest. Next, run a mortgage pre approval without hard pull through NoTouch Credit Pull so you see numbers before any inquiry is recorded. Finally, collect Loan Estimates on the same day with the same inputs and compare Section D and APR. Loan type and the Movement fit check from strategies 6 and 7 slot in once you know your score and your costs.
If you are a veteran or active-duty buyer or refinancer in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, or Georgia, I will give you a straight answer on where you qualify and what it costs. Learn more about our services
Eight questions veterans ask about choosing a broker or a direct lender
Can I get a VA loan with a 550 credit score?
Yes, it is possible through a broker, though it depends on the investor and the rest of your file. The VA does not set a minimum score, and VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak places files down to 500 FICO. Movement’s published VA floor is 580, so 550 falls below it. Approval is never guaranteed.
Does Movement do soft pulls?
Ask Movement directly, since I cannot confirm its current process. Procedures change, so request its pre-approval steps in writing and ask whether a hard inquiry is required. At VA Loans Pro, NoTouch Credit Pull is a soft pull with no hard inquiry.
What is the difference between a broker and a direct lender?
A broker compares many wholesale investors for you, while a direct lender funds loans from its own single rate sheet. VA Loans Pro is a broker with access to 500+ wholesale lenders. Movement is a direct lender with its own guidelines and overlays.
Who pays the VA funding fee?
The borrower pays it unless exempt, and it can be financed into the loan. As of November 2026, VA.gov lists 2.15% for first-time use with zero down. Veterans receiving VA disability compensation are generally exempt.
Can I shop multiple companies without hurting my credit?
Yes, if you do it inside one shopping window. Scoring models generally count mortgage inquiries in a short period as one, roughly 14 to 45 days depending on the model, per the CFPB. A soft pull pre-qualification lets you compare first with no hard inquiry at all.
Does a broker cost more than a direct lender?
Not necessarily. A broker’s cost is disclosed on the Loan Estimate, and having many investors compete can lower the rate. Compare total cost over your holding period, not the company type. Same-day Loan Estimates settle the question.
Can I use down payment assistance with a VA loan?
Sometimes, depending on the program, the investor, and your state. Dynamo and Turbo DPA have their own score and loan-to-value requirements. Ask whether a specific program can be combined with your loan type before you plan around it.
Do I need a Certificate of Eligibility first?
No, but get one early. A COE confirms your entitlement, and you can request it through VA.gov. We can also help pull it during pre-qualification.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rates, fees, and program terms are subject to change, and illustrative figures are not quotes. No rate or approval is guaranteed. Consult a licensed professional about your situation. Equal Housing Opportunity.
About the author: Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647 (verify on NMLS Consumer Access), is a mortgage broker at VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak, licensed through Coast2Coast Mortgage LLC, NMLS #376205. He is a Scotsman Guide Top Originator (#114 nationally), VA Broker of the Year 2024-2025, and holds 1,400+ five-star reviews. Read more about Duane Buziak.