Movement Mortgage is a direct lender with one product shelf and its own credit floor. VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak is an independent broker who compares hundreds of wholesale lenders on every file. The better fit depends on your credit profile and how much choice you want, not on which brand is larger.
“Business solutions” here means the mortgage solutions each company can put in front of a veteran or homebuyer: loan programs, credit flexibility, pricing options, fees, and how the process works. This article is written by Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, and it covers company structure, VA loan mechanics, a side-by-side table, a worked dollar example, and a closing FAQ. Competitor details are as of November 2026, so verify them on each company’s site before you decide.
Movement Is a Direct Lender; Duane Buziak Is a Broker
A direct lender funds loans from its own product shelf and prices them with its own investors and guidelines. Movement Mortgage works this way. It has a broad national footprint, an in-house process, and in-house servicing, so one company can handle your loan from application to the monthly payments that follow. Many borrowers value that continuity, and it is a real strength.
An independent broker works differently. Duane Buziak submits one file to many wholesale investors, meaning lenders that fund loans originated by brokers rather than selling directly to the public. Each investor has its own pricing, fees, and credit rules, so the broker can place your file where it fits rather than fitting you to one shelf.
The credit floor is the clearest difference
A common misconception is that the VA sets a minimum credit score. It does not. The VA guarantees a portion of the loan, and each investor decides how much risk it will take, which it expresses through overlays: requirements stricter than the VA’s own. That is why floors vary by company.
As of November 2026, Movement publishes a VA credit floor of 580 FICO, which you should confirm on Movement’s current VA page. Through wholesale access, Duane Buziak places VA loans down to a 500 FICO. That is a floor, not a promise: approval still depends on income, residual income, the property, and your full file, and no outcome is guaranteed.
To check your options without touching your credit, Duane Buziak offers the NoTouch Credit Pull, a soft credit pull mortgage review that gives a read on your options without a hard inquiry. It differs from a standard pre-approval, which typically starts with a hard pull.
Duane Buziak is a VA loan specialist licensed across multiple states: Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Washington DC, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Maryland. The practice is multi-state, not tied to one region.
VA Loan Mechanics That Decide Which Company Fits You
Three pieces of VA loan structure apply no matter who originates your loan, and knowing them keeps you focused on the differences that matter.
Certificate of Eligibility
The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is the VA document confirming you qualify. Eligibility rests on your service history: length of service, character of discharge, and status as active duty, Guard or Reserve, veteran, or surviving spouse. You can request your COE directly on VA.gov, and a broker or direct lender can usually pull it for you. The VA eligibility page lists the service requirements in full.
The funding fee
The VA funding fee is a one-time charge that keeps the program running without monthly mortgage insurance. As of 2026, the VA’s funding fee schedule sets the first-use rate on a no-down-payment purchase at 2.15% of the loan amount. The rate drops with a larger down payment and rises for subsequent use, so confirm the current figures on the VA page.
Several groups are exempt, including veterans receiving VA disability compensation and surviving spouses who receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. If you are exempt, your COE or VA letter will show it, and the fee is $0.
Entitlement
Entitlement is the amount the VA guarantees. With full entitlement, the VA sets no loan limit, though the investor still limits what you can borrow based on your income and credit. If you have a prior VA loan still outstanding, or you sold without restoring entitlement, you may have second-tier (remaining) entitlement. In that case a smaller guaranteed amount applies, and the VA loan limits page explains how the math works.
These rules are identical at every VA-approved company. The real differences between Movement and a broker sit elsewhere: the credit floor, the range of pricing options, and the fees.
Side-by-Side Comparison: VA Loans Pro, Movement, Veterans United, and Rocket
The table below compares how each company structures a VA loan. Competitor figures are as of November 2026; verify them on each company’s site, since floors and practices change.
| Company | FICO Min (VA) | Lender Type | Loan Shelf | Fees | Pre-Approval Credit Pull | Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak | 500 | Independent broker | Hundreds of wholesale lenders | Shop-able and broker-negotiated; no-out-of-pocket closing options available | NoTouch Credit Pull (soft pull) | One file submitted to many investors; multi-state |
| Movement Mortgage | 580 (verify) | Direct lender | Single shelf | Set by Movement | Full application and hard pull at application (verify) | In-house origination and servicing; national presence |
| Veterans United | 620 (verify) | Direct lender | VA-focused single shelf | Set by Veterans United, including an origination charge | Verify on company site | VA-specialty process; direct origination |
| Rocket Mortgage | No public VA-specific floor (varies) | Direct lender | Single shelf | Set by Rocket | Full application and hard pull for firm numbers (verify) | Digital-first experience |
The strengths on the other side of the table are real. Movement offers an in-house process, in-house servicing, and national reach. Veterans United is a VA-only specialist with deep process experience. Rocket has a polished digital experience. A broker answers differently: hundreds of wholesale lenders to compare gives Duane Buziak leverage that one rate sheet cannot, the NoTouch Credit Pull supplies a digital, no-hard-pull start, and Duane Buziak’s ranking as a Scotsman Guide top originator nationally (#114) and VA Broker of the Year recognition speak to scale and credibility.
Reading the table plainly: if your score sits below a direct lender’s floor, or you want pricing and fees compared across many investors, the broker route fits. If you meet one company’s floor and prefer a single company handling origination and servicing, a direct lender like Movement may suit you better.
What Hundreds of Wholesale Lenders Means in Practice
When a broker submits your file to several wholesale investors, each one returns its own pricing, overlays, and fees. You see those options side by side instead of one shelf’s answer. If one investor wants a higher score or a larger reserve, another may not, and the file can be placed where it fits. For a borrower near a direct lender’s floor, that can be the difference between a decline and an approval path. It also means a competitive rate is something you can test rather than take on faith.
Starting without a hard inquiry
Duane Buziak’s NoTouch Credit Pull is a soft pull mortgage review. It works because a soft inquiry does not appear as a lender credit check on your report, so your score is not affected while you explore options. It gives you a no hard inquiry mortgage pre-approval style read on where you stand and which programs are realistic. It differs from the usual route, where firm numbers typically require a full application and a hard pull. As of November 2026, that is how Movement and Rocket generally operate, but verify with each company.
For veterans still building credit, this matters. A mortgage pre-approval without hard pull lets you find out whether a 500 FICO path or a 580 path is realistic before anything touches your report. Duane Buziak also offers free do-it-yourself credit improvement resources for those who need a plan first.
Checking a quote you already have
Dare to Compare is Duane Buziak’s pricing challenge: you send the quote you already have, and it is compared against what the wholesale network returns, so you can see where it stands before you commit. Duane Buziak also operates a zero-kickback policy, meaning no referral payments steer you toward a particular title, insurance, or real estate provider. Closing cost structures vary by loan, and no-out-of-pocket closing options may be available depending on your file.
No broker can promise a specific rate or approval, and Duane Buziak does not. What you get is a comparison you can verify.
Worked Example: A $400,000 VA Purchase With a 0.25-Point Rate Difference
Suppose you buy a $400,000 home with 0% down on a first-use VA loan. The funding fee is 2.15% (confirm the current rate on VA.gov).
- Funding fee: $400,000 × 0.0215 = $8,600
- Financed loan amount: $400,000 + $8,600 = $408,600
- Term: 30 years (360 payments)
The rates below are illustrative, not quotes. At 6.25%, principal and interest on $408,600 comes to about $2,516 per month. At 6.00%, it is about $2,450. The gap is roughly $66 per month. Across 360 months that is about $23,800 in total payments. These figures exclude property taxes, homeowners insurance, and any other costs.
Two points follow from the numbers. First, a quarter-point difference between investors is small in any single month but compounds over the life of the loan, which is the practical value of comparing many options rather than accepting one shelf’s pricing. Second, the funding fee is not fixed for everyone. A veteran who receives VA disability compensation owes $0 and finances $400,000. At 6.25%, that payment is about $2,463, roughly $53 per month less than the $408,600 case.
Before accepting any offer, line up your Loan Estimates and compare them. The CFPB’s Owning a Home guidance walks through how to compare loan offers, including shopping several providers within a short window.
FAQ: Movement vs. VA Loans Pro
Which company offers better business solutions, Movement or VA Loans Pro?
It depends on your needs. Movement offers one product shelf with in-house origination and servicing. VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak offers access to hundreds of wholesale lenders, a 500 FICO floor, and a soft-pull start. Borrowers wanting credit flexibility and comparison tend to fit the broker route.
What credit score does each require for a VA loan?
The VA sets no minimum score; each investor sets its own. As of November 2026, Movement publishes a 580 FICO floor for VA loans (verify on its site). Duane Buziak places VA loans down to 500 FICO through wholesale access. Approval is never guaranteed and depends on your full file.
Is Movement a broker or a direct lender?
Movement is a direct lender. It funds loans from its own product shelf and prices them with its own guidelines, rather than shopping your file across many wholesale investors. Duane Buziak, by contrast, is an independent broker who compares hundreds of wholesale lenders for each borrower.
Does VA Loans Pro run a hard credit pull for pre-approval?
No. Duane Buziak starts with the NoTouch Credit Pull, a soft credit pull mortgage review with no hard inquiry. A hard pull comes later, when you choose to move forward on a specific loan. As of November 2026, direct lenders typically require a hard pull at application (verify).
Can I get a VA loan if I have had a bankruptcy or collections?
Often, yes, though it depends on timing and circumstances. Investors have different waiting periods and overlays after bankruptcy, and collections may need explanation or resolution. Because a broker compares many investors, more paths may be open. Approval is never guaranteed, so review your file first.
Do I pay a funding fee with either company?
The funding fee is a VA charge, so it applies the same way at either company. First use with no down payment is 2.15% as of 2026. Veterans receiving VA disability compensation and certain surviving spouses are exempt. See the VA funding fee page.
Which states does Duane Buziak serve?
Duane Buziak is licensed in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Washington DC, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Maryland. For reference, the 2026 baseline conforming loan limit for a one-unit home is $832,750 (higher in designated high-cost counties); confirm on the FHFA conforming loan limit page. VA loans with full entitlement have no VA-set limit.
How do I compare my current quote through Dare to Compare?
Send Duane Buziak your current Loan Estimate or written quote from any company. It is compared line by line against pricing returned by the wholesale network, covering rate, points, and fees. You decide what to do with the result. No specific rate or approval is guaranteed.
Choosing Between One Company and a Comparison
Movement suits borrowers who want a single company from application through servicing and who meet its credit floor. The broker route suits borrowers who want credit flexibility, a soft-pull start, and pricing compared across hundreds of wholesale lenders. If your score is near or below a published floor, or you simply want proof your quote is competitive, start with the NoTouch Credit Pull or the Dare to Compare challenge through VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak.
Legal Disclaimer: This article is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rates, fees, and program guidelines are subject to change, and competitor details should be verified directly with each company. Consult a licensed professional about your situation. Equal Housing Lender.
Operated by Duane Buziak Mortgage Maestro, Coast2Coast Mortgage, LLC NMLS: 376205 / Duane Buziak NMLS#1110647 / NMLS Consumer Access / Legal Disclaimer: “Equal Housing Lender” This information is not intended to be an indication of loan qualification, loan approval or commitment to lend.
Author bio block: Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647