A PCS order can turn a calm home search into a 30-day mission. That is exactly when “Dare to Compare” matters most. A low advertised rate is not a mortgage offer, and a quick verbal quote is not the same as a complete picture of principal, interest, funding fee, discount points, title charges, prepaid items, and cash needed to close.
VA Loans Pro approaches this as a broker assignment: put the numbers side by side, identify what changes your payment and cash position, then make a decision with the full math in view. With access to 500+ financing options, the goal is not to defend one shelf of products. It is to shop the market around your VA eligibility, credit profile, occupancy plans, and timeline.
By Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647
Table of Contents
- What Dare to Compare actually means
- What to compare beyond the interest rate
- A worked VA payment example
- VA, conventional, and FHA side by side
- Comparing VA Loans Pro and TheCowartTeam.com
- A faster way to request and review quotes
- Frequently asked questions
What Dare to Compare actually means
Dare to Compare is pricing transparency with consequences. If one quote carries a lower note rate but requires more points, a larger loan amount, or higher lender-controlled fees, the “lower rate” may cost more during the years you actually own the home. If another quote has a slightly higher rate but materially lower upfront charges, it may be the stronger choice for a military household planning another move in three years.
The right answer depends on your break-even period. It also depends on whether you are buying, using a VA IRRRL to reduce your rate, or using a VA cash-out refinance to consolidate debt or access equity. A good comparison starts with the same assumptions: identical loan amount, occupancy, loan term, credit profile, lock period, and estimated closing date.
For Richmond buyers, property taxes belong in that conversation. The City of Richmond’s real estate tax rate is $1.20 per $100 of assessed value, according to the City of Richmond FY2025 adopted budget. That local cost is separate from the mortgage rate, but it affects the monthly housing payment a family must comfortably carry.
Compare the numbers that control your real cost
Interest rate is one line. The payment, loan balance, and cash required to close are the decision. Ask every mortgage professional to show the same set of figures: rate, APR, points, origination charges, VA funding fee, total loan amount, principal-and-interest payment, estimated escrow, and total cash to close.
Also ask whether a credit inquiry will be hard or soft. VA Loans Pro offers NoTouch Credit Pull, a soft-credit-pull mortgage pre-approval process designed to help eligible buyers explore options without an immediate hard inquiry. A soft pull is useful early in the process, but a full application and underwriting review may still require additional documentation and credit verification.
Do not confuse prepaid taxes, insurance, and daily interest with broker compensation or third-party closing charges. Prepaids are often required to set up an escrow account and can vary based on closing date. They are not necessarily a sign that one quote is overpriced. This is why a line-by-line comparison is stronger than reacting to one total at the bottom of a worksheet.
Worked dollar example: how the VA funding fee changes payment
Here is a complete illustration using a first-time VA borrower purchasing a $400,000 home with zero down. Assume the borrower is not exempt from the VA funding fee, uses a 30-year fixed VA loan, and receives a 6.25% note rate. The current first-use, zero-down VA funding fee assumption in this example is 2.15%.
The base loan amount is $400,000. The funding fee is $400,000 × 2.15% = $8,600. When financed, the total loan amount becomes $408,600.
At 6.25% for 30 years, the estimated principal-and-interest payment on $408,600 is $2,515.20 per month. That payment does not include property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA dues, or any flood insurance requirement. Over the first 36 payments, the borrower would make $90,547.20 in principal and interest payments, although a portion pays down principal and is not simply an expense.
If the borrower is exempt from the funding fee due to qualifying service-connected disability status, the loan amount in this same example would remain $400,000. At the same 6.25% rate and term, estimated principal and interest would be about $2,462.68 monthly. That is a difference of about $52.52 per month because the $8,600 fee was not financed.
Funding-fee rules, exemptions, and loan assumptions can change. Get your Certificate of Eligibility reviewed before relying on an estimate.
VA vs. conventional vs. FHA: the comparison that matters
| Loan feature | VA purchase loan | Conventional purchase loan | FHA purchase loan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum down payment | Often 0% for eligible borrowers | Often 3% to 5%, depending on program and profile | Typically 3.5% with qualifying credit |
| Monthly mortgage insurance | No monthly PMI | Usually required below 20% down | Annual mortgage insurance premium generally applies |
| Upfront program fee | VA funding fee may apply; exemptions exist | No VA funding fee | Upfront mortgage insurance premium generally applies |
| Rate structure | Quote-dependent; compare rate, APR, points, and payment | Quote-dependent; pricing varies by down payment and PMI | Quote-dependent; mortgage insurance affects total cost |
| Credit flexibility | VA Loans Pro can review VA scenarios to 500 FICO | Program and investor guidelines vary | Program and investor guidelines vary |
A VA loan is not automatically the best fit simply because you earned the benefit. For some borrowers with substantial down payments, a conventional option may compete well. For others, VA’s zero-down structure and lack of monthly PMI can create a more manageable payment. Dare to Compare means testing the actual options, not assuming the outcome.
Comparing VA Loans Pro and TheCowartTeam.com
Richmond buyers may see options from TheCowartTeam.com during their search, and they should compare any written estimate they receive. The useful comparison is not a logo-versus-logo exercise. It is whether each quote uses the same loan program, loan amount, points, lock period, projected close date, and cash-to-close assumptions.
Ask The Cowart Team for a written Loan Estimate or equivalent written pricing worksheet, then place it next to a VA Loans Pro quote. Compare the rate and APR, but also compare total lender-controlled charges, discount points, funding-fee treatment, payment, and whether the pre-approval began with a soft pull or a hard inquiry. Structural questions matter too: can the professional shop multiple financing sources for your scenario, or are available choices limited to a smaller menu?
VA Loans Pro is a mortgage broker, not a single-shelf mortgage provider. That distinction does not guarantee a particular rate or approval. It does mean your file can be evaluated across a broader set of available options, which is valuable when a PCS deadline, a 500 FICO VA scenario, or a property-specific underwriting issue needs a second path.
How to run a clean comparison without wasting time
Start with your Certificate of Eligibility, estimated purchase price, down payment plan, and approximate credit range. Request a NoTouch Credit Pull conversation before authorizing a hard inquiry. Then ask for pricing based on one realistic closing date and one fixed lock period. A 15-day lock and a 45-day lock are not the same product, even if the interest rate looks similar.
When you receive written figures, look first at total loan amount and total cash to close. Then evaluate the principal-and-interest payment, expected time in the home, and break-even point for any points paid. If a quote appears dramatically cheaper, ask what assumption changed. Often the answer is not bad faith. It may be a shorter lock, an omitted fee, a different funding-fee treatment, or an estimate that does not yet include all third-party costs.
Ask about VA Loans Pro’s Customizable Savings Program, including eligible title services, realtor rebate opportunities, and insurance network options. Availability, eligibility, and program terms apply, but a coordinated plan can matter when every dollar at closing has a mission.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dare to Compare only about interest rates?
No. Compare rate, APR, discount points, funding fee, total loan amount, payment, estimated cash to close, lock period, and closing timeline.
Can I get a VA loan with zero down?
Eligible borrowers can often finance 100% of the purchase price, subject to VA eligibility, appraisal, underwriting, and program requirements.
Does every VA borrower pay a funding fee?
No. Some eligible veterans and borrowers are exempt. Others may finance the fee into the loan amount.
Does a VA loan have monthly PMI?
VA purchase loans do not have monthly private mortgage insurance. The VA funding fee may apply instead.
Can VA Loans Pro review a 500 FICO VA scenario?
Yes. VA Loans Pro can review VA loan scenarios down to 500 FICO, subject to full documentation, underwriting, and property review.
Will NoTouch Credit Pull hurt my credit score?
NoTouch Credit Pull is designed as a soft pull and does not create a hard inquiry. Further credit verification may be needed later.
Should I compare VA Loans Pro with TheCowartTeam.com?
Yes. Request written estimates with matching assumptions and compare total cost, payment, points, fees, lock period, and service fit.
Can I use Dare to Compare for a VA refinance?
Yes. The same approach applies to VA IRRRL and VA cash-out refinance pricing, including payment, fees, loan balance, and break-even analysis.
Your home financing decision deserves more than a quick rate quote. Bring the numbers into the open, ask the hard questions, and choose the path that supports your family’s next set of orders and long-term plans.
Legal Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a commitment to lend, a loan approval, or financial, legal, or tax advice. Loan programs, rates, APRs, fees, funding fees, eligibility, underwriting requirements, and closing costs are subject to change without notice. All loans are subject to credit approval, property appraisal, title review, and program guidelines. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Duane Buziak | Mortgage Maestro | NMLS #1110647 | Coast2Coast Mortgage, LLC NMLS #376205 | Licensed in VA, FL, TN, GA & DC [Contact] | NoTouch Credit Pull available — no hard inquiry, no credit hit.