Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, is a VA loan specialist licensed in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. He explains that VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak is an independent mortgage broker with a 500 FICO floor and access to 500+ wholesale lenders. A direct VA lender sells from one shelf of its own products. If you were declined, or handed a quote that felt high, you need a way to compare the two models with numbers instead of marketing. These six tests work on any direct lender, and they put credit flexibility and choice ahead of speed. Key terms: a broker submits your file to many investors; a direct lender funds loans with its own products; an overlay is a company rule stricter than the VA’s; wholesale means pricing a broker can access that is not sold to the public. NoTouch Credit Pull is our soft-pull pre-qualification: it shows where you stand without a hard inquiry on your report.
1. Compare Credit Score Floors
The VA sets no minimum credit score. Each company sets its own, and that number decides who gets a pre-approval at all. Suppose a veteran at 585 FICO is declined by a company with a 620 floor. That is not a VA ineligibility. A wholesale investor that underwrites to VA guidelines at that score may still approve the file, at a higher rate than a 740 borrower would see.
Here is how the models differ, as of November 2026 (confirm current figures with each company):
- VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak: 500 FICO minimum, independent broker, 500+ wholesale lenders, broker-negotiated fees you can shop. Approval is never guaranteed.
- Veterans United: 620 FICO minimum, direct lender, single VA-specialty shelf, origination fee on the higher side.
- Movement Mortgage: 580 FICO minimum for VA, direct lender, single shelf, full application before pricing.
- Rocket Mortgage: no public VA-specific floor, direct lender, single shelf, hard pull before real numbers.
A smaller brand name does not mean less leverage. Having hundreds of investors to price against is more leverage than one rate sheet, and Duane Buziak’s #114 national ranking on the Scotsman Guide’s Top Originators list and VA Broker of the Year 2024-2025 recognition reflect that production.
- Ask each company for its written minimum score for VA purchase and for cash-out refinance.
- Ask which overlays apply: debt-to-income caps, residual income cushions, recent late payments.
- Share your profile through NoTouch Credit Pull so the answers fit your actual file.
The common mistakes are treating one decline as a VA decline, and assuming a 500 floor means the same pricing as a high score. It does not; lower scores price higher. Measure how many companies will issue a pre-approval at your real score, and the rate range each quotes.
2. Test Shelf Breadth: Single Company vs. 500+ Wholesale Lenders
A direct lender can only price its own products. A broker submits the same file to many investors and picks the best fit on rate, points, and underwriting. Even a quarter-point gap matters. Labelled illustration: on a $400,000 loan over 30 years, 6.25% is about $2,463 a month and 6.00% is about $2,398. That is roughly $65 a month, and about $23,000 over the full term.
Ask your broker how many investors were actually priced, and ask for at least two competing quotes in writing, with the same lock length and points. The number of investors checked is the real evidence of shelf breadth, not the number printed in an advertisement.
The classic error is comparing a broker quote with one set of points to a direct-lender quote with another, or mixing 30-day and 60-day locks. A lower rate bought with more points is not a better deal, only a different one. Put every quote on the same terms before judging it.
To measure, take the spread between the best and median quote, then convert it to a monthly payment and to five-year cost, since most borrowers refinance or move before year 30.
3. Count the Credit Inquiries Required
A hard inquiry is a full credit pull that appears on your report. A soft pull is a review that does not. Many companies pull hard before they will show you real numbers. A soft credit pull mortgage process lets you compare direction on pricing first.
Illustration: a veteran gets a mortgage pre approval without hard pull through NoTouch Credit Pull, compares where pricing is heading across options, and authorizes a hard pull only with the one company chosen. Scoring models generally treat several mortgage inquiries inside a short window as one, but the window varies by model, so do not rely on it as a safety net.
- Ask every company: “Do I get real numbers before a hard pull?”
- Start with a soft pull mortgage broker process.
- Authorize a hard pull only when you submit an application.
Shopping does not always hurt your credit, which is a common misconception. The mistake is letting several companies pull before you have compared anything, or assuming every pull costs the same without checking current scoring rules. Measure the number of hard inquiries on your report on the day you pick a company. Ideally it is one.
4. Line Up Fees on the Loan Estimate
Start by separating costs the VA sets from costs a company sets. The VA funding fee is set by the VA and is not negotiable. As of 2026, first use with less than 5% down is 2.15% of the loan amount, and veterans receiving VA disability compensation are exempt. See the VA funding fee and closing costs page for the current table. Origination, processing, and title charges are negotiable.
Worked math on a $400,000 loan: a 2.15% funding fee is $8,600, and $0 for an exempt veteran. If one company’s origination charge runs 0.5% higher than another’s, that is another $2,000. Neither figure shows up in a headline rate.
- Request Loan Estimates from each company on the same day.
- Compare Sections A and B line by line, using the CFPB’s Loan Estimate guide to read each line.
- Ask about no-out-of-pocket closing options and any compensation tied to referrals. Duane Buziak operates a zero-kickback policy.
Two mistakes recur: comparing only the rate or APR while ignoring origination and third-party fees, and assuming the funding fee can be negotiated. Measure total Section A plus B costs and cash to close across every estimate.
5. Match the Program Menu to Your Next Five Years
A VA loan is rarely your last transaction. Orders change, a first home becomes a rental, income shifts. Check that each company supports VA-specific tools: second-tier entitlement, the IRRRL (interest rate reduction refinance loan), and cash-out up to 100% LTV. Then check alternates: FHA, USDA, conventional, DSCR, bank statement, and ITIN programs.
Illustration: a veteran keeps a first home as a rental and buys again using remaining entitlement. Later the rental is refinanced with a DSCR loan, which qualifies on the property’s rental income. Through one broker, every step is available. With a single-shelf company, the step it does not offer means a referral and a fresh start. Entitlement limits at higher loan amounts are tied to the conforming baseline, which is published by FHFA; verify the 2026 figure for your county, whether you buy in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, or Georgia.
- List your next five years: PCS, rental, refinance, self-employment.
- Ask each company which programs apply to each item.
- Request any overlays in writing.
The mistake is choosing a company for one purchase without asking whether it supports a later IRRRL or second use of entitlement. Measure the percentage of your likely scenarios that the company can fund without referring you elsewhere.
6. Run a Same-Day Dare to Compare Challenge
Dare to Compare is our pricing challenge: you hand Duane Buziak your competing quote, and he matches loan type, amount, lock, and points so the two can be read on one sheet. Because the comparison is matched, it exposes the real difference instead of a marketing gap. The Total Cost Ecosystem adds title, realtor, and insurance savings to the picture.
Labelled illustration: a veteran brings a Loan Estimate at 6.25%. The matched broker comparison shows 6.00% with the same points, plus lower title and insurance quotes. Monthly cost falls by about $65, plus the extra savings. Actual pricing depends on your file and the market, and nothing here is a rate guarantee.
- Send your current Loan Estimate.
- Confirm loan type, amount, lock length, and points are matched.
- Compare everything on one sheet within 24 hours.
- Choose whichever wins on total cost.
The pitfall is comparing non-equivalent products: different lock periods, buydown points, or loan terms. Measure total five-year cost (payments plus fees and points) on the matched comparison, along with cash to close.
Eight questions veterans ask when weighing a broker against a direct lender
What is the minimum credit score for a VA loan in 2026?
The VA sets no minimum score; each company sets its own. VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak works to a 500 FICO floor, Veterans United uses 620, and Movement uses 580 for VA.
Can I get a VA loan with a 500 credit score?
It is possible, but not guaranteed. A broker can match a 500 file to wholesale investors that underwrite that low, and pricing will be higher than for stronger scores.
Can I get VA pre-approval without a hard credit pull?
Yes, through a no hard inquiry mortgage pre approval such as NoTouch Credit Pull. It uses a soft pull, so nothing is added to your report until you choose to apply.
What is the difference between a VA broker and a direct VA lender?
A broker shops your file across many investors; a direct lender funds from its own single shelf. Neither model is automatically cheaper, which is why the matched comparison matters.
How does a broker get better pricing?
By pricing the same file across 500+ wholesale lenders and choosing the best fit. Results vary by file, and a better quote is never promised.
What is the VA funding fee in 2026?
For first use with under 5% down it is 2.15% of the loan, and it is $0 for veterans receiving disability compensation. Current tiers are on the VA.gov funding fee page.
Does shopping several companies hurt my credit?
Not necessarily. Scoring models often group mortgage inquiries within a short window, but the length varies, so start with a soft pull and limit hard pulls.
Can a broker handle a later refinance or second purchase?
Yes. VA Loans Pro by Duane Buziak covers IRRRLs, cash-out to 100% LTV, second-tier entitlement, and DSCR, FHA, USDA, conventional, bank statement, and ITIN programs.
Where to start, and what to run before you sign
Begin with the credit-floor and shelf tests (strategies 1 and 2), since they tell you who will approve you and at what spread. Then run your NoTouch Credit Pull profile for a mortgage pre approval without hard pull, and put the winning quote through the Dare to Compare challenge before you commit. If one company clears all of that on total cost, you have your answer.
Written by Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, Coast2Coast Mortgage LLC NMLS #376205. Equal Housing Lender. This article is general information, 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 about your situation.
Author bio block: Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, is a VA loan specialist licensed in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia. He is a Scotsman Guide Top Originator (#114 nationally), was named VA Broker of the Year 2024-2025, and has earned more than 1,400 five-star reviews.