The National Association of REALTORS® has long been a strong supporter of the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program, which has helped American veterans obtain more than 24 million home loans since the program began. Members of Congress are taking additional steps to help veterans secure the American dream of homeownership.
Recently, Reps. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.), Harriet Hageman (R-Wy.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.) and Young Kim (D-Calif.) introduced the Veterans Affairs Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2025 (VALID Act). Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. The VALID Act empowers veterans by ensuring VA loan options are presented clearly and equally, right alongside conventional and FHA loans, so they can confidently choose the path to homeownership that’s best for them.
VA Home Loan Guaranty is a unique government program that allows veterans to purchase a home without a down payment. Through this resource, VA loans can save borrowers thousands of dollars. Yet, most eligible veterans never use them—usage rates hover around 10-15% nationally, with some states seeing as few as 6% of qualified veterans taking advantage of the program, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Based on survey data from NAR’s Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the use of VA loans has risen slightly from 2009 to 2024. In 2009, 8% of both first-time and repeat buyers used VA loans compared to 9% of first-time buyers and 11% of repeat buyers using VA loans in 2024. In 2024, VA lenders provided financing for roughly 490,000 home purchases and refinances.
National Association of REALTORS® President Kevin Sears praised the lawmakers for introducing the bill in a letter,pdf saying, “We commend your leadership in strengthening the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program and ensuring it remains an accessible financing option for our nation’s veterans. This program has achieved remarkable success, helping drive veteran homeownership rates above 75%—a significantly higher rate than the national average. “For veterans, the program provides an invaluable pathway to homeownership, reflecting our nation's commitment to those who have sacrificed in service to our country."
The bill would add military service status to standard mortgage applications, allowing lenders to determine upfront whether someone qualifies for a VA loan. In May, the House of Representatives passed the VA Home Loan Reform Act to ensure that veterans can continue to participate in the housing market on an equal footing with other home buyers.
“We thank the representatives and senators for introducing this important measure to support our nation’s veterans as they face today’s highly competitive real estate market,” says Shannon McGahn, NAR executive vice president and chief advocacy officer. “The VA Home Loan Program has been instrumental in building generational wealth and homeownership access for millions of veterans, and it is one of the great success stories of the 20th century. NAR will always advocate for the brave men and women who serve in our armed forces, and we want to ensure the program is successful going forward.”
