I get asked this one a lot. Open collections do not automatically kill your VA loan approval, and the rules are more forgiving than most people think. I break it all down in plain English in this article so you know exactly where you stand. https://scarpero.com/can-you-get-a-va-loan-with-open-collections-on-credit/

Here is the truth: you do not need a credit score to get a VA loan. The VA has no minimum credit score requirement, and lenders can approve you using alternative credit like rent, utilities, and other regular payments. I explain exactly how it works in my latest article. https://scarpero.com/how-to-get-approved-for-a-va-loan-with-no-credit-score/

A lot of veterans hear "500 credit score" and assume a VA loan is out of the question. But here is what the VA Handbook actually says: the VA itself has no minimum credit score requirement, so a 500 score is not an automatic denial. The real decision comes down to each lender's own rules, and for scores like this, manual underwriting is often the path to approval. https://scarpero.com/how-to-get-approved-for-a-va-loan-with-a-500-credit-score/

Hey everyone, I just finished a plain English breakdown of Chapter 4 of the VA Handbook, and it is all about credit. Here is the big takeaway: the VA itself does not set a minimum credit score, so Chapter 4 shows what the VA actually requires from lenders on credit, including the residual income focus, the 12-month housing payment history rule, and what derogatory items lenders must look at. If you have ever wondered what the VA really looks at when it comes to credit, this one clears it up. https://scarpero.com/va-handbook-chapter-4-credit-underwriting/

If Veterans United or another big online lender turned you down, take a breath. That turndown is not the final word, because a different lender who does manual underwriting can often find a way to get your VA loan approved. I break it all down in my latest article. https://scarpero.com/what-to-do-if-you-are-turned-down-by-veterans-united-or-another-online-lender/