Welcome to California

Free Prequalification

Find out if you qualify for a CalVet Loan. How much do you qualify for?

Are you planning to purchase a home within the next six months? Your search will be easier with a prequalification letter from CalVet that tells you how much of a loan amount you would qualify for. You can then look for homes in the price range for that loan. Your real estate agent or seller will appreciate that you have been prequalified, and you will have already started a relationship with the CalVet office that will process your loan.

It's easy to prequalify. Complete our form and mail or fax it to the nearest CalVet District Office. Be sure to complete all of the requested information. Please be accurate on your income, debt and monthly payments--otherwise the prequalifcation amount may differ from the actual loan amount. In most cases, the district office will order a credit report, so your social security numbers are needed. You'll receive your Prequalification letter, and you'll be ready to find your house!

Who is eligible?

Wartime-era and peacetime-era veterans are eligible. If you are currently serving on regular active duty, you are eligible. Eligibility requires service under honorable conditions. There are no prior residency rules--a veteran may have entered service outside California. Click here for more eligibility information, or contact the nearest CalVet District Office.

We have funds

Besides bond funds used to make CalVet loans, we have a limited amount of "unrestricted funds". These funds, together with the bond funds, will be used to provide loans to wartime-era veterans, regardless of when they served. Peacetime-era veterans are limited to Revenue Bonds for funding, which do have some restrictions. The prequalification review will determine whether we have a source of funds for your loan.

Checklist for your Prequalification

  • Complete the Information form, answering all of the questions. (Our Prequalification Information form, in Adobe .pdf format may be downloaded here. You may fill out form on your PC and print it, but unfortunately, this format does not allow a filled-out form to be saved to your disk.)
  • Select the district office in the area in which you plan to purchase, or the most convenient district office, and mail or fax the completed information form.

You may receive a call for more information prior to your receipt of the Prequalification letter.

Eligibility Review

Eligibility is verified using your DD 214 - Release from Active Duty. If you do not have a copy click here. We can process your Prequalification request without the DD214, but you should start the process to obtain a copy now so that when you submit your loan application, loan approval will not be delayed. The prequalification letter will be subject to the review of your DD-214 at the time that you apply for the loan. If you are currently serving on Active Duty, you won't have a DD-214--we will require a Statement of Service from your Commanding Officer.

When you're ready to apply...

You may apply for your CalVet loan before, after or at the same time as your request for prequalification. When you're ready to apply, call your district office, real estate agent or mortgage broker for an application package or download the forms from this website. To help speed things along, start gathering the following information: