The Ark·Veterans Path
For Active Duty, Veterans & Military Families

Your service
earned you a
home benefit.
Let's use it right.

A straight-talk guide to buying a home with your VA loan in Fresno, Tulare, and Kings counties, walked through by an agent who will actually show up for you, start to finish.

// Tap any section below to open it up

Start My Orders See The Process
0%
Down Payment Required
$0
Monthly PMI
15,144
VA Purchase Loans in CA (2024)
1
Team Through Close
✓

No down payment, most of the time

Qualified buyers can finance up to 100% of the purchase price. No years spent saving a down payment before you can move.

✓

No private mortgage insurance

Conventional loans under 20% down usually carry PMI. VA loans don't, which keeps your monthly payment lower for the life of the loan.

✓

Competitive, often lower rates

Because the loan is backed by the VA, lenders take on less risk, and that often shows up as a better rate than conventional financing.

✓

Capped closing costs, seller can help

The VA limits what you can be charged in certain fees, and sellers can contribute toward your closing costs as part of the offer.

✓

Reusable benefit

This isn't a one-time use. With entitlement restored, many veterans use their VA loan again for a future home.

✓

Built for you, not against you

The VA appraisal and inspection standards exist to protect you from buying a home with hidden problems. That protection works in your favor.

Here's the general baseline. Your exact eligibility depends on your service record, so this is a starting point, not a final answer.

✓

Active duty

Typically 90 continuous days of active service qualifies you, with no discharge requirement while you're still serving.

✓

Veterans

Service length requirements vary by when you served, generally 90 days to 2 years, with an honorable or general discharge under honorable conditions.

✓

National Guard & Reserves

Six years of service typically qualifies, or 90 days of active duty service if activated.

✓

Surviving spouses

Spouses of service members who died in the line of duty, or from a service-connected disability, may qualify for the benefit.

The document that confirms your eligibility is your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). I'll help you pull it, no guesswork required.

FILE: HOMEBUYER SEQUENCE STATUS: ACTIVE
01INTAKE

Initial conversation

We talk through where you're at, what you're working with, and what you actually want in a home. No forms, just a real conversation about your situation.

02COE + LENDER

Pull your Certificate of Eligibility & get pre-approved

I'll connect you with a lender experienced in VA loans, and we'll get your COE pulled and your pre-approval in hand before we ever tour a home.

03SEARCH

House hunting with your number in mind

We tour homes in Fresno, Tulare, and Kings counties that fit your pre-approval and your life, not just what's available.

04OFFER

Write a strong, VA-informed offer

I structure the offer around what VA financing needs to succeed, including how seller concessions and closing costs get handled.

05APPRAISAL

VA appraisal & inspection

The VA appraiser confirms value and checks the home against Minimum Property Requirements. I walk you through anything that comes up.

06CLOSE

Final walkthrough & closing

We do a final walkthrough, review your closing disclosure together, and you sign. Then the keys are yours.

Feature VA Loan CalVet Loan
Backed by U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs California Department of Veterans Affairs
Down payment As low as 0% As low as 0-3%, program dependent
PMI None None, but includes a Guaranty Fee
Lender network Wide, most VA-approved lenders State-run, single program
Available outside CA Yes, nationwide No, California properties only

Most of my clients end up better served by the VA loan, but every situation is different. We'll look at both against your specific numbers before you decide anything.

// Who You're Working With

About William

William Garza, real estate agent at The Ark Real Estate Group
W. GARZA DRE 02168724

An agent who shows up, start to finish.

I'm William Garza, a full time agent with The Ark Real Estate Group, serving buyers across Fresno, Tulare, and Kings counties. Buyer representation is what I do, and helping military families and veterans use the benefit they earned is work I take personally.

I grew up watching people get overlooked, told they didn't have what it takes, or that homeownership just wasn't in the cards for them. I've been there myself. That's exactly why I do this. I don't believe in convincing anyone to buy a home. I believe in listening long enough to understand what you actually want, then showing up consistently until you get there.

You won't get a script from me. You'll get a straight answer, a plan that fits your situation, and an agent who's still on the phone with you at closing, not just at the open house.

William Garza with The Ark Real Estate Group team

The Ark Real Estate Group — Central Valley

// Questions

What people ask me

The VA itself doesn't set a minimum credit score, but individual lenders do, and it's usually more flexible than conventional financing. If your credit isn't where you want it yet, I can point you toward a plan to get there before we start touring homes.
Yes. Once you sell a home purchased with your VA loan and pay it off, your entitlement is typically restored so you can use it again. Some veterans can even hold more than one VA loan at a time under certain conditions.
It's a one-time fee that helps keep the program funded for future veterans. The amount depends on your down payment and whether it's your first time using the benefit. Veterans with a service-connected disability are often exempt entirely, and I'll help you check where you stand.
Some sellers carry outdated assumptions about VA loans being slower or harder to close. Part of my job is writing your offer and communicating with the listing agent in a way that puts those concerns to rest with facts, not just reassurance.
It depends on your timeline and orders. We'll talk through what a PCS move could mean for the property, including renting it out later, before you commit to anything. I'd rather walk you through the real tradeoffs than push you into a purchase.
// Next Step

Let's pull your COE and get started.

No pressure, no scripts. Just tell me where you're at and I'll tell you honestly what's possible.

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Call or Text (559) 901-0756