VA home loans for National Guard and Reserve members
How Guard and Reserve members qualify for a VA loan, which documents prove eligibility, and how drill and civilian income are counted.
Written by the FLO Mortgage team · Licensed mortgage broker, NMLS #1835856 · Updated October 2026
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At a glance
- Qualify with 90 days of qualifying active duty or 6 years
- Same funding fee as active duty
- Drill pay can count as income
- No VA minimum credit score
Talk with a licensed loan officer
Guard and Reserve
Many Guard and Reserve members don't realize they've earned the VA home loan benefit. Eligibility depends on the type and length of your service, and the paperwork is a little different from active duty.
Eligibility in plain English
- National Guard: at least 90 days of non-training active duty under Title 10, or 90 days of active service including at least 30 consecutive days, or 6 creditable years (still serving or honorably discharged).
- Selected Reserve: at least 90 days of non-training active duty, or 6 creditable years (still serving or honorably discharged).
- Discharged for a service-connected disability: may qualify with less service.
Not sure? Try our eligibility check or let us request your Certificate of Eligibility.
Documents and income
Depending on your history, the VA may need your NGB Form 22, a retirement points statement, or a DD-214 from an activation. For income, lenders look at your civilian pay and can count drill pay when there's a history of receiving it. Since 2020, Guard and Reserve members pay the same VA funding fee as active-duty borrowers.
Questions, answered
Can National Guard members get a VA loan?
Yes, with 90 days of qualifying active service or 6 creditable years of Guard service.
Do Reservists pay a higher funding fee?
Not anymore. Since 2020, Guard and Reserve members pay the same funding fee as active duty.
What documents do Guard members need for a COE?
Often NGB Form 22 or a retirement points statement, or a DD-214 for qualifying activations.
Does drill pay count as income?
It can, when there's a history of receiving it and it's likely to continue.
Can I use a VA loan while still drilling?
Yes. You can use the benefit while serving, as long as you meet the service requirements.
More answers in the VA Answer Center.
More VA loan guides
- VA home loans overview
- VA loan questions, answered
- VA loan tools and calculators
- VA home buying roadmap
- VA loans for first-time buyers
- VA loans for active duty
- VA appraisals and property requirements
- VA closing costs and seller concessions
- VA occupancy rules
- VA entitlement and second VA loans
- Assumable VA loans
- VA condos and property types
- VA manual underwriting
- Disabled veteran property tax exemptions
- VA streamline refinance (IRRRL)
- VA cash-out refinance
- VA funding fee exemption
- VA loans for surviving spouses
- VA residual income explained
- VA loans after bankruptcy or foreclosure
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Local VA loan help
Talk to a FLO Mortgage loan officer
Every FLO loan officer helps veterans, service members and military families with VA loans. Have a question these guides don't answer? Ask our team.
This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting guidelines, property eligibility and program availability. Lender requirements may be stricter than the program guidelines described here. Not all applicants will qualify. Figures reflect 2026 VA guidelines and may change without notice. FLO Mortgage is licensed in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Company NMLS #1835856. Equal Housing Opportunity. FLO Mortgage is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. Licensing & Disclosures.
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