Honoring Your Service With the Right Mortgage

If you’ve served in the United States military, you’ve earned access to one of the most powerful home financing benefits available anywhere: the VA home loan. With no down payment required, no private mortgage insurance, and competitive interest rates, VA loans offer eligible veterans and service members a significant advantage in any real estate market — including Scottsdale’s competitive housing environment.

Mark Merry at Granite Bank is proud to serve veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and surviving spouses throughout Scottsdale and the greater Phoenix area.

VA Loan Eligibility Requirements

VA loan eligibility is determined by your military service history. You may be eligible if you are:

• An active-duty service member who has served at least 90 continuous days

• A veteran with qualifying service (requirements vary based on when you served)

• A National Guard or Reserve member with at least 6 years of service, or 90 days of active-duty service under Title 10 orders

• The surviving spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty or from a service-connected disability

Eligibility is confirmed through a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Mark Merry can help you obtain your COE — it’s often faster than people expect.

VA Loan Benefits in Scottsdale

The VA loan benefit is genuinely exceptional. Here’s what makes it stand out in Scottsdale’s market:

• No down payment required — 100% financing on the purchase price

• No private mortgage insurance (PMI) — saving hundreds per month compared to conventional loans with less than 20% down

• Competitive interest rates — VA loans typically offer lower rates than conventional loans

• Limited closing costs — the VA limits what veterans can be charged

• No prepayment penalty — pay off your loan early with no fees

• Flexible credit requirements — generally more forgiving than conventional guidelines

• Can be reused — eligible veterans can use their VA benefit multiple times

• VA funding fee may be financed into the loan, reducing out-of-pocket costs at closing

VA Loan Limits in Arizona

As of 2020, VA loan limits were eliminated for veterans with full VA entitlement. This means if you have full entitlement remaining, there is no official cap on how much you can borrow — though lenders may still apply their own limits based on your financial profile.

For veterans with partial entitlement (because you have an active VA loan or a prior VA loan that wasn’t fully paid off), county loan limits still apply. Maricopa County’s 2025 conforming limit is $806,500.

VA Loan Process in Scottsdale

Getting a VA loan in Scottsdale follows a similar process to other mortgage types, with a few additional steps:

1. Obtain Certificate of Eligibility (COE) — Mark can help pull this quickly

2. Get pre-approved — VA pre-approvals carry significant weight with Scottsdale sellers

3. Find your home — the property must meet VA Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs)

4. VA appraisal — ordered by the lender, confirms value and property condition

5. Underwriting and closing — typically 30–45 days from accepted offer to keys

One important note: the VA appraisal is not the same as a home inspection. Mark always recommends getting a full independent inspection as well.

Call a Scottsdale VA Loan Expert Today

Mark Merry understands the VA loan process inside and out. He’ll help you obtain your COE, structure the strongest pre-approval, and navigate the Scottsdale market with the full advantage of your VA benefit.

You’ve earned this benefit. Let’s put it to work. Call (480) 442-7487 today.