I’m Michael DiVita — DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655, DiVita Home Finance (DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700), Tiburon, CA. I’ve been in California mortgage lending since 2000 and founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. VA loans are among the strongest tools I work with — veterans deserve to use every benefit they’ve earned. Call (800) 239-1103.
VA loans in San Rafael, CA give eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses one of the most powerful homebuying tools available — zero down payment, no PMI, and competitive rates backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In a market like Marin County where even entry-level homes exceed $800K, the VA benefit is genuinely transformative.
VA Loan Benefits for San Rafael Home Buyers
Zero down payment: Buy a San Rafael home with no down payment required — none. This is the single biggest advantage in a high-cost market where saving 20% on a $1M home would take years. No private mortgage insurance (PMI): FHA and conventional low-down loans require monthly mortgage insurance that adds hundreds per month to your payment. VA loans don’t have PMI — ever. Competitive interest rates: VA rates are typically among the lowest available for any loan program, often matching or beating conventional rates. Flexible credit guidelines: VA loans are more forgiving on credit history than conventional financing. No loan limits for full entitlement: If you have full VA entitlement and haven’t used it on another active loan, you can borrow any amount with zero down — subject to income and credit qualification. A $1.5M San Rafael home with zero down is possible.
VA Loan Limits in Marin County (2026)
Veterans with full VA entitlement face no county-level loan limit — you can purchase a $1.5M, $2M, or higher-priced San Rafael home with zero down if your income and credit support the payment. This is a significant advantage that many veterans don’t fully realize. If you have remaining entitlement (you have an active VA loan on another property), loan limits apply. Marin County’s VA loan limit aligns with the 2026 conforming loan limit of $1,249,125. I’ll pull your Certificate of Eligibility to confirm exactly how much entitlement you have.
How to Get a VA Loan in San Rafael
Step 1 — Certificate of Eligibility (COE): I can pull this directly through VA systems in most cases — no paperwork from you required. Step 2 — Pre-approval: I review your income, credit, and entitlement and issue a full pre-approval letter. Step 3 — Find your home: Shop with confidence knowing your VA financing is solid. Step 4 — VA appraisal: A VA-assigned appraiser confirms property value and minimum property standards. Step 5 — Close: I typically close VA purchases in 21–30 days. San Rafael and Marin County sellers are comfortable with VA offers — I’ve closed many here and they know what to expect from a VA deal.
VA Funding Fee (2026)
VA loans require a one-time funding fee — 2.15% of the loan amount for first-time VA use with zero down, lower with a down payment, and 3.3% for subsequent use with zero down. This fee can be financed into the loan with no cash required at closing. It is waived entirely for veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher. If you have any disability rating, confirm this with me before we proceed — the waiver is significant.
Frequently Asked Questions — VA Loans San Rafael CA
Can I use a VA loan to buy a condo in San Rafael CA?
Yes — condos must be in a VA-approved complex, but many San Rafael developments are on the VA’s approved list. I’ll verify eligibility before you make an offer so there are no surprises. If the complex isn’t currently approved, there is a process to get it approved — it takes time, so plan ahead if you’re targeting a specific building. Single-family homes in San Rafael don’t have this limitation.
Can I use my VA loan benefit more than once?
Yes. VA benefits can be used multiple times. If you’ve paid off a prior VA loan and sold the property, your full entitlement is restored and you can use the benefit again with zero down. If you still have an active VA loan on another property, you can use remaining/bonus entitlement for a second VA loan — though a down payment may be required. I’ll tell you exactly what your entitlement situation looks like after pulling your COE.
Do San Rafael sellers accept VA offers?
Yes — VA loan offers are strong and well-understood in Marin County. The misconception that VA offers are weak comes from markets unfamiliar with the program. Marin County sellers and their agents know VA financing is government-backed, and my pre-approval letters carry weight because I close on time. In multiple-offer situations, a clean VA offer from a well-qualified veteran with a 21-day close capability competes effectively against conventional offers.
Talk to Michael Directly
DiVita Home Finance | Tiburon, CA | In lending since 2000, founded DiVita Home Finance in 2007. Michael DiVita DRE #01372066 | NMLS #241655. Company DRE #01818285 | NMLS #323700.
💬 Text: (310) 849-9124
