On this week’s episode, Borne The Battle featured Navy Veteran Bryan Bergjans. He spoke about what he does with Caliber Home Loans and how he was able to become the National Director of Military and VA lending. He also discussed bridging the educational gap between the VA Home Loan Benefit and future military and veteran homeowners, and realtors.

Bryan Bergjans uses different platforms to educate and provide information to service members, Veterans and eligible spouses about the VA Home Loan Benefit.

These include Home Owner Heroes and Military Spouse Mondays which are published on YouTube through the Mortgage News Network.The shows also provide information and answer questions for mortgage professionals. He discusses some of the major opportunities and debunks common misconceptions. Bergjans also shares unknown facts that are in place through the VA Home Loan Benefit.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO BORNE THE BATTLE #150: VA HOME LOAN PROGRAM

VA helps service members, Veterans or eligible surviving spouses become homeowners. As part of VA’s mission to serve Veterans, VA provides a home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs. These help buy, build, repair, retain or adapt a home for personal occupancy.

VA Home Loans are provided by private lenders, such as banks and mortgage companies. VA guarantees a portion of the loan, enabling the lender to provide the service members, Veterans or eligible surviving spouses with more favorable terms.

#BtBattle Veteran of the Week:

  • Army Veteran Steven Jerome Copley
BtB - Episode 196 - Steven Jerome Copely

Steven (center with sunglasses) served in the Army, 1967-1972.

 


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Simone Young is a podcast intern with the VA’s Digital Media Engagement Team. She is a recent graduate from Elon University with a Master of Arts in Interactive Media.

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8 Comments

  1. Eric Shannon June 4, 2020 at 00:17

    Last night I was very surprised. Not really sure why. I called Caliber Home Loans to see if they could help me. The lady that answered the phone didn’t listen to me at all and I had to repeat myself.

    What I wonder, is there any lender that can service a VA home loan for someone outside of the U.S.? I have my COE already, I have my eyes on a property but my time in service seems to mean nothing since I’m living and working outside of the U.S.

  2. Tobias May 28, 2020 at 10:33

    Anyone else skipping around trying to find the useful information? I get the impression these guys just like to hear themselves talk and are baiting us with 20 seconds of actual information.

  3. Teresa K Romine May 28, 2020 at 08:15

    I have several things on my mind:
    1. I’m in desperate need of home repair renovation. I was told before The VA Inspector came to check out my house that the owners said they’d fix anything that needed fixed. I had a list and told my Realtor to let me know when the inspector was coming so I could walk thru with them and show them what needed repaired or replaced. My Realtor didn’t tell me and the only thing they had them do was put a handrail on the basement stairway. There are so many things that should have been done it’s unbelievable that she didn’t see all that needed done. The main thing was to replace the whole floor in the bathroom because the toilet is falling thru the floor. That was 3 years ago. I’m in desperate need. If I go thru the floor either the toilet or the tub shower one or the other is going to follow me down and fall on me or someone else and kill me or them!!!! I can’t find anyone to help me get this done. People tell me all the time, your a disabled veteran they will renovate your bathroom for free and anything else since your disabled and can barely walk. REALLY??? I’d like to know who’s doing this because I can’t find them. I’m in Independence, Mo. Would like a response please before my bathroom kills me or someone else. Thank you!!
    2. I stopped seeing my New VA Doctor. Mine retired. She decided to lower my Thyroid dosage and I begged and pleaded and even cried trying to get her not to do this to me. Well 6 months later I’m 78 pounds heavier thanks to her. She had the nerve to tell at me after I asked her how much did she make me gain. Said I might as well accept that I’d be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life because the VA can’t help me!!!!!! Had witnesses too… I asked her if I could get one of those scooters and she said no. After she yelled at me So I wouldn’t go to jail I started getting my Medicare. I kept getting letters wanting me to come in so I said not to see her. So the other Doctor at the women’s clinic in independence seen me. After I told her this story and said I was getting my Medicare now, she got hateful and said that I couldn’t get my prescriptions anymore at the VA. The Administration Office said I could if my Doctor would fill them. The Social Security Office told me all Veterans should use their Medicare and VA Benefits. But apparently not. Cause it didn’t do me any good. Just pissed those Doctor’s off. I have to pay for my prescriptions now and that takes away from my paying bills. And they also won’t approve me for more VA Disability, they said I don’t need it. That’s not my opinion.!!!! My Left Hip and Knee are now locked up and hip is bone in bone from compensating for my injured Right Foot from Bootcamp. They told me I had to pay another outside Doctor to get another opinion. The Social Security Office said that’s against the the Law that the VA has to do a Secondary for that and I don’t have to pay for it!!!! Can someone contact me about this please.. thank you.

    I guess that’s all for now. Sorry to burden you with these problems.

    • Tanner Iskra May 28, 2020 at 08:57

      Teresa,

      I just read your story and I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction based on what I know. I would recommend calling the White House VA hotline at 1-855-948-2311. They are the best “front door” of the VA that I can think of. Their goal is to direct you to the right offices/programs for each of these issues.

      There are also patient advocates at VA health facilities.
      Link: https://www.va.gov/health/patientadvocate/

      I hope this helps,
      Tanner

  4. Bobby Lechuga May 28, 2020 at 04:20

    This is an advertisement. Not just informational. I’m surprised that the VA is promoting these third party mortgage companies. It creates liability for the VA if there are any lender problems AND it’s an advertisement, which is not stated.

    • Tanner Iskra May 28, 2020 at 08:48

      Hi Bobby,

      All episodes go through a legal review process. VA does not endorse or officially sanction any entities that may be discussed in this podcast, nor any media, products or services they may provide. Furthermore, the appearance of hyperlinks is to prove a story’s sources, and appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute an endorsement by VA of the linked web sites, or the information, products, or services contained therein. For other than authorized VA activities, the Department does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations.

  5. Randall McDaniels May 27, 2020 at 19:55

    I am a USMC vet. I own a property which is vacant. I want to build construction perm VA preferably. Does the VA do Construction Perm loans?

    2nd Option is use Private Money to build and roll into a Traditional VA loan.

    Can you give me any advice on these type of programs.

    • Tanner Iskra May 28, 2020 at 09:00

      Hi Randall,

      I don’t know too much about construction loans and we only touched on them in Ep. 150. I would call your regional loan center.

      Link: https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/contact_rlc_info.asp

      They are still receiving phone calls during COVID-19.

      Hope this helps,
      Tanner

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