Steve Hawley is a Loan Officer with Southern Trust Mortgage, and the brother of one of my recent guests John Hawley. John recommended we connect to try to get to the bottom of why he and I keep getting so much junk mail about our VA loans.

Steve is an expert in residential mortgage lending and was gracious to lend about an hour of his time to answer my questions about the VA Loan program, and how veterans are marketed to and why.

We discuss:

• The role of a mortgage broker in the process of purchasing a home.
• Misconceptions regarding mortgages
• When to check your credit and understand your financial picture (before you transition!)

Steve and I also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the VA loan program, as well as the pros and cons of home ownership versus renting for Active Duty and Transitioning military personnel.

My hope with this conversation was to have a really simple explanation of some of the basics around using the VA Loan and avoiding some of the potential sales pitches you might receive once you own a home.

If you'd like to know more about getting a mortgage in the Hampton Roads area, email Steve here