Home shopping immediately comes to mind for veterans and other eligible VA-backed home loan borrowers who were able to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility or COE. However, if you’re a serious homebuyer taking out a VA loan for the first time, there are steps you need to take before shopping for a home.

It’s just fair for Veterans to have a meaningful civilian life after dedicating their lives serving the country and its citizenry. To compensate for their dedication, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has created programs to make the lives of Veterans comfortable as they transition from being active service members to ordinary citizens. The VA home loan is among the popular programs that help Veterans fulfill their American dream of becoming a homeowner.