Top 5 Chicago Areas For VA Homebuyers!
Fill Out The Form: Unlock The Top 5 Neighborhoods Chicago Area VA Buyers Are Purchasing In!
(A Step-by-Step Guide for Veterans, Active-Duty Service Members, and Eligible Spouses)
The VA home loan is one of the best mortgage benefits in existence — no down payment (in most cases), no private mortgage insurance, competitive rates, and lenient credit/underwriting guidelines. But the benefit is only as good as the location you choose. Here’s exactly how to figure out where you should buy when using your VA loan.
1. Start with Your VA Loan Limits (and Understand There Usually Aren’t Any)
As of 2020, the VA eliminated loan limits for borrowers with full entitlement. → If you have never used your VA benefit or have fully restored it, you can buy a home of any price with $0 down (as long as the lender approves the payment).
If you have an existing VA loan or reduced entitlement, check your remaining entitlement on your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). This will tell you the maximum guaranty amount and whether you’ll need a down payment on pricier homes.
Action step: Get your COE today at va.gov or text/call me at 773-861-5115 and I will help you. It takes 2–5 minutes online.
2. Decide Your “Why” – This Drives Location More Than Anything
Ask yourself the big questions:
Reason for Buying | Best Locations to Look
Job / Duty Station | Within reasonable commute (typically <60–90 minutes)
Be Near Family | Specific metro area or region close to relatives
Retirement / Slower Pace | Lower cost-of-living areas with strong VA medical access
Investment / House Hacking | Military-heavy cities with strong rental demand
Forever Home | Anywhere you love — cost becomes secondary
Most VA buyers are either:
Stationed somewhere now and want to buy instead of rent, or
Getting out and want to plant roots.
Your “why” should come first. Everything else filters from there.
3. Use the VA Home Loan “Reality Check” Formula
Run every location through this quick math:
What is the median home price?
Take 4% of that price → rough annual property tax + insurance + maintenance.
Add principal & interest on a VA 30-year loan (current rates ~6.0–6.5% Dec 2025).
Can you comfortably afford that payment on your current or post-military income (including BAH if still in)?
Example: $350k house → ~$2,100/mo P&I (6.25%, $0 down) → ~$600/mo taxes/insurance/maintenance → ~$2,700/mo total housing cost Still under BAH in most duty stations.
4. Check VA Healthcare Access (Critical for Many Veterans)
Use the VA Facility Locator: https://www.va.gov/find-locations/ Look for:
Full VA Medical Center (VAMC) within ~1 hour (for 100% disabled or complex care)
CBOCs (community clinics) are fine for most routine care
