VA Loans and Spouses: Who Can Be On The Loan?

When it comes to VA loans, the rules around spouses and co-borrowers get real confusing, real fast. I’ll be honest… most people (including a lot of lenders) butcher this part. So let’s clear it up.

Can Your Spouse Be on the Loan If You're Deployed or Not Available?

Yes... if you're legally married, your spouse can absolutely be on the loan without you being present at closing. The VA allows non-military spouses to either be on the loan or just on the title of the home. If you're deployed: you can sign a Power of Attorney allowing your spouse to act as your signer on the loan even if they are not going to be on the loan. At closing the lender will conduct an "Alive and Well" check if you are serving on active duty status.

Who Can Be On a VA Loan?

Here’s what the VA allows:

• You (the veteran or service member)
• You + Your legal spouse
• Two veterans using their entitlements (anyone using entitlement must occupy property)
• One vet + one non-vet (but that gets complicated, more on that below)
• One vet + legal spouse + one (or more) non-vet (you can see how this gets more complicated as we go along)

The VA does not allow 100% financing for unmarried partners, fiancés, parents, siblings, or “situationships” unless they’re also a vet and will be occupying the property as their primary residence.

Can a Non-Vet Other Than a Spouse Be On a VA Loan?

Yes this is a possibility. A few important things to note: 

• There would be a down payment requirement. The VA only guarantees the Veteran's portion of the loan so depending on how many other non-vet borrowers there are would have an impact on the down payment required.
• Anyone not using entitlement would not need to reside in the home. (They can they just don't need to)
• It may take longer to close. Loans with non-vets require an approval at the VA. This can sometimes add a week or two onto the standard escrow time frame.

What If Only One of You Qualifies on Paper?

That’s common. I see situations all the time where the military spouse has solid credit and income, and the non-military spouse… well, doesn’t. 

Here’s the deal:

• If you apply jointly, we use both incomes but also both credit profiles
• If only one of you applies, we qualify based solely on that person’s financials (with the exception below if you are in a community property state)

And I always run it both ways to see what makes the most sense. You don’t want to “force” someone on the loan if it hurts more than helps.

Community Property State Rules: if you will be buying in a community property state (like California) we will pull the credit of both the veteran and the spouse. All debts regardless if the spouse is going on the loan or not, will be counted as the veteran's debts in most cases. There are some work arounds for this that I will work out for my clients if applicable.

What About Power of Attorney (POA)?
This is the move if you’re deployed, TDY, or out of state during closing.
The VA has strict rules around how the POA is written but if it’s done correctly, your spouse or rep can sign everything on your behalf. I’ve closed dozens of these deals. It’s not hard if your lender knows what they’re doing and it's important to get them a copy of your POA early in the process so they can have it reviewed.

Real Talk: Here’s Why This Matters

Too many couples get told “no” just because their lender doesn’t understand VA guidelines.
I’ve had clients come to me after getting denied somewhere else, just because they were told their spouse couldn’t be on the loan or that they had to be on the loan. That’s not only wrong—it’s lazy.

If you’re trying to qualify while you or your spouse is deployed, overseas, or just doesn’t want to be on the loan… there are options. You just need someone who actually reads the VA handbook (yep, I do that).

Want to see which option makes the most sense for your situation?
Let’s break it down. I’ll tell you what’s possible and what’s not before you waste your time.