You served. Now let your VA benefit do the heavy lifting. I help veterans and active military in Wesley Chapel, Land O Lakes, New Port Richey, Lutz, and Zephyrhills buy homes with zero down payment and no private mortgage insurance.
Pasco County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Florida — and one of the best markets in the state for veterans using their VA benefit.
With a VA loan, you don't need to save up 3%, 5%, or 20%. Zero down is the standard for eligible veterans with full entitlement.
Conventional loans charge PMI until you hit 20% equity. VA loans never charge it — not on day one, not ever. That's $150–$300/month back in your pocket.
Skipping PMI saves most buyers $150–$300/month, which means you can qualify for a higher loan amount on the same income.
VA loans are more forgiving than conventional loans for buyers who are still rebuilding credit after service. We work with scores as low as 580.
The 2026 Pasco County VA loan limit is $806,500 for a single-family home with full entitlement — enough for Wesley Chapel, Land O Lakes, or Trinity.
Your VA entitlement can be used more than once. Sell or pay off your current home and your benefit is restored for the next purchase.
You may be eligible if you fall into any of these categories. Not sure? Call me at 813-696-1271 and I'll check your Certificate of Eligibility on the spot — usually takes a few minutes.
90+ consecutive days of active service during wartime
181+ days of continuous active service during peacetime
90+ days of continuous active duty service
6+ years of service in the Guard or Reserve
Spouse of a veteran who died in service or from a service-connected disability
10%+ service-connected disability rating — VA funding fee waived entirely
I'm based in Land O Lakes and work with veterans across all of Pasco County — and all of Florida.
One of Florida's fastest-growing cities, with new construction everywhere. VA loans work great for new builds here — call me before you visit the model home.
My home base. Strong veteran community, solid inventory, and good value. I know this market inside and out.
Established neighborhoods with more affordable price points — ideal for VA buyers stretching their budget further.
Growing fast with less buyer competition. A great fit for VA purchasers looking for more home for their money.
On the Hillsborough/Pasco border — great for MacDill AFB families who want Pasco County pricing with easy I-275 access.
Master-planned communities popular with retiring officers and their families. Great schools and community amenities.
Getting your VA loan in Pasco County is simpler than most people think. Most of my VA loans close in 21–30 days.
💡 Pro Tip
If you're buying new construction in Wesley Chapel, call me before you visit the model home. Builders have their own lenders and will push you toward them — but you're not required to use them.
I check your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), pull your credit, and get you a pre-approval letter. This is what you need before making any offers.
Shop with your realtor knowing exactly what you're approved for. I'll coordinate with their agent directly and stay in the loop.
The VA requires a specific appraisal. I order it, manage the timeline, and keep you updated every step of the way.
Once underwriting is done and the appraisal clears, we schedule closing. You get the keys — with more money in your pocket than any other loan type.
Big banks and national lenders process hundreds of VA loans a day. You're a file number. When your appraisal comes in low or your COE has an issue, no one's calling you back.
I'm a local lender. I live and work in Land O Lakes. I answer my own phone. When something comes up — and sometimes it does — I'm already three steps ahead because I know this market.
I specialize in VA, FHA, conventional, new construction, and DSCR loans in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Hernando counties. I'm not a call center. I'm your mortgage guy.
The most common questions I get from veterans in Pasco County about using their VA home loan benefit.
No. VA loans allow 100% financing — meaning zero down payment for eligible veterans. You may still need to cover closing costs, but in many cases those can be negotiated into the deal or covered by seller concessions.
Yes. VA loans can be used for new construction, but the process has extra steps. The builder must be VA-approved, and the home must pass a VA appraisal. Call me before you visit the model home so you know what to expect — builders will push you toward their own lender, but you're not required to use them.
The VA funding fee is a one-time fee that helps fund the VA loan program. For most first-time VA buyers it's 2.15% of the loan amount — but it can be rolled into the loan so you pay nothing out of pocket. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher are exempt entirely.
Yes. As long as you've paid off a previous VA loan (or sell the home), your entitlement is restored and you can use it again. I can check your remaining entitlement for free — just call or text 813-696-1271.
The VA doesn't set a minimum credit score, but most lenders (including me) work with scores as low as 580–620 depending on the rest of your file. If your credit needs work, I'll tell you exactly what steps to take to get there.
The 2026 VA loan limit in Pasco County is $806,500 for a single-family home with full entitlement — enough to buy in Wesley Chapel, Land O Lakes, or Trinity without any down payment.
Manufactured homes are eligible with specific requirements. Condos must be on the VA's approved condo list — I can check any condo project for you quickly. Just send me the address.
No cost. No commitment. No hard sell. A quick call gets you a clear answer on what you qualify for.
Raymond J Rivera JR · NMLS #2639249 · Land O Lakes, FL · Hoot Home Loans LLC NMLS #2532931