If you are a veteran, service member or surviving spouse thinking about buying a home in Northeast Florida, the first document that matters is your Certificate of Eligibility, usually called the COE. It is the VA’s confirmation that you have earned the home loan benefit. It also shows how much entitlement you have available and whether you are exempt from the VA funding fee.

A lot of veterans assume getting the COE means weeks of government paperwork. Usually it does not. North Star Mortgage Network has been a VA-approved lender since January 25, 2002, and I have direct access to the VA portal. For many veterans, I can request the COE and have an answer while we are still on the phone.

What the COE Tells a Lender

• That you are eligible for the VA home loan benefit, based on your service
• Your entitlement, meaning how much of the benefit is available, and whether some is still tied up in a previous VA loan
• Your funding fee status. Veterans receiving VA disability compensation are generally exempt, and the COE is where that shows up
• Any conditions the VA needs resolved before a loan can close

Three Ways to Get Your COE

1. Through a VA-approved lender (fastest for most people)

A VA-approved lender can request your COE electronically through the VA’s system. Many requests come back right away. Some need extra documentation, and the lender can submit that for you. This is the route I use for most of my clients, because it costs you nothing and keeps everything in one place.

2. Online through VA.gov

You can apply yourself through your VA.gov account. It works well, but if the system needs more information it can take longer, and you will have to track it yourself.

3. By mail

You can mail VA Form 26-1880 to the VA. This is the slowest option and usually only makes sense if the other two are not available to you.

Documents You May Need

When the automated system cannot confirm your service on its own, the VA asks for proof. What you need depends on how you served:

• Veterans: DD Form 214 showing the character of service
• Active-duty service members: a statement of service signed by your commander, adjutant or personnel officer
• Current National Guard or Reserve: a statement of service
• Discharged Guard or Reserve: NGB Form 22, or retirement points statements and proof of honorable service
• Surviving spouses: additional VA forms and documents, depending on whether you receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation

Do not worry if you are missing something. Tell me what you have, and I will tell you what the VA is likely to ask for.

Common COE Problems (and How They Get Fixed)

• Entitlement still tied up in a home you sold. The old loan has to be shown as paid off before that entitlement is restored.
• You still own a home with a VA loan. You may still have remaining entitlement, often called second-tier entitlement, for another purchase.
• Funding fee exemption missing. If you receive disability compensation but the COE does not show the exemption, that can usually be corrected before closing.
• Eligibility denied. This is often a documentation issue, not a final answer. See my COE appeal guide.

Why Pulling the COE First Saves You Time

When I pull your COE at the start, you know exactly where you stand before you fall in love with a house. We find entitlement or funding fee issues weeks before closing instead of days. Your pre-approval is also stronger, because it rests on the VA’s own record and not on a guess.

VA Loans Across Northeast Florida

I help veterans buy across the area, from the bases to the beaches. See my local guides for VA loans in Jacksonville, Orange Park, St. Augustine and St. Johns County, Yulee and Nassau County and Atlantic Beach and Mayport. If you have PCS orders, start with the PCS to Jacksonville guide.

VA loans are available to qualified borrowers. VA guidelines may change, and lender overlays may be stricter. All loans are subject to credit approval. Rates and terms are subject to change.

Nathan Young is the founder and president of North Star Mortgage Network, Inc., an independent mortgage brokerage in Jacksonville, serving Florida since April 2000, and the 2025 NAMB Mortgage Broker of the Year. Call or text 904-880-6741. NMLS #325206 | Company NMLS #356789. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Disabled veteran? See how the Florida disabled veteran property tax exemption can help you qualify.