Newrez

06/02/2026

Big plans for your future? Newrez offers three ways to tap your equity so you can choose the route that works best for you. It’s another way we make home happen.

Visit newrez.com for more information.

05/30/2026

Most people assume you need years of service before VA loan eligibility kicks in.

Not always.

During active wartime, eligibility can start at just 90 consecutive days of service. And as Michelle Leesmann, Director of VA Education and Policy at Newrez points out, once a servicemember reaches their second duty station, homeownership is worth a serious look.

The numbers stack up when you consider no down payment requirement, no mortgage insurance, and potential state-level benefits like reduced or waived property taxes for disabled Veterans. It can be a great path into homeownership.

For brokers, it's a reminder not to overlook early-career servicemembers. They could be ready sooner than you think.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 🔗 📺 https://bit.ly/47d4ATh
Check out more about Broker Buzz here 🔗 https://bit.ly/3WLwW29

05/29/2026

Despite being around since 1944, a recent analysis shows that over 58,000 VA loan benefits went unused in 2024.*

For brokers, that’s worth paying attention to.

As Michelle Leesmann, Director of VA Education and Policy at Newrez, explains, the VA loan is built to help servicemembers and Veterans access homeownership without the usual barriers - no down payment, no mortgage insurance, and no need to save 20% before getting started.

It's a benefit that removes the usual barriers to homeownership for those who've earned it.

For any broker with VA-eligible clients, it's worth knowing inside out.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 🔗 📺 https://bit.ly/47d4ATh
Check out more about Broker Buzz here 🔗 https://bit.ly/3WLwW29



*https://bit.ly/4uylSoh

05/28/2026

This guide delivers a comprehensive breakdown of how the Tidewater VA appraisal works, when it is triggered and how to strategically navigate it.

Learn more 🔗 https://bit.ly/4f2Afwg

The VA Tidewater Initiative provides an opportunity to challenge a low appraisal before it becomes final, which can help reduce delays and protect buyers and sellers.

05/28/2026

Newrez is expanding our partnership with top-ranked digital insurance marketplace Matic, bringing real-time homeowners insurance comparison directly into HomeHub, our all-in-one customer portal.

With this integration, Newrez homeowners can instantly review personalized coverage options, better understand their insurance risk profile, and explore potential savings through Matic’s network of 70+ carriers.

Homeowners insurance premiums have risen 64% nationally since 2021, making it more important than ever to evaluate coverage options. Last year, Newrez homeowners who switched carriers through Matic saved over $900 on average, and now those savings opportunities are available in real-time directly within HomeHub, a Newrez customer destination portal with loan information, refinance and equity opportunities, national home listings, and digital and human chat support—all in one place.

Learn more about this partnership here: https://bit.ly/4dBow6D

05/27/2026

Most borrowers think of a refinance as a way to lower their rate. A VA cash-out refinance can do something different.

As Michelle Leesmann, Director of VA Education and Policy at Newrez, explains, a VA cash-out refinance can be used for renovations, debt consolidation, college costs, a vehicle purchase, or whatever life stage a borrower is in.

VA refinances may allow eligible borrowers to pull out up to 100% of their home's value. If a home is worth $400,000 and the borrower owes $300,000, they may be able to access the full $400,000.

For brokers, it's a chance to reframe the conversation, from monthly payment to long-term financial tool - a lot of VA borrowers don't know the 100% cash-out option exists.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 🔗 📺 https://bit.ly/47d4ATh
Check out more about Broker Buzz here 🔗 https://bit.ly/3WLwW29

05/26/2026

When people hear "refinance," they think it means the full process - compete underwriting, new appraisal, and months of documentation.

The IRRRL is different.

As Michelle Leesmann, Director of VA Education and Policy at Newrez, explains, the Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan lets eligible VA borrowers move into a lower rate through a different process. No new appraisal. No full underwrite. Non-credit qualifying.

It's a VA-to-VA refinance only, so the borrower needs an existing VA loan. As long as a borrower meets program requirements and has a history of timely payments, the streamlined process does most of the heavy lifting, potentially at lower cost and in less time.

For brokers, it's a straightforward conversation to have with any VA client sitting on a rate that no longer reflects the market.

Most brokers know VA loans work for single-family homes. Fewer know how far the eligibility stretches.

As Michelle Leesmann, Director of VA Education and Policy at Newrez, explains, VA financing covers condos, manufactured housing, and even one-to-four unit properties, as long as the borrower occupies one of the units as their primary residence.

With a PCS scenario, a home previously purchased with VA financing can be turned into an investment property, with another VA loan used to purchase a new primary residence at the next duty station.

For brokers working with Military clients, understanding these scenarios isn't just useful. It's the difference between a client who uses their benefit once and one who uses it to build lasting wealth.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 🔗 📺 https://bit.ly/47d4ATh
Check out more about Broker Buzz here 🔗 https://bit.ly/3WLwW29

05/26/2026

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a tax-free monthly benefit provided to Active-Duty servicemembers who do not live in government-provided housing.

Learn more on our blog 🔗 https://bit.ly/3RgbHGj

BAH is designed to help offset the cost of housing for servicemembers, and could help when qualifying for a mortgage.

05/25/2026

Most brokers know VA loans work for single-family homes. Fewer know how far the eligibility stretches.

As Michelle Leesmann, Director of VA Education and Policy at Newrez, explains, VA financing covers condos, manufactured housing, and even one-to-four unit properties, as long as the borrower occupies one of the units as their primary residence.

With a PCS scenario, a home previously purchased with VA financing can be turned into an investment property, with another VA loan used to purchase a new primary residence at the next duty station.

For brokers working with Military clients, understanding these scenarios isn't just useful. It's the difference between a client who uses their benefit once and one who uses it to build lasting wealth.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 🔗 📺 https://bit.ly/47d4ATh
Check out more about Broker Buzz here 🔗 https://bit.ly/3WLwW29

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is about remembrance. Today, we pause to honor the servicemembers who gave their lives in defense of our country. We reflect on their courage, their sacrifice, and the families who continue to carry their memory forward. At Newrez, we remember them with gratitude, humility and respect—today and always.